{"id":190,"date":"2019-02-12T19:25:36","date_gmt":"2019-02-12T19:25:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bundleloan.com\/blog\/?p=190"},"modified":"2021-08-12T15:18:14","modified_gmt":"2021-08-12T15:18:14","slug":"the-six-most-important-home-buying-decisions","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bundleloan.com\/blog\/the-six-most-important-home-buying-decisions\/","title":{"rendered":"The Six Most Important Home Buying Decisions"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/bundleloan.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/Bog-Post-Picture-300x161.png\" alt=\"Most important home buying decisions\" width=\"300\" height=\"161\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-194\" srcset=\"https:\/\/bundleloan.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/Bog-Post-Picture-300x161.png 300w, https:\/\/bundleloan.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/Bog-Post-Picture-768x411.png 768w, https:\/\/bundleloan.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/Bog-Post-Picture.png 859w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/>\u201cFocus on what you can control.\u201d This is common advice given to anyone looking to develop healthy habits and decrease stress. It\u2019s also great advice for a home buyer.<\/p>\n<p>Buying a home can be overwhelming. While many factors are important, some are things you just can\u2019t control. Focus instead on those you can control, namely, the decisions you need to make.<!--more--><\/p>\n<p>Before we get to the six most important decisions, we need to take a look at some important factors that are beyond your control, at least in the short term:<\/p>\n<h3><strong>Things You Can\u2019t Control<\/strong><\/h3>\n<h3>Income<\/h3>\n<p>Your income is one of the primary factors a bank will assess when reviewing your mortgage application. You may be thinking, \u201cWait a second, of course I can control how much money I make.\u201d True, you can start looking for new job or decide to go back to school to learn a new field. But if you\u2019re shopping for a home today, banks are going to look at your recent income. They may, for example, look at your last two years of tax returns in order to validate your income. There\u2019s nothing you can do today that will change what those tax returns are going to say.<\/p>\n<h3>Savings<\/h3>\n<p>This goes hand in hand with your income \u2013 important, but out of your immediate control. Sure, you can change your spending habits, but you can\u2019t change how much money is in your bank account today. You may be able to ask a friend or family member for gift funds to increase your savings, but, generally, the amount you currently have is set and reflects your past saving habits.<\/p>\n<h3>Credit score<\/h3>\n<p>Your credit score can have a huge impact on your ability to buy a home, but unless there are inaccurate blemishes on your credit report, your score is unlikely to change drastically in the short term. If you\u2019d like to review your credit report for inaccuracies, go to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.annualcreditreport.com\/index.action\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">AnnualCreditReport.com<\/a>. (You can do this free of charge once per year.) And while it\u2019s possible to make a short-term positive impact on your credit score by paying down large debt balances that show on your credit report, you should compare the benefit of an increase in your credit score with the impact to your savings and down payment amount.<\/p>\n<h3>The housing market<\/h3>\n<p>It can be frustrating to shop for a home in a hot market. You may have to compete in a bidding war, or you may travel across town to an open house and find out that the home, which has been on the market for only a few hours, is already under contract.<\/p>\n<h3>The interest-rate market<\/h3>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.investopedia.com\/terms\/i\/interestrate.asp\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">Interest rates<\/a> (the primary cost of your mortgage) can change over a short period of time. While you have the option to lock in your interest rate and thus avoid the risk of an upward move in rates, you cannot control the market. Also, be very wary of anyone who has a strong opinion on the direction and magnitude of any short-term interest rate changes. If they really were able to predict rates, they\u2019d be making millions trading in the bond market.<\/p>\n<h3><strong>Things You Can Control: The Six Most Important Home-Buying Decisions<\/strong><\/h3>\n<h3>1. Monthly mortgage payment<\/h3>\n<p>You should complete a monthly budget. Use your after-tax monthly income and subtract all your non-housing expenses: car payments, groceries, travel, shopping \u2013 everything. Whatever is left you can split between savings and your mortgage payment. Let\u2019s go through an example. If you get paid twice a month, and your paycheck is $3,000, your monthly income after taxes and deductions is $6,000 ($3,000 X 2 paychecks). If your monthly expenses add up to $4,000, you\u2019re left with $2,000 ($6,000\u2013$4,000). Of that $2,000, you might choose to save $500 a month and spend $1,500 a month on a mortgage payment. Going through this process will make you more comfortable.