BUYING PROCESS
At JW Nest, we want everyone to have the opportunity to own a brand new home, so we offer a Help to Buy scheme for first-time buyers. With a low deposits of 5% and a government-backed Help to Buy scheme, many people can get on the property ladder sooner than they think.
First Time Buyers
If you are a first-time buyer, then you may need a little more help. There are a lot of steps in the buying process and a large number of things to consider. JW Nest helps you through the experience to preserve the excitement of buying your first home. Here are our top tips for first-time buyers:
Calculate What You Can Afford
While it is tempting to dream big, you also need to be realistic. That breakfast nook or fireplace might have to wait until your second home. You need to calculate how much you have to spend upfront for a deposit and costs like stamp duty, solicitor’s fees, and surveys. Of course, you need to factor in the cost of furnishing your new place too!
There are a number of Help to Buy schemes available to new buyers. Take advantage of as many as possible to help you buy your first home.
How Much Can You Borrow?
With the cost of housing being what it is, very few people can afford to buy their home outright. Most homeowners have a mortgage to help them purchase a property. It is important to know how much you can borrow before you begin the search for your first home. A mortgage will be based on a number of factors:
- Credit history
- Income
- Expenses
- Other people on the loan
In some cases, you may get a high quote for how much you can borrow. Do not get too excited by this; you need to work out your finances and what the monthly repayments would be. Would the monthly repayment be a realistic amount for you to be able to repay based on your monthly salary? If your salary fluctuates because of commission or variable hours, you should aim for a repayment amount that is realistic for months with lower pay too.
If you require assistance creating a budget or working out your expenses, speak to our friendly sales team. We can provide you with budget calculators and templates. We can also refer you to an independent financial advisor if you need.
Growing Families
Do you need extra space for your growing family? Are you looking to move into places with better school communities or a home with a garden? Let us help you to find the home where your children will grow up.
What Are Your Family’s Needs?
Knowing exactly what you are looking for will help you to find the right home quickly. Write a list of features and facilities you require of your home and the surrounding community. This will help you to make a decision based on practicalities and not get wooed by the large shed space or designer kitchen.
Be Discerning About the Location
Location is the one thing you will never be able to change about your home. It will impact your daily experience, your commute time, your property value, and your kids’ education. When considering a new area, do your research.
- Read online guides
- Look up the facilities and schooling
- Talk to people who live in the area
- Visit and walk around to get a feel for the neighbourhood and transport links
Look for the things that are important to you and your family. You need the area to work for your needs, rather than working with the area.
Growing Room
Look not only at whether your belongings will fit into the space, but if there is growing room too. As your children age, is there room for the various pieces of equipment their changing hobbies will require? Can you see yourself happy in the home and it still working for you in 5 -10 years?
If so, then you need to move fast to put in an offer so you don’t miss out. There are thousands of families out there looking for affordable family housing in desirable communities, so you cannot afford to delay. At JW Nest, our houses can be put on hold with a small reservation fee while you sort out the paperwork.
Make an Offer
Once you have found your perfect family home, it is time to make an offer. If you’re lucky, your offer will be accepted right away. If not, then negotiations commence until you find an offer that both parties are happy with.
Remember, even if your offer is accepted, it is not legally binding until you exchange contracts.
Customise the Finishing Touches
Personalising your new home is one of the best things about buying a house. At JW Nest, we like to find buyers at the early stages of the building process. This increases the amount of customisation we are able to offer home buyers. We want to create a space that works for you and your family.
Downsizers
There are many reasons why people might downsize:
- To live in a more manageable home
- To reduce costs
- Because kids moved out
Whatever your reason, we will help you with your fresh start. While it might be the right decision for you, it will not be easy. You will need to audit your belongings and get rid of some so you can fit into a smaller space. The longer you have lived in your current place, the more belongings you will have accumulated.
Declutter
Go through your current home room by room and find the things you no longer need. You can sell them to make a little extra money or give them away to people who will love them more than you. Free up as much extra space as possible by identifying unnecessary duplicates and items you have no use for.
Room By Room
By taking one room at a time, it breaks a large task into manageable chunks that can be tackled one weekend at a time. It helps you to think objectively about what rooms your new place will have and what you will need to get rid of.
Smart Spaces
When looking for your new home, pay close attention to storage. Look for places that have space-saving storage, like under the bed storage or built-in cupboards that won’t encroach on your living spaces. You will need to find space for the things that currently live in your loft and garage too if your new home does not have them.
Talk to our knowledgeable sales executives for practical advice about downsizing.
Investors
Real estate investment can take many forms, but it is a strong long term investment strategy. JW Nest can help you purchase a second home or a buy to let property to add to your portfolio.
We can offer advice on how to research investment opportunities and how to nurture your asset for maximum growth. Consider the following four things when purchasing real estate for your portfolio.
Research
Research is a vital part of purchasing a property but is even more important if you are buying an investment property. You need to know as much as possible about the local area and the potential for growth. By doing your research, you will know if there is an abundance of prospective tenants and how much rent you can charge.
Calculate Ownership Costs
You might be aware of the costs of buying a home and have money aside for stamp duty and furnishing the home; after all, this is not your first property purchase. But, you need to put aside money to maintain your new property. To repair and replace furnishings and fittings as they break or become outdated, but also to make large repairs like replacing boilers or the roof. Ensure you calculate contributions to a repair fund into the rent you charge tenants.
Work on Your Credit Score
Improve your credit score to make it easier to obtain a mortgage and increase the amount you can borrow. Our sales executives can provide resources to help you improve your credit score or provide you with details for an independent financial advisor.
ROI
Before making any investment, you need to look at the numbers. Your return on investment should be key in determining the quality of an investment opportunity. Work out the following numbers:
- Annual rent projections
- The price of purchasing the property
- Any additional acquisition costs
- The deposit required to buy the home
- Mortgage and loan interest
- Tenant acquisition costs and administration costs
- Projected maintenance and repair costs
- Taxes
Speak to us about investment opportunities if you are considering purchasing an investment property.