Trying to Buy a house in your 20s?

In your 20s, there’s so much going on with your life, especially figuring yourself out! It’s about fulfilling and preparing yourself for success. Just trying to have fun and being young, but you also go through the quarter-life crisis better known as your 20’s which could include college loans, extra expenses, and your first entry-level job.  When you think about homeownership, you think it’s beyond your reach. Believe it or not, that’s not the case!

Anything is possible, becoming a first-time home buyer is a big life decision!

So, if you think you’re ready, what are you waiting for? Here’s how you can make your first home-buying dream come true! 

Handle your Student loan debt

If you have student loan debt, you are not alone! College debt shouldn’t prevent you from buying a house.

When looking for a home, most Mortgage lenders look at a borrower’s debt-to-income ratio. The lender will find this ratio by adding your monthly debt payments and then dividing that number by your income. This will help determine the amount you can afford for a mortgage loan.

Another way to make room for mortgage payment is to refinance your student loans and extend it.

Purchase your dream home

When looking for your home as a first-time home buyer make sure to find the best house for you and your needs. A starter home may be the best option! After all, it’ll be your first, not your last! You don’t have to buy your forever home just yet.

Remember, make sure it’s something you’d be happy living in 5 years or so. 

Prepared for home expenses

Always be prepared by having emergency money for home repairs. Homeowners handle all the home repairs. If renovations need to be made, you are left to hire the right contractor and pay the bill. If you need to renovate the kitchen or repair roof damage, for instance, it’s up to you to take on responsibility as the home owner. All this in the long run can add up to a fairly large amount of money.

Remember to keep track of your budget!

In the end, owning a home is the best thing that can happen especially in your 20s. The best way to ensure your home-buying process is a confident one, please don’t hesitate to reach out a full team of mortgage professionals. Call us at 770-552-1000. We’re happy to help you make the best decision.

Is a One-Story Home better than a Two-Story Home?

You probably have an idea of what type of home appeals to you most. People will find one-story homes also known as Ranch style more appealing than a two-story home, but that’s a matter of personal taste and architectural style. Whether you have an eye on a bungalow or a colonial house, one-story ranch home has plenty of positive aspects.

Here are some factors to consider on a one-story ranch style home:

Quieter living

Let’s face it, there’s no up-stairs so you won’t hear a lot of jumping and running around from above. If you have kids, a one-story home might be a nice quiet option.

Easier to clean

It’s easier to access and clean gutters, roof, and outside walls. Let’s not forget, you don’t need to worry about vacuuming up and down stairs.

Safer than 2-story homes

Child safety plays a big factor when you have a family. People with children, are not big fans of stairs. It’s too easy to slip and fall down the stairs, so it’s best to eliminate that risk.

Easier to age in place

If you plan on staying in your dream home until retirement, then a one-story ranch style home is easier to get around than a two-story home. As people age, stairs become more difficult to climb. So, might as well make it become a forever home.

So, what do you think?

In the end, I believe it comes down to personal taste. Once you have your down payment saved up, you will be ready to shop for a home. Owning a home is one of the best thing that can happen. What is the right choice, for you?

Additionally, why not learn all about mortgage loans for first-time home buyers while saving for your house? If you want a full team of Mortgage professional, we’re happy to help you make the best decision.

Please don’t hesitate to reach out to us for more details: 770-552-1000. We look forward to hearing from you!

Questions You Should Consider Asking a Real Estate Agent

Are you a first-time home buyer and ready to purchase a home?

Finding the right real estate agent can be a struggle, especially one that meets your needs! So, how do you really know which agent is right for you? 

To help you figure this out, you need to throw a few curveballs by asking them questions. Here are two questions you probably should ask a real estate agent.  

If you were looking to buy a place, where would you move and why?

This question will help you align with the right agent. Having a similar lifestyle can make things easier and help your agent find homes with characteristic’s that might matter to you.

For instance, if you and your agent both have kids. She’ll mention which neighborhoods have the best school and parks to go to. Ultimately, your agent will help you drastically narrow your search results to find something your entire family will be happy with.

You want to find the right agent that can put themselves in your shoes. 

How do you help buyers come to a decision?

By first finding out what the buyers really want and managing their expectations.

A list of all the pros the home should have can only take you so far. Although, this will reduce your search process as you look online, having professional input from a real estate agent is always helpful.

You want to find an agent that will make you feel comfortable, especially an agent that will help you focus on what you really need in a home.

Additionally, why not learn all about mortgage loans for first time buyers while looking for a real estate agent? If you want a full team of mortgage professionals, we’re happy to help you make the best decision.

Please don’t hesitate to reach out to us for more details: 770-552-1000. We look forward to hearing from you!

Should you Buy your Forever Home First?

The best thing about searching for your dream home is finding all the things you want in a home. It’s one thing when you buy a starter home but purchasing a forever home you need to think about what might meet your future needs. Let this sink in and ask yourself, “Do you know where you are in life? And is a starter home or a forever home best for you?”

We’ll help you decide if a forever home is calling your name. Let’s dive into things to consider when you buy your forever home.

A Forever Home

A forever home is generally occupied for much longer periods of time than a starter home. When you start searching for a forever home, a big factor might be the entry into the home. The optimal entry into your forever home is zero-step. Keep in mind, if you’re living there the rest of your life you don’t want to walk up numerous steps or hike up a hill just to get in front of the door. 

Also, you may want to consider on how big of a space you want instead of waiting until you really need that extra room.  

Think about it: What if you’re planning a wedding or expecting a child? Might as well skip the starter home to save some trouble and jump right into your forever home.

Tips for Buying a Forever Home

So how much can you afford? It depends, the amount of down payment you have will help you narrow down the price range on your forever home. Try to match your expectation with your budget.

Remember to look beyond your monthly mortgage and take into consideration costs such as utilities, homeowner’s association fees, cable, and internet. Although for someone who has never owned a home before, it does bring a good amount of responsibilities that might take some by surprise.  

If you’re a millennial and ready to purchase your forever home, please don’t hesitate to contact us at 770-552-1000. We look forward to hearing from you!