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Evaluating Neighborhoods: 4 Things to Consider Before Purchasing a Home

Evaluating Neighborhoods: 4 Things to Consider Before Purchasing a HomeFrom finding the right agent to discovering the home you can truly feel comfortable in, there are a variety of things involved in the home buying process. However, it’s important not to get caught up in the home and ignore altogether the community you’ll be living in. If you’re planning a move to a new neighborhood, here are some things you should look into before putting in an offer.

Local Amenities

A peaceful, picturesque community is ideal, but if there are not a lot of resources nearby for your family, it’s possible that your new neighborhood may not be the best fit. Instead of having to get in the car and drive everywhere, ensure you research nearby community centers, green spaces and recreational spots so your family has somewhere to spend their weekends.

Research The Crime Rate

You can certainly get a good sense of the well being of a community just by looking at it, but be sure that you’re informed about exactly how safe the surrounding area is so your family will feel at ease in their new locale. While you can easily research the community and find information online, websites like Neighborhood Scout and Crime Report also make it simple to discover the less well-known details.

Transportation And Accessibility

A community you love is ideal, but if you work in the downtown core or an area far away, it will be important to determine the effect this will have on the length of your commute. In addition, you’ll want to be sure there are local transportation options like buses and shuttles that provide access all over the center in the event that it’s needed.

Learn About The Locals

There’s something to be said for the perfect home, but you’ll also need to feel a certain sense of comfort in the place you live so ensure you choose a place with nice neighbors and a community feel. This may seem hard to determine before buying a house, but try visiting the local community center or knocking on a few doors for a quick impression of what the locals are like.

It can be easy to throw everything else out the window as soon as you’ve found the perfect home, but it’s important that your home is situated in a neighborhood you’ll feel comfortable in. Contact your local mortgage professional for more information.

How to Determine How Big of a Down Payment You Need

How to Determine How Big of a Down Payment You NeedWhether or not you’re new to real estate, there’s little doubt that you’ve heard the term down payment as it relates to purchasing a home. There’s a lot of different information out there in regards to how much this figure should be and it can be hard to determine exactly what the importance of this payment is. If you’re trying to determine the ideal amount to put down, here are some things to consider.

Explaining Down Payments And Why They’re Important

The down payment is probably one of the largest single payments you’ll make for anything, and this is why so many people save for years. When you buy a home, the down payment is the amount of money that goes into the initial home investment, and this is taken off of the cost of the house. In essence, while this money qualifies as an asset, it is tied up in paying off the total cost of your home.

The Differing Amounts For Down Payments

It’s often the case that many figures are thrown around in regards to the ideal down payment percentage, and they generally vary from 3-20% of the home’s cost. If you are paying a percentage on the low side of the scale, this can unfortunately mean that you will have fewer mortgage options and will be stuck with an increased interest rate. The amount you should pay depends on your financial health and purchasing commitment, but the larger the down payment is, the more minimal your monthly payments will be.

Deciding The Perfect Percentage

Saving up 20% of a home’s total price may seem like a lot of time and effort, but this can be the ideal amount to put down. In addition to lowered monthly payments and a better interest rate, you’ll also be able to avoid Private Mortgage Insurance (PMI), which is required if you put down less than 20%. There is no right answer to the question of how much to put towards a down payment, but you may end up spending less in the long run if you can invest more in the beginning.

There are many figures thrown around when it comes to real estate, but the amount of a down payment should be economically feasible for you and enable you to make your monthly payments consistently. If you’re planning on purchasing soon and are looking for home options, you may want to contact your trusted mortgage professional for more information.

The Majority Of Millennials Plan On Buying A House In The Next Few Years

The Majority Of Millennials Plan On Buying A House In The Next Few YearsDuring the past year, the housing market has been on fire. There are not a lot of houses for sale, many people are interested in moving, and there is a rising demand from the people who put off moving during the coronavirus pandemic. Furthermore, Millennial demand is picking up, which will only make the housing market even hotter. Recently, a survey found that approximately two-thirds of people who qualify for Generation Y are thinking about buying a home in the near future. Many of them have improving financial circumstances, and they are looking for a way to build wealth and settle down. 

A Majority Of Millennials Are Now Homeowners

Millennials make up approximately 43 percent of all new home purchases so far this year, which is up from 37 percent in 2021. In addition, Millennials represent approximately 20 percent of the United States population, and they represent the fastest-growing segment of homebuyers in the country. Furthermore, approximately 53 percent of all Millennials now own their own home. Many Millennials have become homeowners by purchasing homes that require updating. As a result, many Millennials are spending money renovating and upgrading their homes.

Has The Housing Market Hit Its Peak?

Even though a lot of Millennials have become homeowners, there are many who are still struggling to afford the cost of a house. With rising mortgage interest rates and home prices, it will only become more difficult for them to do so in the future. Some people are wondering if the housing market has peaked. If a price correction takes place, it could make it easier for Millennials who have not yet purchased a house to do so. Even though it is impossible to predict the future, some financial experts believe that the housing market is headed for a correction.

More Homes Are Needed

One of the reasons why housing prices are so high is that there are not a lot of new houses being built. A shortage of labor and materials has made it difficult for construction companies to keep up with demand. If construction companies are able to start building more houses, it could increase the supply of homes on the market, reducing prices overall.