Can You Afford To Buy A Home?

By Author: Rob Parker
Total Articles: 311
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Most young people we talk to today believe they can't afford to buy a home. The average house price really freaks them out. But the reality is this: with mortgage rates being so low, most people can typically buy with rent-like mortgage payments
So, why not explore?
Check out how much you can afford by clicking on a mortgage calculator. Most real estate, bank and mortgage broker websites have one. The calculator will tell you what size of mortgage you can afford. Simply compare the monthly payment to what you are currently paying in rent. You may be surprised.

Consider buying with a friend or with family. Co-buying has become really popular in NYC and London where people can't afford to buy on their own. This is not typically a life long relationship, but rather a way to sink some money into an investment with you and your friends being the tenants.

If you have some cash for a down payment, it will really help. Perhaps, you have baby boomer parents that are ready to dish out some of their wealth. Just ask them.

Your credit rating is really important. It will determine if you need ...
... to make a down payment, get a co-signor or have to continue renting.

Lower your expectations. Consider purchasing an older home or a fixer upper. These homes may need some tender loving care in order to be the home that you had originally envisioned, but just think of the gratification you will feel when friends, family and neighbours make favourable comments regarding your homes new appearance.

Choose a different location. Look at homes in an industrial area or the east end of the city. The costs of these houses are usually much less, as the stigma still remains regarding pollutants, noise, etc being emitted from nearby factories, however, due to government regulations these neighbourhoods enjoy the same clean air and lower noise levels as everyone else.

Owning your own home is a really wonderful experience. You can turn up the music, change the interior as you want and never have to rely on a landlord again. Another positive with owning your own piece of real estate is that you are making an investment in your future, building equity that can be used for any future home purchases.