Planning to buy a new home in the new year? Start now.
Getting a jump on the housing market could help you buy sooner, smarter, and cheaper. To get ready to buy a new home in the new year, follow these five steps:
1. Make a list.
Step one in the home-buying process is to make a list of what you need and want in your home. Examples of popular “wants” include an open floor plan, spacious backyard, gas appliances, quartz or granite kitchen countertops, walk-in closets and a three-car garage. To get more ideas, think about things you don’t like about where you currently live and imagine options that would be better for you.
When you list your wants, consider your lifestyle as well as your design preferences. For example, if you plan to do a lot of gardening, you might want a larger backyard for raised beds or a bigger patio for containers.
Ranking your needs and wants in order of importance can be helpful to clarify your goals and ensure you’ll get what’s most important to you.
2. Do research.
The next step is to research mortgage loans, school districts, and new homes that are for sale in locations you like and spend as much time there as you can to narrow down your options.
As you do your research, keep in mind that you may have to adjust your “wants” to fit your budget. Home design websites and magazines typically showcase “the best of the best” and those rooms can prove costly to copy.
3. Set aside savings.
You should also set aside savings for moving costs, home repairs and maintenance and other homeowner expenses.
Newly built homes come with a builder’s warranty and various manufacturer’s warranties that can cover many repairs for some time. Warranties don’t cover everything, however, so you should prepared for some additional costs. Make a separate budget for improvements that typically aren’t included with your new home, such as window coverings, landscaping, and fences.
4. Talk to a New Home Expert.
Another good tip is to talk to a New Home Expert on the phone, online, or in our design studio. A New Home Expert can answer questions about floor plans, pricing, square footage, lot locations, and more.
If you’re struggling to nail down your needs and wants, we can help you do that. And if you and your spouse (or other co-buyers) have seemingly irreconcilable desires and expectations, we can suggest compromises and solutions.
5. Make a decision.
Buying a new construction home can be overwhelming, as well as fun and exciting! For that reason, you shouldn’t rush the process or worry if it takes you a long time to make a decision.
Some buyers have time constraints like getting married, having a child, or relocating for a job that force them to make a fast decision. If you’re not in that type of situation, be patient with yourself and your spouse while you’re doing researching and making a decision to buy a new home. When you find a home that meets your needs and fits your budget, you’ll be ready to go ahead and buy it.
Mayberry Homes is an award-winning home builder dedicated to building 100% ENERGY STAR new homes in Michigan. We build in our communities or On Your Lot within a 40 mile radius around Lansing, Michigan.
For more information on our new homes and communities, please call or email us.
517-371-5000
info@mayberryhomes.com
www.MayberryHomes.com
Main Office & Design Studio
1650 Kendale Blvd.
Suite 200
East Lansing, MI 48823
