In the current economy, there are a lot of millennials who are thinking about buying a home; however, the price of homes is rising quickly. It can be challenging for millennials to save the money they need to buy a home. When this is combined with other monthly expenses they have, millennials might be financially unprepared to buy a home.
Finding the right house takes patience and discipline, so millennials need to avoid jumping in unprepared. What do millennials need to do to make sure they are ready for the expenses that come with owning a home?
Be Aware Of How Much Money Is Required
The first thing that millennials need to do is make sure they have enough money saved up. If prospective homeowners do not have enough money saved up, they could be denied financing by a lender. Conventional mortgage lenders will ask for 20 percent down to avoid PMI, but it might be possible for homebuyers to get a home for as little as 3.5 percent down from some lenders. If the home costs $250,000, then 3.5 percent down is going to be $8,750. If prospective homebuyers have less than this saved up, they could be denied a loan.
After saving up enough money for the down payment, homebuyers also need to cover closing costs. This could include the inspection, the appraisal, and any fees that come from the closing attorney. Even if millennials have parents and grandparents to help them, they still need to save up an emergency fund to cover any possible repairs that are needed. It is a solid rule of thumb to save up and move at least three to six months of emergency money in a liquidity fund. If this money is not there, it might be better to wait.
Millennials Should Wait For The Right Time Instead Of Jumping In Unprepared
Even though it is a great investment to own a home, it is better to wait for the right time instead of jumping in unprepared. Millennials need to make sure they have enough money saved up for a down payment. Then, they should have an additional two to five percent of the loan’s value saved up to cover closing costs. Finally, homeowners should also have a liquidity fund with three to six months of living expenses set aside.
There are many people who are currently looking to purchase a home while interest rates are relatively low; however, there are many homeowners who feel like they do not have a strong level of financial understanding when it comes to the process of purchasing a home.
If you are planning on purchasing a home in the near future, you need to make sure you have enough money saved up. While there are a lot of expenses that go along with purchasing a home, the biggest expense is the down payment.
For those who are looking to buy a home, they know that this is one of the most exciting experiences in the world. There is something special that comes with looking at a bunch of homes and envisioning a life there. On the other hand, the prospect of saving 20 percent of the home’s value to put down might seem overwhelming. Fortunately, there are a few creative ways that people can save up enough money to purchase their starter dream home.
If you are thinking about purchasing your first home in the near future, then you need to be aware of the costs that you are going to take on. When you are looking at the cost of a home, it is very tempting to focus on the sticker price of the home. Even though the down payment is going to be the largest check you are going to write, this is not the only cost that you are going to pay.