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I'm Monique and I help millennials accomplish their real estate goals! Read more about me
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Love Buying a Home Series – Week 4
My step-by-step series will take you through the entire home-buying process — from finding a buyer’s agent to settlement day, and all the details in between. Every first-time buyer will find this information-packed series easy to follow and understand. Make sure to tune in for the next few weeks!
One of the biggest mistakes you can make as a homebuyer is not knowing how much you can REALLY afford when purchasing a home. The next mistake is thinking too “big picture” when it comes to price range or purchase price.
Stop right here before you make these mistakes!
You’re going to learn the correct way to do the math so that you get a mortgage you can afford and, ultimately, a home you absolutely love on your budget. You won’t be “house poor” and you won’t shortchange yourself either.
Here’s how:
Think monthly payments first and foremost.
First and foremost, you don’t want to focus solely on the purchase price, but rather first start with your desired monthly payment for your home. This monthly payment should factor in your taxes and insurance (but not utilities and general monthly maintenance).
We call this our Mortgage Rule of Thumb. It may seem backwards but it’s the one and only way to make sure you get the house you want for the price you want.
Here’s why.
Even if the purchase price is exactly the same, your monthly payment could be very different between two properties.
For example, the monthly payments for a $500,000 condo will be completely different than for a $500,000 single-family home. There are different costs you’d need to consider for each option, such as condo fees. That’s why you should NOT focus on the purchase price first since monthly payments can vary depending on where and what you buy.
So never begin your search with a blanket statement, “I want to spend $500,000,” and not even know whether that amount will truly fit your monthly budget.
Don’t just accept what lenders say you can afford.
Unfortunately, many buyers start with that blanket statement of price because their lender pre-approved that amount for them. Don’t think you’ve hit the jackpot, since many lenders will approve a mortgage for you that could be way more than you are comfortable spending per month.
Many clients will say, “I’ve been approved for $500,000 by my lender,” but when you dig a little deeper, these clients actually want to spend a lot less in order to get the payments they truly want to commit to each month.
Lenders will approve you for the highest purchase price possible based on several “big picture” financial factors, but it doesn’t really keep in mind what YOU want to pay per month on a home.
Work backward to determine the “correct” purchase price for you.
First, you need to figure out how much you want to pay per month, and then you’ll need to work backward to determine a purchase price that works with this monthly budget.
Yes, it does seem backward at first, but it works!
Once you know how much you want your monthly housing payments to be per month, you can then factor in your down payment and any homebuyer assistance programs.
You’ll also need to include other potential costs of owning a home – taxes, insurance, condo fees – that will affect your monthly budget. With all these factors in mind, we can then help you figure out the correct price range to shop in.
Keep in mind, every $10,000 in purchase price only adds an additional $50 to your monthly payment. Similarly, the same goes for your down payment: Every additional $10K you put down, you are only saving yourself about $50 per month.
So don’t feel you have to save for years for additional down-payment funds in order to afford a home. And remember that there are some great options to help with your down payment.
Take a look at your budget to determine what you want to pay per month.
So now that you know to work backward, how do you determine what you want to spend per month when you own a home? It’s time to make a budget!
Making a budget is an important step, so be honest about what you spend your money on each month now, what you’re willing to forgo, and what you expect in the future.
Here’s what to include and consider when determining your budget:
Finish up the math to get an idea of how much you can afford.
Owning a home is about one-third more in cost than your current rent payment without changing your lifestyle.
You can get a very rough estimate on what you can comfortably afford by using your current rental cost situation.
Multiply your current rent by 1.33 to arrive at a mortgage payment that won’t bust your budget. This calculation takes into account the tax benefits of homeownership that can offset some of those additional homeownership costs.
For example, if you currently pay $1,500 per month in rent, you should be able to comfortably afford a $2,000 monthly mortgage payment after factoring in the tax benefits of homeownership.
Don’t hesitate to contact me if you have any questions about calculating a monthly budget. It’s an important first step before you start looking at homes.
Once you know your monthly budget, other steps will neatly follow. You’ll be able to determine your price range and then be able to work with your lender on available mortgage products along with any down-payment options.
Next up in this Love Buying a Home Series is Where to Find Money for a Down Payment. Every buyer needs to be prepared for this and this article can show you how!
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I got into real estate after I purchased my first home and felt completely lost. No one should feel that way... Read my full story
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