Buying a house can be a complex and intimidating process — especially if it’s your first home — but it doesn’t have to be. Here’s everything you ever wanted to know, from building a new construction, financing on your budget, and finding the perfect house location.
Buying a house can be worth it for a number of reasons — stability, the potential for appreciation, increased net worth, and the ability to customize your living space.
But that doesn’t always mean you should do it. Owning a home comes with additional costs and responsibilities.
To decide whether or not you should buy a house, you’ll need to consider what’s right under your personal circumstances (including your finances), as well as market timing.
Unless you’ve got loads of cash, buying a house involves saving enough money and making sure you meet all the requirements — like a good credit score, a stable income, and a downpayment — to get a mortgage.
But don’t worry; if you have lower income levels or not as strong financials, there are still ways to achieve your homebuying dreams with different loan options and grants.
Consider these articles to learn more:
Orchard guarantees your home will sell, so you can buy your next one worry-free.
Start with a free valuationThe timeline for homebuying can vary depending on the market conditions, availability of properties, and the buyer’s unique circumstances. It typically takes anywhere from a few weeks to several months since the process has many moving parts — like getting the property appraised and inspected — so there’s always a potential for delays.
Read more about what to expect at every point of the homebuying journey:
You bought a house, but you’re not done yet.
The final stage of buying a home is the closing process, which can take almost two months before the seller relinquishes ownership and you become the official owner of your new home. During this time, you’ll finalize your homesale, conduct your final walkthrough, and gather funds to cover closing costs. You’ll also use this time to practically prepare for your move by packing and buying everything you need for a new house.
Lastly, there are some key things not to do after closing — like changing jobs or making big purchases. These mistakes can make the closing process even longer, or completely derail your home purchase.
