Are you thinking of upgrading your home? Are you tired of renting? Wellit’s definitely not too late as the buying season is upon us. Here are couplequick tips to keep in mind:
Tip #1: Make a personal budget. If you’ve been renting all yourlife and now looking to buy then it’s not a bad idea to put pen to paper andget an idea your monthly expenses.
Tip #2: Get a mortgage pre-approval with a mortgage broker. A mortgage pre-approval will give you a good ideaof your buying power. Look closely at your future mortgage payments, taxes,heating, and new home insurance costs. Ask yourself, does this make sense? Doesthis fit within your personal budget?
Tip #3: Save for a downpayment. Try to save at least 5-10% of your purchase price. You also canconvert your RRSPs to help you with that down payment. Did you know you can useup to $25,000 per applicant? If you only have a little aside but not enough fora full 5% then consider a "cash back mortgage" but look at the fine print.
Tip #4: Build good credit.Credit is very important. As a first time buyer it’s a good idea to have atleast two major trade lines for good two years. Hmm I think I've said this before...pay your credit cards on time. Watch your limits. And keep those creditinquiries in check. Too many can definitely effect your credit score.
If you have a mortgage, debt-related questions or would like to sharean experience feel free to contact me. Havea great week.
