1. What can you afford? One of the biggest mistakes that people make is starting to shop for home before finding out how much they can get in a mortgage loan. This can lead to big disappointment when they discover that what they are actually eligible for does not meet the amount they need for the home they have already found. To this end, any buyer should get fully pre-approved for a mortgage before the home shopping starts in earnest. Once this is done then you will know exactly what you can afford in a home and there won't be any disappointments.
2. Be aware of ALL of your costs. Another thing that many people do not take into account when buying a home is the large number of additional costs that are involved with the purchase. There are many costs associated with closing on a home that will have to be provisioned for as well. One thing that you should always figure into the cost of the home is the closing costs. Make sure that you get a good faith estimate of these costs from your lender so that you can build them into the budget when the time comes. Also, don't forget the inspections that will need to be done in order for the home to clear closing. This is a standard subject on real estate transactions that no buyer should pass over. Inspections will tell you if there are any structural concerns that could be detrimental to the sale or to you as the buyer. Also, try to factor any immediate improvements into your budget so that the money is there if you choose to do them right off the bat.
