Here’s what all you first-time homebuyers need to know.
On HGTV’s series Property Virgins, host Sandra Rinomato uses her experience as a real estate agent to guide newbies through the experience of house shopping. She offers 2 readers three key tips:
- Budgeting is critical. “If you and your partner aren’t number crunching properly,” she says, “you may miss your dream home for the sake of a few dollars a month.”
- “Focus on the things that you can’t easily change, like the location or size of your home,” she says. Don’t get stuck on decor—use your imagination to visualize a home’s potential. A can of paint can go a long way toward changing the look of any room.
- First-time buyers should avoid trying to find a home that they’ll spend decades in. “Make sure that the house fits your needs today,” she says. As your earning power goes up and your needs change, you can move from your starter home into your first “move-up” home.
