As a financial coach, I want everyone to buy and invest in real estate. It is a proven investment strategy. I want to help, support, and educate everyone to be financially prepared on day one to afford their house so it can become a home of peace, love, and safety. Your new house will get you if you don't have a solid financial basis.
Time and time again, when I talk to clients preparing for their first house purchase, the picture they have in their mind is false. The picture they have is often of their parents, who have spent decades learning, buying, and investing in making their house a home. As I think of Terri and I and where we are with home ownership, we have invested countless hours learning and growing through the challenges of home ownership. We have acquired the knowledge and tools so that we can maintain some things ourselves, and more importantly, we have gained wisdom in knowing what we can’t do on our own.
So, let’s dive into what I call the home ownership awakening questions:
Are you aware of all the upfront costs for equipment and tools needed to maintain a home, inside and out?
Are you aware of the fees and taxes associated with buying a home?
Is your emergency fund fully funded to handle a disaster in the first six months of buying your home?
Does your area require home inspections during the purchasing process? If not, you should still plan for it.
Have you priced insurance?
When actually buying a house, do you fully understand the life expectancy of major components like roofs, HVAC, and appliances, and are you paying attention to the hidden costs that may surface upon purchase?
Do you have the time to own a home? Are you starting a new career, a new family, working two jobs, etc.? Home ownership takes time or money to maintain.
Do you know the change in utility costs for the size of house you are buying versus your current utility bills? Sometimes, that first house power bill can be sticker shock over your apartment you were renting.
Now, again, this post may sound like I’m telling you to delay buying your first home, so I want to end how I started. I want you to buy into real estate. I want to celebrate with you as you walk through the door of your new home. I just want you to learn, grow, and be financially prepared for day 2 of homeownership so that it becomes a home of peace, love, and safety immediately for you and your family.
Connect with us so we can help you achieve your goals with a solid financial foundation.
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