Every journey begins with a first step. The first step in buying is how big of a home can You afford? You do not want to overextend yourself financially to purchase a home as lenders will also be on the lookout for loans that may not be repaid that can harm their balance sheet. When you are in the market to buy a home, here are some things that you should consider.

How Big of a Home Can You Afford: Each Square Foot

A home that is seemingly inexpensive may still come with hidden costs. You should divide the purchase price of the home by the amount of square footage to figure out the true cost of the home. At the same time, homes that have more space in terms of square footage will cost more to maintain even if they do not set you back much at the purchase time. Higher costs can be reflected in increased bills for homeowner’s insurance and electricity. You will also have increased maintenance costs depending on the square footage of your home.

What Can You Really Afford?

Homes that are sold for less than the estimated value are great for investors and homebuyers alike. Still, you will need to get a loan to purchase a home, most likely, and this will depend on your credit rating. There are various Q&A factors that determine your eligibility for certain loans and their terms. These Q&A factors apply even under CECL, so be sure to get the best loan possible. You should carefully scrutinize the costs of the loan since they will increase what comes out of your pocket in terms of affording the home.

How Big of a Home Can You Afford: Your Expected Income

You need to factor in all the costs and compare it to your expected income when deciding whether you can afford a particular home. You do not want your monthly payment to exceed 28 percent of your gross monthly income. Do not make overly rosy financial assumptions because your income is your hard limit. Lenders will be carefully paying attention to the numbers as well. If you are very close to the line of affordability, lenders may be hesitant because if you hit a financial rough patch, you will be in jeopardy of defaulting on your loan payments. Then that puts both you and the lender in a precarious position.

Just looking at the purchase price of the home during the buying process is not enough. You need to take into account a variety of factors when deciding whether a particular home makes sense.

You may also like: 3 Best Mortgage Loans for First-Time Home Buyers

If you’re thinking of selling your home, contact us so we can help!

 Steelbridge Realty LLC  is a Licensed Real Estate Brokerage that utilizes cutting-edge marketing techniques and data-driven Real Estate solutions in today’s ever-changing environment. Our group of professionals have decades of experience and have navigated through many business cycles. Our diverse background gives us the tools to guide people towards successful decisions.

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