8 Common Mistakes First-Time Home Buyers Make
Buying a home is stressful — especially if it’s your first time.
In fact, about 40% of first-time home buyers said it was the most stressful event of their entire lives, according to a 2018 survey by Homes.com.
“It’s the American dream. You get excited. But you need to be prepared for it.
From choosing the wrong mortgage to taking on too much debt, there are major pitfalls awaiting wrong decisions.
Last year, first-time buyers made up a third of all home buyers. While it’s easy to make rookie mistakes, Andy Sukhu (Founder and CEO of Y2K Credit Solutions) says, knowing what common issues to plan for — and what to expect — will make the process smoother.
Those who are looking to make the leap in 2020, amid a volatile housing market and a deeply uncertain economic outlook, should be extra cautious about making the wrong move. By anticipating and avoiding these eight first-time home buyer mistakes, you can set yourself up for success.
Buying a Home When You Have Debt
Buying a home when you have debt is like running a marathon with weights around your ankles, says Andy.
Before taking on a ‘huge’ new mortgage, you should be financially unencumbered.
“I’ve seen people jump ahead and buy a home when they’re in debt, and then lo and behold something in the house breaks and they don’t have the money to fix it. So it ends up being more of a curse than a blessing instead.”
Andy advises people to “push pause” on buying a home until they’ve tackled all of their existing debt first, including credit cards, car loans, and even student loan debt.
Once you’ve paid off your debt, Andy suggests building up an emergency fund of three to six months’ worth of expenses — and then saving for a home down payment.
“Regardless of what the market is doing, I think it’s a better path to get out of debt, save up a down payment, and do it the right way. People who have done it that way have said it’s so much easier to enjoy the house, not just buy one.”
Not Saving Enough for a Down Payment
If you’re getting a mortgage, one of the worst mistakes you can make is not putting down a large enough down payment. Andy says any amount less than 10% is way too low.
“Save as much as possible,” Andy says. “I recommend saving at least 20% of the total house price to avoid paying private mortgage insurance.”
A larger down payment lets you get a smaller mortgage, giving you more equity in the home and potentially lower monthly payments — and you’ll pay a lot less interest over the life of a loan.
The reality is most people don’t put 20% down on a home.
The down payment is the biggest hurdle to buying a home, and it takes more than seven years for an average home buyer to save a 20% down payment on a typical-valued home, according to Zillow research. The average first-time home buyer puts 5% down on a house, according to the National Association of Realtors.
If you’re having trouble saving for a sizable down payment, consider whether you’re financially ready to buy a home. Further, if you’ve decided that putting down a smaller down payment makes sense for you, explore your options.
Technically, you can put down as little as 3% for a conventional mortgage or 3.5% for a Federal Housing Administration (FHA) loan. Plus, there are some grant programs for first-time home buyers at the local and state level. A good lender will be in tune with what’s available in your market, explain how private mortgage insurance factors in, and help you navigate your options.
Buying a House You Can’t Afford
Before you start touring houses, figure out how much house you can afford. In many cases, lenders will pre-approve you for more than you need or would be wise to spend.
So if you haven’t already, it’s worth looking at what you have coming in and going out, and how much of your income you want your monthly mortgage payments to take up.
“A house payment should never cost more than 25% of your take-home pay,” Andy says. “That includes principal, interest, property taxes, homeowners insurance. And depending on your situation, it also includes private mortgage insurance and homeowner association fees.”
A mortgage payment you can’t afford is a particularly heavy burden, because it’s hard to change without selling the home or moving. If your mortgage turns out to be too much of a monthly payment, then you could find yourself in a difficult position.
Allowing the Market to Dictate Your Moves
It’s easy to get excited about buying a home when mortgage rates are hovering near historic lows, as they are now, but Andy says it’s worth pausing to figure out whether you’re making an impulsive decision.
“People are getting antsy because rates are low. But with money things, you don’t want to do anything in a rush. Buying a house is an emotional process, and you don’t want to confuse your feelings with logic by rushing through it. Too often, first-timers get swept off their feet by the first home they see and they fail to consider the financial responsibilities that come with purchasing a home.”
