02 July . 2019
Buying a New Home? 10 Tips to Help Guide You
From finding the right new home and community, to getting the best financing terms, the home buying process can feel overwhelming, even if you’ve gone through it before. If you’re a first-time buyer, the entire journey may feel especially intimidating.
Here are 10 pieces of real estate wisdom that can help you through, and that you’ll be glad you knew after you’re happily settled in to your new dream home.
Slay those first-time buyer myths.
“It’s cheaper to rent than own.” “I can’t bring a Realtor if I’m working with a builder.” “I need at least 20% for a down payment.” Some myths are harmless, but not if they discourage you from pursuing your homeownership goal. Take our fun and informative quiz on homebuyer myths and become an instant expert.
No regrets.
Like buyer’s remorse, neighborhood regret is a thing, according to the real estate experts at Trulia. Learn how to avoid neighborhood regret and choose a community you’ll love for years to come.
Understand HOAs.
If you’ve never lived in a community with a robust HOA, or Home Owners Association, you may not be aware of what HOAs do, and their many benefits. Learn all about HOAs at our blog.
Advantage MPC.
Do you know the difference between a subdivision and a master-planned community, or MPC? Even though new homes in MPCs can cost more than those in subdivisions, they offer many more returns for your lifestyle, investment and visibility into the future. See all five advantages of MPCs.
Understand PITI.
If you’re buying your first home, it’s good to know what makes up your monthly mortgage payment. In a word – or acronym – it’s PITI: principal, interest, taxes and insurance. Learn more about PITI at our blog.
Get tips from an expert.
Millennial Realtor Tyler Knowles, a resident of one of our sister communities in Texas, has 7 great tips for first-time buyers, including how to tell your “must haves” from your “want to haves,” and how to make a positive impression on sellers in a competitive market.
Compare renting vs. owning.
Renting makes sense for some, but for most people, the advantages of owning a home far outweigh paying rent every month. See 13 reasons why it’s better to own than rent.
Suburban life beats city living.
For some, living in a downtown high-rise or urban condo is the way to go. But for most of us, suburban life beats city living, especially if good schools and access to parks and trails are among your top priorities.
Is it time to move?
How do you know when that new-home itch is not just a passing fancy, and it’s really, really time to move? See 8 sure signs at our blog.
Finding the right community.
Austin’s vibrant real estate market offers a multitude of choices – but how do you know which community is best for you? Here are 5 things to think about.
To learn more about Sweetwater, including our vision for more than 700 acres of parks, trails, recreation centers and natural open spaces, check out the top 10 reasons Sweetwater residents love where they live.