By: Natasha Archary

Walking into a potential home as a first-time home buyer often comes with an overwhelming amount of emotions. One doesn’t have too much time to spend at the property before putting in an offer to purchase.
Lara Nathan from Listing Jozi says that planning ahead can make or break a decision for first-time home buyers.
“Having a checklist can assist in narrowing your search down to the home that meets most of your requirements. Find the home that ticks most of your boxes and make the rest work.
Everything seems impossible until you break it down into your own understanding which is wy planning is important when it comes to committing yourself financially.
Start your journey by doing a credit check to see what the loaning institution is willing to loan you based on your affordability and stick within a budget that you feel comfortable with.”
Plan before committing yourself financially
With so many properties on the market, it’s important to know where to draw the line in terms of budget, to make sure that you live comfortably while paying off your bond.
Once you have identified your ideal home, make sure you confirm and are aware of the transfer and bond cost of the particular property you have placed an offer to purchase on.
Location Location Location!
When it comes to buying your first property, Lara explains that the location of the property is important. Buying in an up-and-coming area means that you will likely see a return on your investment should you ever decide to sell.
Similarly, buying in a less likeable area could mean that you could land up selling your property cheaper than the price you paid for it.
Don’t overthink it
For many first-time buyers, purchasing a home often signifies a momentous occasion in their lives. Naturally, because of the massive financial cost of a home, Lara says many first-time buyers overthink the small details when it comes to buying their first property.
Buying a home is a massive decision and can be a scary one too, especially when it’s your first home. First-time buyers often fall into the trap of overthinking every little detail by trying to find the perfect home.
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