Many couples today have lived together before getting married, and some have even owned a home together too.
But if you’re buying a home for the first time as a married couple, you might not know where to start. Perhaps you have experience living together, but that doesn’t mean you can choose a home together.
It could be one of the first difficult issues you have to deal with after your wedding day. You need something that you’re both happy with, making it a great chance to practice your compromising abilities! Here’s how to find the right property for you.
Choose Your Priorities
To look for a home, you’re going to need to know what you both what and need. Both of you should sit down and discuss what you’re looking for in a home.
Some of your requirements might be straightforward, such as being close to your job. Others might be more about pleasure than practicality, like having a large kitchen with plenty of sunlight.
Think about the size of the home you want to buy, and keep your budget in mind. And don’t just consider now, but think about the future too.
Do you want to be close to good schools if you’re planning to have kids?
Research
When you know what you’re looking for, you can start doing some research to see what’s out there. One of the things you might look up are the different neighbourhoods where there are homes for sale.
You might want to know about crime statistics, schools, stores and even traffic conditions. This will help you choose which areas are best suited to your list of priorities.
Estate agent listings sites often have useful resources you can use. When you start to look at individual properties, the internet can be helpful too.
You should also go and look around the area and see it in person.
Using the Right Estate Agent
Not everyone uses a realtor, but it can make the process of buying a home easier. They should have lots of experience in helping newlyweds find their first official home.
It also helps to have someone who can act as a mediator between the two of you. They can get you to look at the properties you view in different ways.
They can help you sort out some of the legal issues too and make the home buying process a little easier.
Financing Your New Home
Some couples choose to skip a big wedding so that they can save for a home. Financing your first home can be difficult, but it’s much easier with two of you than on your own.
You might be in the position to buy a home outright, but most people will take out a mortgage. You may have two incomes, but you also need to have two strong credit reports.
Before applying for a mortgage, make sure both your finances are in order.
Choosing your first home together should be cause for excitement, but don’t get too caught up in it. You don’t want to be stuck with a home you’re not happy with.
