April 11, 2017 | Tips & Advice Buying Your First Home: 5 Life Saving Tips For First Time Home Buyers Are you ready to buy your first home? excited? scared? Do not worry, we know that as exciting as buying your first home can be it can also be nerve wrecking. You have no experience, so you might be scared of making the wrong choice. That is why we brought you here some life saving tips. Thus, if you are looking for a nice house to be your first home look here first, these tips may save you a lot of time and trouble. 1-Look around you first. Before you start looking ask around. If you know someone living in the neighborhood you want to move to, ask them to scout the grounds for you. They might know someone who knows someone that wants to sell. That way you already know the people in the community you are moving into. You can do the same thing online, ask your friends if they know people living in that area. Get to know these people, and ask them any questions you may have about the neighborhood. 2-Create a realistic budget. Finding exactly how much you can afford can be a little tricky but it is crucial. The easiest part might be the down payment; because you probably know how much you can afford to pay in cash right now. Although you have to remember to factor in other expenses with the down payment, like taxes and insurance and the like. The next step is to create a monthly budget and find out how much you can afford each month. The best way to avoid overextending is to have a firm grasp on your current income and your expenses. If you know exactly where all your money goes each month, before you buy, you will be much better able to plan an affordable strategy. 3-Stick to your budget. Buying your first home should be a happy experience, not one that leaves overwhelmed with debt. Far too many first home buyers find themselves in difficult situations because they did not stick to their budget, or they did not create a budget that was realistic for their needs. No one understands better what you are looking for, and what you are comfortable spending than you do. Purchase a home that you can afford, and that allows you to save some money for other things as well. The purchase of a home is generally one of the biggest financial decisions that we make, It is important to consider where this purchase fits into your greater financial plans. 4-Ask about the schools in the area. If you plan to raise your kids in the area take a look at the schools. Even if you do not have kids now. If you plan to have kids in the future and plan to raise them in this house you should ask about the schools in the area, or even do a quick online check. You do not want your children to spend half of their day commuting to the school and back, so make sure there are good schools nearby. 5-Do not overlook any needed renovations. Do not just assume that you can fix everything that needs fixing in the new house. Some renovations are very costly and some take a very long time or even require a permit. So before you buy take a good look at the house you are considering and plan ahead. Ask an expert: Does the house need a lot of work done? How much will that work cost? Make sure to have this planned and calculated before you decide to buy so you are not overwhelmed. Tips & Advice Home Value: Essential steps to determine your home value Tips & Advice How to determine the right rental price for an apartment Tips & Advice For landlords: What to do if a tenant doesn’t pay rent or pays late? Tips & Advice First-time renter: What to expect when you rent a house Tips & Advice Neighboring guide: How to be a good neighbor Tips & Advice The best of 2018: take a look at our highlights Load Comments Latest Post Living in Bahrain Healthcare in Bahrain: Learn about types of Healthcare in the Kingdom February 20, 2022 Living in Bahrain Parks in Bahrain: Explore the best parks in the Kingdom January 19, 2022 Living in Bahrain Economic recovery plan: 5 new cities to expand the landmass of Bahrain December 15, 2021 Living in Bahrain Indian restaurants in Bahrain: Discover the best Indian restaurants in the Kingdom December 1, 2021 Tips & Advice Home Value: Essential steps to determine your home value September 13, 2021 Popular Post Green Buildings: Advantages and Disadvantages 9 Arab cities worth living in: Quality of Life Ranking Turkish furniture: The best furniture stores in Turkey The best 6 real estate companies in Saudi Arabia Relocating to the Kingdom? The Cost of Living in Bahrain for Expatriates Latest Properties on Weetas New Apartments / Sale 2 Bedrooms Apartment with a Balcony for Sale 100,000 BHD Seef New Apartments / Rent Fully furnished 2-bedroom Apartment 550 BHD Amwaj Island New Villas / Sale A luxurious villa for sale 145,000 BHD Amwaj Island New Villas / Rent A duplex villa for rent 650 BHD Amwaj Island New Office Spaces / Rent Luxurious Office Space for Rent 1,400 BHD Seef