Buying your first home comes with many big decisions, and it can be as scary as it is exciting. It’s easy to get swept up in the whirlwind of home shopping and make mistakes that could leave you with buyer’s remorse later.
If this is your first rodeo as a homebuyer — or if it’s been many years since you last bought a home — knowledge is power. Along with knowing where the pitfalls are, it’s important to get tips from knowledgeable sources so you know what to expect and what questions to ask.
1. Looking for a home before applying for a mortgage. Many first-time buyers start viewing homes before ever getting in front of a mortgage lender. In many markets right now, housing inventory is still tight because there’s more buyer demand than affordable homes on the market.
In such a competitive market, you could lose a property if you aren’t preapproved for a mortgage, says Alfredo Arteaga, a loan officer with Movement Mortgage in Mission Viejo, Calif. You also might not have a realistic picture of your own budget.
How this affects you: You might be behind the ball if a home you love hits the market. You also might look at homes that you can’t really afford.
What to do instead: “Before you fall in love with that gorgeous dream house you’ve been eyeing, be sure to get a fully underwritten preapproval,” Arteaga says. Being preapproved sends the message that you’re a serious buyer whose credit and finances pass muster to successfully get a loan.
2. Talking to only one lender. First-time buyers often get a mortgage from the first (and only) lender or bank they talk to, and that’s a big mistake. You’re potentially leaving thousands of dollars on the table.
How this affects you: The more you shop around, the better basis for comparison you’ll have to ensure you’re getting a good deal and the lowest rates possible.
What to do instead: Shop around with at least three different lenders, as well as a mortgage broker. Compare rates, lender fees and loan terms. Don’t discount customer service and lender responsiveness; both play key roles in making the mortgage approval process run smoothly, especially now when many lenders are backed up with applications. Low interest rates have led to a mortgage application boom, and some lenders are more behind on closings than others. Our mortgage rate tables are a great place to start comparison shopping.
3. Buying more house than you can afford. It’s easy to fall in love with homes that might stretch your budget, but overextending yourself is never a good idea. With home prices trending upward, it’s especially important to stick close to your budget.
How this affects you: Buying more home than you can afford can put you at higher risk of foreclosure if you fall on tough financial times. You’ll also have less room in your monthly budget for other bills and expenses.
What to do instead: Focus on what monthly payment you can afford rather than fixating on the maximum loan amount you qualify for. Just because you can qualify for a $300,000 loan doesn’t mean you can afford the monthly payments that come with it in addition to your other financial obligations. Every borrower’s case is different, so factor in your whole financial profile when determining how much house you can afford. Likewise, it’s important to be completely honest with your lender or mortgage broker about your finances. At the end of the day, you’ll be the one repaying your loan, and you don’t want to struggle with a bill you can’t afford.
4. Moving too fast. Buying a home can be complex, particularly when you get into the weeds of the mortgage process. Rushing the process can cost you later on, says Nick Bush, a Realtor with Keller Williams Realty in Rockville, Md.
“The biggest mistake that I see is to not plan far enough ahead for their purchase,” Bush says.
How this affects you: Rushing the process means you might be unable to save enough for a down payment and closing costs. Speeding toward closing can also keep you from addressing items on your credit report that prevent you from securing more favorable loan terms.
What to do instead: Map out your homebuying timeline at least a year in advance. Keep in mind it can take months even years to repair poor credit and save enough for a sizable down payment. On average, most buyers can only save about $5,000 per year toward buying a home. Work on boosting your credit score, paying down debt and saving more money to put you in a stronger position to get preapproved.
5. Draining your savings. Spending all or most of your savings on the down payment and closing costs is one of the biggest first-time homebuyer mistakes, says Ed Conarchy, a mortgage planner and investment adviser at Cherry Creek Mortgage in Gurnee, Ill.
“Some people scrape all their money together to make the 20 percent down payment so they don’t have to pay for mortgage insurance, but they are picking the wrong poison because they are left with no savings at all,” Conarchy says.
How this affects you: Homebuyers who put 20 percent or more down don’t have to pay for mortgage insurance when getting a conventional mortgage. That usually translates into substantial savings on the monthly mortgage payment, but it’s not worth the risk of living on the edge, Conarchy says.
