Owning your own home is more than just a big investment, it’s a big responsibility that you can’t afford to ignore. When you own a property you have to clean it, maintain it, insure it, improve it, and handle all the other costs and work that a rental property’s owner has to deal with. Even if your finances could handle the mortgage payments, taxes, insurance payments, and other costs, the best time to buy a home is after you’ve checked off all the following signs.
1. Your Income Is Stable
Do you know how much money you’ll make in five years? Can you count on a promotion or a new job opening, or is that just your best-case scenario? The average mortgage term is 30 years, and while no one can predict what will happen that far in the future, you should at least start things off on the right foot by having a stable job and a steady income when you buy the home. Too many people buy property with lottery winnings or a court settlement but lose their house when they can’t keep up the payments.
2. You Want To Settle Down
Most households move several times over the decades. However, homeowners move less often because it takes a lot more time, money, and effort to sell and buy a home than it does to move out of a rental. If you’re still ready and willing to move to another city to find the best career or look for the nicest neighborhood, you should stick with renting until you’re ready to settle down.
3. You Can Handle More Responsibility
Owning a home gives you the freedom to repaint any room or remodel the whole kitchen until it’s exactly what you want. On the other hand, it also means that you’re responsible for keeping the furnace in good condition, scheduling regular inspections of the major appliances and property, and a hundred other things that a renter doesn’t have to worry about. You need to be organized, committed, and responsible to take care of a home, so make sure you’re ready for that before you buy one.
4. You Know What You Want
A house is too big an investment to be indecisive about. When you start to look for houses or condos on the market, you’ll find plenty of options to choose from, and each one has its own unique set of pros and cons. To make sure you choose the right one, you should write out what you need, what you want, and what you’d like, and then look for something that meets your needs. Be picky now so you won’t regret your choice later.
Owning a home is a big responsibility and a big cost, so it’s always a good idea to wait until you know you’re ready before jumping in. It’s also a good idea to get any bargains or rebates you can, like the cash rebates offered by Florida Homes Rebates. Contact us today to find out what rebates we can offer you.