<br \/>\nMany home buyers make the mistake of assuming a mortgage preapproval letter can replace a monthly budget. While preapprovals are important, they\u2019re meant to show real estate agents and home sellers that the bank is comfortable approving you for a given loan amount. It\u2019s very possible you aren\u2019t the typical customer. You may want to save a little more than the average person, or you may prefer to spend $1,000 a month on shopping or traveling. Your budget is for your comfort, and your home is one of the largest purchases you\u2019re ever likely to make. (By the way, <a href=\"https:\/\/bundleloan.com\/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">Bundle<\/a> has great <a href=\"https:\/\/bundleloan.com\/mortgages\/mortgage-calculators\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">budgeting tools<\/a>.)<\/p>\n<p>Read more about your monthly mortgage payment <a href=\"https:\/\/bundleloan.com\/blog\/your-monthly-mortgage-payment-an-important-decision\/\">here<\/a>.<\/p>\n<h3>2. Down payment<\/h3>\n<p>A down payment is the amount you must pay up front, the day you buy your home. Let\u2019s assume you have $50,000 in your savings account. It\u2019s a good idea to set aside three to six months\u2019 expenses as a buffer if something unforeseen happens, such as losing your job or having to care for a relative. In our budget example above, your monthly expenses were $5,500 ($4,000 for your non-housing expenses + $1,500 for your mortgage payment). If you were to set aside three months\u2019 expenses, $16,500 ($5,500 X 3), you would have $33,500 left ($50,000-$16,500). And in buying a home, you\u2019ll most likely have expenses in addition to your down payment, such as your contribution to the mortgage escrow account and the cost of title insurance. Let\u2019s say those add up to $3,500. You are left with $30,000 ($33,500 – $3,500) that you can use for a down payment.<\/p>\n<p>Read more about your down payment <a href=\"https:\/\/bundleloan.com\/blog\/your-down-payment-an-important-decision\/\">here<\/a>.<\/p>\n<h3>3. Mortgage term<\/h3>\n<p>A mortgage term is the length of time it will take to pay back your mortgage. The most common term is 30 years, but there are benefits in choosing a 15-year term. In our example, with a $1,500 mortgage payment and $30,000 down payment, you\u2019d roughly be able to buy a $190,000 home if you chose a 15-year term or a $240,000 home if you chose a 30-year term. You\u2019re able to afford a more expensive home with the 30-year term because you\u2019re spreading the cost over a longer period of time \u2013 but remember that you\u2019re paying interest for twice as long and your loan amount will decrease at a slower pace. Your decision should be based on your level of comfort with debt and risk.<\/p>\n<h3>4. Choosing a solid real estate agent<\/h3>\n<p>If you get this decision right, the others will be easier, because your real estate agent is meant to be a trusted advisor for every step in the home-buying process. Choose your agent based on an enthusiastic recommendation from friends or family. If they\u2019re excited to give you the name of the agent they used, that\u2019s the person! Today, anyone can go online and see all the homes for sale. But a good agent will be able to guide you to the right areas based on your preferences and then consult you on the right offer to make when you find the home you love.<br \/>\nIn addition to being an expert in the housing market, a great real estate agent knows the services market too. Based on experience, they\u2019ll be able to recommend loan officers, home inspectors, painters, lawyers, and insurance agents they know will take care of you. Don\u2019t simply choose the first real estate agent who calls you \u2013 take your time. Selecting the right one can save you time, money, and stress.<\/p>\n<h3>5. Shopping around for a mortgage<\/h3>\n<p>There\u2019s an important point to remember when buying a home with a mortgage: you\u2019re shopping for two main things. First, you\u2019re buying the actual home, and, second, you\u2019re also buying a loan. That loan \u2013 the mortgage \u2013 has a price tag, just as the home has a price tag. Since you\u2019re buying the money that you\u2019re borrowing in the form of a mortgage, it\u2019s important to shop for the best value, just as you would in a home. You wouldn\u2019t tour only one home, and you shouldn\u2019t talk to only one bank. Your real estate agent will have a list of mortgage loan officers they trust if you don’t already have someone. Choose among them based on how well they answer your questions and on the cost of the mortgage they offer.<br \/>\nThere are a few numbers you can use to compare mortgage costs. Annual percentage rate, or APR, combines up-front charges with monthly charges going forward and presents them as a rate. Some people find this difficult to understand, because we don\u2019t buy things in percentages in our daily lives. The cashier at the grocery store doesn\u2019t give you a percentage when you check out. They give you a dollar amount. That\u2019s why, if you\u2019re going to focus on one comparison, \u201cin five years\u201d is a good choice. This shows you the total amount you\u2019ll pay over a five-year period, along with the amount of the mortgage balance you\u2019ll have paid off. Having multiple high-quality mortgage options puts you in control, but you can only get to this point if you\u2019ve made the decision to shop around.