Buying your first home can be an exciting process, but with so many different expenses to account and plan for, it can also be overwhelming. Not sure where to begin with it comes to saving for your first home? There are a few expenses you won't want to overlook.
First, make sure you have enough money saved up for a down payment. This amount can vary depending on the sale price of the home you purchase and the type of mortgage you take out. For a conventional home loan, for example, you'll be expected to make a minimum 20% down payment. FHA loans, however, only require 3.5% down. Meanwhile, if you qualify for a VA loan or a USDA loan, you might not have to make a down payment at all.
Closing costs are another notable expense that can vary based on the sale price of the home and even where you live. However, expect closing costs to account for about 2-5% of the sale price of your home. This means if you're buying a home for $150,000, you can expect to pay between $3,000 and $7,500 in closing costs.
Having a home appraised and inspected is par for the course for most home sales. An appraisal determines the current value of the home to make sure that you're not paying more for it than what it's worth. Meanwhile, an inspection looks for underlying issues with a home (such as a leaky roof or a short-cycling HVAC unit) that you'll want to be aware of before closing.
Appraisal and inspection costs can vary, but you should typically expect to pay between $200 and $600 for a home appraisal. Meanwhile, inspections cost an average of about $300.
Once you buy your home, you'll probably need to buy your fair share of furniture. Likewise, if you're coming from an apartment-living situation, you may also need to purchase some lawn care equipment such as a lawnmower, weed eater and other gear.
As you can see, these costs can add up quickly—so it's important to plan accordingly and make sure you've saved up enough money to purchase your first home comfortably. From there, you can close on your home with confidence.
Mark comes to us with extensive experience in the real estate industry with over 20 years of experience working with buyers, sellers, and builders. Mark has been an active member of RACM, REALTOR Association of Central Massachusetts, since 2001 and has built a formidable reputation in Worcester county.
Consistently ranked among the top 10 Realtors in Worcester county with career sales totaling 300 million in pending and sold, Mark is an extremely valuable resource for those getting ready to list their home, purchase a new home, or build from the ground up.
As a Shrewsbury native, and a seasoned real estate professional, Mark joined Andrew Abu REALTORS and works side-by-side with a talented team of industry experts who specialize in market trends and local market stats, to keep ahead of the curve and combine home marketing with innovative technology and forward-thinking. His valued reputation with client's and business partners for the past two decades and proven success with record setting sales, will leave you in capable hands during any real estate transaction.
