While moving can be an exciting step, the process of buying a home can be stressful and downright exhausting. For first-time home buyers, who make up 34% of all house shoppers, finding potential properties, figuring out a budget, and making offers is an especially nerve-wracking process. Many new buyers become so stressed that they either delay the process or make hasty and unsatisfactory decisions.
Follow these tips to stay cool and calm when buying your first home, so that you can find a place you’ll love for years to come.
- Remember that You are In Charge.
Some inexperienced home buyers feel overwhelmed throughout the process, especially when dealing with professional agents, lenders, and sellers. Working with experts who are incentivized to sell you something can feel as though you are losing control of the process, or even like you’re being manipulated. Combat these notions by doing your own research. Create your own budget and stick to it. If someone offers a piece of advice, cross-check it with a quick search online before trusting their judgment. Finally, ask questions and speak up if you feel uncomfortable with any decision– after all, you’re the one who will be paying for the house. - Figure Out Finances Early
To reduce home-buying stress, MoneyCrashers.com recommends setting up finances and working with banks as early as possible. Getting pre-approved for a mortgage can set a realistic price range while you’re shopping, and prevent the intense disappointment of falling in love with a property you simply can’t afford. Even before seeking mortgage approval, Money Crashers also recommends cleaning up other finances. Try to pay all other bills on time, keep recent bank statements on hand, and try to pay down debts so that when the time comes to ask for a loan, you’ll seem ready for the new undertaking. - Don’t Worry During the Wait
Buying a home is rarely a quick process. The Balance points out that for many first-time home buyers, the long gaps in time between offers and decisions creates room for anxiety to build. If there is nothing to be done but wait to hear news back about an offer, try to distract yourself with other activities. Trust that you made the best offer possible, and try not to count the minutes! If you’re waiting to finalize a deal, be ready to submit any additional paperwork quickly so as not to delay the process more.
Buying a home is both thrilling and terrifying. Do your research, ask questions, prepare finances early, and practice patience to reduce the first-time buyer’s stress. Happy house hunting!