<\/p>\n<h3>6. \u201cDo I still want to buy a home?\u201d<\/h3>\n<p>What? Of course you want to buy a home! After all, you\u2019re shopping for one, aren\u2019t you? Nevertheless, at every step of the process, constantly ask yourself if you\u2019re still comfortable. Things can move fast, really fast. You may casually request information on a home for sale, and the next thing you know, it feels like you\u2019re on an unstoppable train. The phone starts ringing off the hook and you\u2019re talking with banks, real estate agents, insurance agents, and home inspectors. Then you\u2019re running around town touring every home with three bedrooms, a basement, and a fence.<br \/>\nIt\u2019s important to remember that your real estate agent, mortgage loan officer, and insurance company all make money when you buy a home. Yes, they\u2019re working for you, but if you ever feel truly uncomfortable, as if you\u2019re going down the wrong path, be honest and tell them how you feel. You may decide, with your agent\u2019s help, to refocus your search on smaller homes or another neighborhood \u2013 you may even decide to pause your search. These are all better options than regretting a purchase. Buying a home can be an exciting experience, but make sure you\u2019re honest with yourself and are constantly asking, \u201cDo I still want to buy a home?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>If you remember to focus on the things you can control \u2013 those six important decisions you need to make \u2013 then you\u2019re sure to end up in a more comfortable place. Happy home shopping!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>\u201cFocus on what you can control.\u201d This is common advice given to anyone looking to develop healthy habits and decrease stress. It\u2019s also great advice for a home buyer. Buying a home can be overwhelming. While many factors are important, some are things you just can\u2019t control. Focus instead on those you can control, namely, […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"quote","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[10],"tags":[12,14],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v21.5 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>The Six Most Important Home Buying Decisions - Bundle<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Focus on these six important decisions when you are buying a home. Mortgage Payment, Down Payment, Real Estate Agent, Mortgage Shopping, and you Budget.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/bundleloan.com\/blog\/the-six-most-important-home-buying-decisions\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"The Six Most Important Home Buying Decisions - Bundle\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Focus on these six important decisions when you are buying a home. Mortgage Payment, Down Payment, Real Estate Agent, Mortgage Shopping, and you Budget.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/bundleloan.com\/blog\/the-six-most-important-home-buying-decisions\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Bundle\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/bundleloan\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2019-02-12T19:25:36+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2021-08-12T15:18:14+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/bundleloan.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/Bog-Post-Picture-300x161.png\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Eric Mager\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:creator\" content=\"@ericmager\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@bundleloan\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Eric Mager\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"9 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/bundleloan.com\/blog\/the-six-most-important-home-buying-decisions\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/bundleloan.com\/blog\/the-six-most-important-home-buying-decisions\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Eric Mager\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/bundleloan.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/94283bb24af42ea9bf6852e177593e66\"},\"headline\":\"The Six Most Important Home Buying Decisions\",\"datePublished\":\"2019-02-12T19:25:36+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2021-08-12T15:18:14+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/bundleloan.com\/blog\/the-six-most-important-home-buying-decisions\/\"},\"wordCount\":1779,\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/bundleloan.com\/blog\/#organization\"},\"keywords\":[\"Mortgage Calculator\",\"Mortgage Rates\"],\"articleSection\":[\"Homebuyer\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/bundleloan.com\/blog\/the-six-most-important-home-buying-decisions\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/bundleloan.com\/blog\/the-six-most-important-home-buying-decisions\/\",\"name\":\"The Six Most Important Home Buying Decisions - Bundle\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/bundleloan.com\/blog\/#website\"},\"datePublished\":\"2019-02-12T19:25:36+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2021-08-12T15:18:14+00:00\",\"description\":\"Focus on these six important decisions when you are buying a home. 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