Regardless of low interest rates, if you don’t have the cash for a down payment and the means to budget for a mortgage payment and other home-ownership costs, then it’s not the best time for you to buy a home. Most experts don’t predict interest rates to rise anytime soon.
Not Getting Preapproved
Getting pre-approved — not just pre-qualified — gives you a leg up on the home-buying process. A mortgage pre-approval letter not only tells a seller you’re serious, but also means the paperwork process will move faster if your offer is accepted.
It also makes you a more educated buyer because it lets you know the amount of money you can borrow from a lender to buy a home. The lender uses your credit, income, assets, and debts to determine whether you qualify for a mortgage and for how much.
Even after you’re pre-approved, check in with your lender regularly to make sure you still qualify since lending standards have tightened during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Getting the Wrong Kind of Mortgage
There are all types of mortgages out there.
For example, fixed-rate mortgages allow you to lock in your interest rates, while adjustable-rate mortgages have an APR that will change with the markets over time — so when rates go up, your payment could go up too.
One of the first decisions you’ll have to make is the term of your mortgage, or how long your payment plan will last. Roughly 90% of homeowners choose a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage, according to Freddie Mac.
Andy says you should take out a 15-year fixed-rate mortgage instead. The 30-year mortgage is more popular because it generally requires less cash up front and offers lower payments month to month. But the trade-off is that you’ll pay more interest over the long term.
“You’ll make your payments comfortably with a 30-year mortgage, but it’s a better deal to pay the extra $400 to $500 a month by going with a 15-year fixed-rate mortgage,” Andy says. “You’ll pay your mortgage off in half the time.”
Compare different offers to see how the term of your mortgage will affect your monthly payments and total interest. If you feel more comfortable going with a 30-year mortgage, you also have the option to pay it off as if it’s a 15-year mortgage by making additional payments toward the principal each month. Andy says some people can pay off their mortgage in as little as 11 years this way.
“Lenders want you to stay in debt as long as possible because they earn interest off of you. People will typically sign on for a 30-year mortgage, and there’s even talk of a 40-year mortgage coming down the pike There’s no reason to sign on for a 30-year mortgage. You’re going to pay so much more interest over the life of the loan.”
Choosing the Wrong Lender
When it comes to picking a mortgage lender, you want someone who talks with you and not at you, according to Andy. Many people neglect to build a relationship with their lender and put all their focus on finding the best real estate agent, but having the right lender is a crucial step in the home-buying process.
“It’s really important to work with the right lender, because this is your largest monetary asset,” Andy said. “You want someone who’s going to educate you and guide you.”
A good lender who has your best interest in mind will give you multiple options to choose from for a down payment, a mortgage term, and other variables that go into buying a house.
Andy says the biggest red flag to look out for with a lender is getting no explanation behind their financial recommendations. And if you feel rushed during the process, that’s another red flag.
“You don’t want to deal with a lender that’s not really taking the time to explain all the nuisances and details of what it’s going to take and what you’re going to need at closing,” Andy says. “It’s a lot of documents and paperwork, so you want to make sure you understand all the numbers — where they are and how they work.”
Andy says there’s nothing wrong with waiting or slowing down the process to be really clear on the numbers. “This is your decision and something you’ll have to pay for. This is not an emotional decision, this is a business decision. So you don’t want to rush it.”
Co-signing Your Mortgage
Some lenders will ask you to name a cosigner if you’ve got outstanding debt, a poor credit history, or lack of income. A cosigner could be a close friend, a family member, or a spouse who has a strong credit score and a steady income.
That’s a serious mistake, Andy says.
On paper, it sounds like a good idea to have someone with stronger financial standing help you buy a home. However, Andy says it’s high risk and low reward for both parties involved. With a cosigner, you may be able to lock in a better interest rate and lower fees — but if you can’t make payments on your mortgage, the cosigner will be responsible for the bill.
If you can’t afford to buy a house without a cosigner, Andy recommends postponing your purchase. “This helps protect your financial future and sets you up for home-buying success.
