Before beginning the home-buying process, it’s crucial to know how much house you can truly afford. The general rule of thumb is to allocate 30 percent of your overall budget to home-related expenses.
While you’re working on your budget, you should also seek out financing pre-approval if you plan to take out a loan for your purchase.
Your real estate agent should be working with your best interests in mind. Choose a qualified agent who has worked extensively with buyers.
Sure, that extra living space or over-sized garage is nice to have, but is it necessary? It’s easy to get swept up in the home-buying process and forget that what you want might cost much more than what you need.