Important Steps to Consider When Buying A House

Buying a house is one of the most important decisions you may have to make. Aspects such as the size of your new home, location, and its features will impact you for years to come.

The team at Campbell and Co are on hand to help and advise you once you have made the decision to buy a house. Our experienced team can recommend where and what you should buy based on your budget and criteria for your new home. We can also help with the negotiating with selling agents on your behalf.

So, if you’re interested in knowing the important steps we recommend considering when buying a house, stay tuned.

Is Buying A House Right For Me?

This is the first question you should ask yourself before you begin to look for potential homes to purchase. Buying a house is a lifetime goal for many people. It means more stability, an investment in your future and no longer having to rent properties.

Below we have outlined some questions to consider before deciding to buy a house:

Are You Buying A Home For The Short Term Or Long Term?

If you’re intending to buy a home for the short term, for example, if plans such as travelling mean you won’t be living in the property for a long period of time, renting may be a better option for you as purchasing a house may put financial pressure on such plans. If you do decide to purchase a home but won’t be around to manage the property yourself, we recommend hiring a property manager to ensure everything is as it should be during your absence.

Are You Financially Stable?

When buying a property, people tend to forget the added costs not included in the house price. These can include solicitors and mortgage adviser fees, the cost of new furniture and moving transportation fees. When you’re thinking of buying a home, take these additional costs into consideration and try to save a little bit extra to cover the costs.

How Is The Housing Market?

Once you have made the decision to buy a house, why not call in and have a chat with one of the team at Campbell and Co? Our trusted Sales and Lettings Advisors will be able to discuss current developments in the housing market, market inflation and how these factors could affect your buying process.

If you have taken the steps above into consideration and are happy with the current housing market and your budget, it’s time to start looking at potential homes. We have outlined below some steps to consider as you search the market when buying a house:

Determine A Budget For Buying A House 

The team at Campbell and Co will be able to advise you on an ideal budget when buying a house depending on the criteria you have in mind.

It’s important to have a budget in mind when you begin your search to buy a house. This is to ensure you aren’t wasting time looking at properties that are higher than your budget or homes that lack essential qualities for you.

Make a List of Your Features You Want

We recommend making a list of essential features you would like your ideal property to have. This is to ensure you aren’t wasting time viewing homes that simply don’t fit your criteria. Features can include:

• Close to the town or city of your choice
• A certain number of bedrooms
• Garden or outdoor area
• Parking
• Close proximity to public transport
• Close proximity to schools or your place of work
• Storage such as a garage

Search, Search, Search

After determining your budget, we recommend searching online for houses that fit your criteria. Make a note of any properties you like and their prices. This will give you an idea of how much your ideal property should cost.

Talk To An Estate Agent

Our team of experienced Sales and Letting Agents are on hand to help you buy your ideal home.

Buying a home with the assistance of a trusted estate agent takes a lot of the pressure off potential buyers who may be unaware of market changes and trends, or who may lack experience in negotiating with other sellers.

We can also offer potential buyers advice on funding and mortgages.

Mortgages and Funding 

Mortgages and funding can be one of the more complex steps to consider when buying a house. First, when it comes to this investment, we advise doing your research, taking your time and finding an agreement that works for you.

We also recommend researching mortgage interest rates. Remember that fees can vary significantly depending on many factors such as which mortgage provider you choose and if you are part of schemes such as the Help To Buy ISA.

Once you have chosen a mortgage provider, contact your solicitor to sort the relevant paperwork and you’re on your way to buying a house!

Are You Interested In Buying A House But Aren’t Sure Where To Start?

If you are interested in buying a property in Belfast or in the Holywood, Dundonald, Newtownabbey, Bangor and Lisburn areas, the team at Campbell and Co are here to help.

Please contact us for more information on how we can help you find your dream home and one of our team will be happy to help you with your enquiry.