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4 Tips to get the best deal on your first home purchase

by Roberta K Team 11/06/2023

4 Tips to get the best deal on your first home purchase  featured image

As a first-time homebuyer, you may find yourself asking, “what can I do to get a great deal on my first home?” Purchasing a home is a financial decision that can potentially affect your finances for years to a whole lifetime. 

To make sure you get an affordable home matching your homebuying goals, it’s best to take a few key steps to give yourself the best advantage during the home purchasing process. 

Pay off small debts 

A great way to prepare financially before applying for a mortgage loan is to pay off any small debts you have to increase your credit score. Paying off debt at the current moment frees up some of your finances in the future, giving you more funds to work with while lowering your debt-to-income ratio, which can earn you brownie points with lenders. 

A great end goal is to pay off your balance in full each month while avoiding interest and still earning rewards and building credit.

Refrain from opening up new credit accounts 

If you intend to apply for a mortgage loan in the near future, it's best to avoid opening up new lines of credit accounts that can temporarily lower your score. If you need to open a new credit line to boost your score, then do so well in advance of applying for a mortgage.

Save for a home down payment 

Saving money for a home down payment may seem taxing; however, it helps to be intentional with your savings.  Start by opening a dedicated bank account and direct-depositing a portion of your income into the account each week or biweekly to continually grow your home purchasing funds. 

To expedite your saving process, consider placing savings into a CD account or high-yield savings account. These give the highest earnings from interest out of any other form of savings. Kindly note, these saving methods do make it more difficult for you to pull money from the account to help users refrain from withdrawing money unnecessarily. 

Figure out how much house you can afford 

Before purchasing a property, you’ll need to find out what is a reasonable amount to spend on a home. To accomplish this, you’ll need to consider your monthly mortgage, recurring bills, taxes, insurance, and any other expenses affecting your finances. Leave yourself room for savings, emergencies and wiggle room for fun expenses.

With the aforementioned tips, you can prepare for homeownership like a pro, and ease some tension of the homebuying process.




About the Author
Author

Roberta K Team

Roberta has been a full-time Broker since 1979. Her years of experience bring extensive knowledge to clients and customers that are seeking to buy or sell a home. In 1985 she decided to open her own Real Estate firm known as Roberta K Realty, which grew into 3 offices in Attleboro, Plainville, and Middleboro, MA. Now turn the clocks ahead to 2015, Roberta decided to step out of the management/ownership role and blend her team with one of the sister companies of Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices.  She is excited to return to what she loves most about real estate, which is working with buyers and sellers to help them achieve their dreams. 
     Roberta was born and resided in Falmouth, Maine until her move to Massachusetts in 1977. Being a long-time resident of North Attleboro, she is very familiar with the surrounding towns and neighborhoods.  She holds a Massachusetts and Rhode Island Brokers' license and has been in the top 3-5% of Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Agent since 1988, holding awards in Chairman’s Circle Gold, Presidents Circle, and the prestigious Legends Award. Current Certifications and Designations: 

  • Certified Distressed Property Expert (CDPE)
  • Certified Residential Specialist (CRS)
  • Graduate Realtors Institute (GRI)
  • Fine Homes Specialist
  • Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Relocation Specialist
  • eCertified

 Our Mission Statement

         To provide the highest quality of real estate brokerage service available.  Always put our clients' needs first.  To provide value that exceeds expectations.  To be positive, professional, and enthusiastic at all times.  To adhere to the highest standards of integrity and ethical business practices.  Continually strive to improve, develop and implement new ideas, strategies, and services that will benefit our clients and customers.