What to do instead: Aim to have three to six months of living expenses in an emergency fund, even after you close. Paying mortgage insurance isn’t ideal, but depleting your emergency or retirement savings to make a large down payment is a risk best avoided.
6. Being careless with credit. Lenders pull credit reports at preapproval to make sure things check out and again just before closing. They want to make sure nothing has changed in your financial profile.
How this affects you: Any new loans or credit card accounts on your credit report can jeopardize the closing and final loan approval. Buyers, especially first-timers, often learn this lesson the hard way.
What to do instead: Keep the status quo in your finances from preapproval to closing. Don’t open new credit cards, close existing accounts, take out new loans or make large purchases on existing credit accounts in the months leading up to applying for a mortgage through closing day. Pay down your existing balances to below 30 percent of your available credit limit, and pay your bills on time and in full every month.
7. Fixating on the house over the neighborhood. Sure, you want a home that checks off the items on your wish list and meets your needs. Being nitpicky about a home’s cosmetics, however, can be short-sighted if you wind up in a neighborhood you hate, says Alison Bernstein, president and founder of Suburban Jungle, a real estate strategy firm.
“Selecting the right town is critical to your life and family development,” Bernstein says. “The goal is to find you and your brood a place where the culture and values of the (area) match yours. You can always trade up or down for a new home, add a third bathroom or renovate a basement.”
How this affects you: You could wind up loving your home but hating your neighborhood.
What to do instead: Ask your real estate agent to help you track down neighborhood safety stats and school ratings. Measure your commute time and take things like proximity to public transit and walkability into account. Visit the neighborhood at different times to get a sense of traffic, neighbor interactions and the overall vibe to see if it’s an area that appeals to you.
8. Making decisions based on emotion. Buying a house is a major life milestone. It’s a place where you’ll make memories, create a space that’s truly yours and put down roots. It’s easy to get too attached and make emotional decisions, so remember that you’re also making one of the largest investments of your life, says Ralph DiBugnara, president of Home Qualified in New York City.
“With this being a strong seller’s market, a lot of first-time buyers are bidding over what they are comfortable with because it is taking them longer than usual to find homes,” DiBugnara says.
How this affects you: Emotional decisions could lead to overpaying for a home and stretching yourself beyond your budget.
What to do instead: “Have a budget and stick to it,” DiBugnara says. “Don’t become emotionally attached to a home that is not yours.”
9. Assuming you need a 20 percent down payment. The long-held belief that you must put 20 percent down payment is (often) a myth. While a 20 percent down payment does help you avoid paying private mortgage insurance, many buyers today don’t want (or can’t) put down that much money. In fact, the median down payment on a home is 12 percent, according to the National Association of Realtors, and 6 percent for first-time buyers. Some communities, like co-ops, condos and HOAs may still require larger down payments, so make sure you check with your real estate agent about specific community requirements and budget accordingly.
How this affects you: Delaying your home purchase to save up 20 percent could take years, and could constrain you from hitting other financial goals like maximizing your retirement savings, adding to your emergency fund or paying down high-interest debt.
What to do instead: Consider other mortgage options. You can put as little as 3 percent down for a conventional mortgage (note: you’ll have to pay private mortgage insurance). Some government-insured loans require 3.5 percent down, though in some cases you may even be able to secure a mortgage with no down payment at all. Plus, check with your local or state housing programs to see if you qualify for housing assistance programs designed for first-time buyers.
10. Waiting for the ‘unicorn’. Unicorns are mythical creatures both in nature and in real estate. Looking for the home that checks every one of your boxes perfection can narrow your choices too much, and might lead you to pass over good, suitable options in the hopes that something better will come along. Don’t let pie in the sky thinking sabotage your search, says James D’Astice, a real estate agent with Compass in Chicago.
How this affects you: Looking for perfection might limit your real estate search or lead to you overpaying for a home. It can also lengthen your home search.
What to do instead: Keep an open mind about what’s on the market and be willing to put in some sweat equity, DiBugnara says. Some loan programs let you roll the cost of repairs into your mortgage, too.
