Tag Archive for home buying process

The Three Most Common Fears Of Home Buyers And How To Conquer Them

Buying a home must be up there with public speaking for frightening experiences, but many of us will buy a home, speak publicly and watch horror movies again and again in our lifetimes.

By giving you a few techniques, we hope to help you deal with the 3 things that scare you most about buying a home.

1. The Cost

The greatest fear that people have about buying a home is being able to afford it. This is what keeps us awake at night – calculating and recalculating how many lunches we are going to have to pack instead of going out with the gang in order to make the mortgage payment.

The behind-the-scenes secret to dealing with this fear is working with a mortgage consultant to get a full mortgage pre-approval before you start looking at homes and being realistic about what you are willing and able to spend.

The lender will give you a range of loan options that are available, and should give you a realistic projection of what you can really afford considering your budget and lifestyle.

2. The Commitment

Women like to stereotype men as having a fear of commitment – but when it comes to buying a home, we’re all susceptible.

Buying a home usually means committing money and time (at least a year – usually more like five years) to being in one spot. If you’re just finishing a degree or training, or you’re not sure that you’ll be in the same employment situation for a while, you may consider waiting until your life is a little more stable.

The way to deal with the fear of commitment is to buy a home that will resell easily – that has features that other people will want.

In addition, you can get a mortgage that allows you to “port” it over to another home or allows another buyer to assume it with qualification.

3. The People

Who can you trust in this home buying process? This is a big investment we’re talking about. And it seems that everyone is out to make as much money as possible from you!

There are sellers, Realtors, lenders, builders, movers, and attorneys – all of whom may be strangers and who have a vested interest in when you buy a home. It’s easy to be afraid that they will take you to the cleaners.

Make yourself feel better and check their references. Really. In reality, they are not all out to get you – because in the long run, the best business strategy for a real estate agent is to ensure that you get what you need and want in a home. That way they’ll earn your referrals!

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Contact the Jeffrey Team for more information  -  416-388-1960

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Why do women find home buying more stressful?

Chaya Cooperberg

When it comes to buying a home, women and men have one thing in common – both genders agree that owning a home will give them a sense of well-being and security. But that’s where the similarities end, according to surveys conducted by Genworth Financial Canada.

The research shows that even women in fairly strong financial positions tend to be more stressed and less confident than men when it comes to home buying. “Women are consistently more worried and anxious about finances and feel they have less understanding about the home buying process than men,” Genworth says.

The mortgage insurer found that 43% of the women surveyed, compared with 32% of men, find the home shopping process stressful. Three-quarters of women say it is important to have a simple and easy to understand mortgage structure. Only 60% of men feel the same way. And while half of the men surveyed want the security of low monthly mortgage payments, women were even more conservative, with 65% saying this is critical.

Over all, Genworth found that the women surveyed felt more anxiety than their male counterparts when thinking about their financial futures.

It would probably take a doctorate in women’s studies to identify all of the reasons for this, admittedly broadly generalized, crisis of confidence among us.

Nonetheless, Genworth gamely offers some tips to make home buying easier for both sides of the gender divide.

First, agree on what you want before looking. For example, how many bedrooms do you need? Is a double garage a deal breaker or a negotiable feature?

Second, set a limit before going out house hunting. You don’t want to get caught up in a bidding war that leads you outside of your comfort zone.

Third, get a pre-approved mortgage. This will help you and your partner understand what you can afford and give you the confidence to make an offer for a home.

Finally, educate yourselves as much as possible. With knowledge, comes power. You’ll feel less anxiety buying a home if you know you’re making an informed decision. To help first-time homebuyers understand the home buying process, Genworth Financial Canada has launched tools and resources at out www.homeownership.ca.

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Contact the Jeffrey Team for more information  -  416-388-1960

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