We all have visions of our perfect dream house, something we aspire to own in the future. For me and Jon it’s something modern and open plan, a big kitchen, wooden floors, huge windows, simple white walls and lots of storage options! (We don’t ask for much!) But for others it might be a small cozy cottage in the country side or a bright open beach front property. We all have an idea of our perfect home that we are working towards.
First homes are rarely our dream homes. In most cases our first step on the property ladder is an affordable property, much smaller or less impressive than our dream home. In our case we were also quite desperate to move out of my parents house, so we did jump on the first house we liked, rather than spending longer looking at what was on the market. But your second or 3rd home might well be your forever home and with it being so easy to switch your mortgage now, you could be on your way to that dream home before you know it.
So if your striving to obtain that perfect forever home here are a few tips to help get you started and keep you on track.
Set Milestones
First and foremost you need to set goals. Whether that be price goals, moving goals, or just contacting a mortgage advisor to get the ball rolling. Even if you’re not planning on moving for another year the sooner you start getting organised, the easier it’ll be down the line. With having children, it’ll also be easier to start planning around term times. The long summers are the best time to do it, and the property market is usually booming at that time of year.
Make A decision
Deciding exactly what type of property you want needs to come first. In most cases, you and your partner will want slightly different things. You’ll want the cute beach house for long strolls and the beautiful sunsets. He’ll want somewhere out in the sticks, preferably where he can chop things down and make them into household items. Somewhere manly. You’ll also need to decide on budget. If you’re lucky enough to be going for a six figure house, you need to go with a company that deal with a high value mortgage to get the best deal. You also need to make a decision on what will be best for your children. If they’re already well into high school, moving too far will mean a whole new fresh and scary start, so try to keep them in mind just a little.
Start Saving!
You’ll already know before reading this post, that moving is an expensive deal. So the earlier you begin saving the better. Try exciting ways of raising the money that the kids can get involved with. Clear out the attic of all those old toys and games, and try have a yard sale to raise a little extra cash. See if any family members or friends have anything they’d like to contribute for free to help you raise the extra money. Cutting back on expensive days out and unnecessary spendings should start as soon as possible. You’ll have fresh solicitor and moving fees to pay that you won’t have accounted for.
Get Your House Value
Once you’ve figured out where and what your dream home is, you need to see how much of a loss you’ll be at by moving. Or if you can afford the new mortgage all together. But firstly, get your home valued as it may have gone up in price since you bought it. The real estate world is so volatile, you could be in for more money than you imagined. Try finding ways to add value to your home so you can get more for it when you sell.
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*This is a collaborative post*