Written by Zach Wichter
Buying your first home comes with many big decisions, and it can be as scary as it is exciting. It’s easy to get swept up in the whirlwind of home shopping and make mistakes that could leave you with buyer’s remorse later.
If this is your first rodeo as a homebuyer — or if it’s been many years since you last bought a home — knowledge is power. Along with knowing where the pitfalls are, it’s important to know what to expect and what questions to ask.
- Looking for a home before applying for a mortgage
Many first-time buyers start viewing homes before ever getting in front of a mortgage lender. In today’s market, housing inventory is tight because there’s far more buyer demand than affordable homes on the market.
In such a competitive market, you’ll find it almost impossible to get your offer taken seriously unless you have a mortgage preapproval (or cash in hand). That’s because sellers won’t want to take a risk on someone who isn’t even certain they can get a mortgage — especially when they have many other offers on the table.
In today’s rising-rate market, you might also consider locking in your interest rate so you can have a true sense of your budget and not worry about your mortgage rate being higher than expected when you do go to make an offer.
How this affects you: You might be behind the eight ball if a home you love hits the market and you haven’t consulted a lender. You also might look at homes that you can’t really afford.
What to do instead: “Before you fall in love with that gorgeous dream house you’ve been eyeing, be sure to get a fully underwritten preapproval,” says Alfredo Arteaga, a loan officer with Movement Mortgage in Mission Viejo, California. Being preapproved sends the message that you’re a serious buyer whose credit and finances pass muster to successfully get a loan.
- Talking to only one lender
First-time buyers often get a mortgage from the first (and only) lender or bank they talk to, and that’s a big mistake. By not comparing offers, you’re potentially leaving thousands of dollars on the table.
How this affects you: The more you shop around, the better basis for comparison you’ll have to ensure you’re getting a good deal and the lowest rates possible.
What to do instead: Shop around with at least three different lenders, as well as a mortgage broker. Try to get rate quotes all in the same day, since rates change regularly. Compare rates, lender fees and loan terms. Don’t discount customer service and lender responsiveness, either; both play key roles in making the mortgage approval process run smoothly. Bankrate’s mortgage rate tables are a great place to start comparison shopping.
- Buying more house than you can afford
It’s easy to fall in love with homes that might stretch your budget, but overextending yourself is never a good idea. With home prices trending upward, it’s especially important to stick close to your budget.
How this affects you: Buying more home than you can afford can put you at higher risk of foreclosure if you fall on tough financial times. You’ll have less room in your monthly budget for other bills and expenses. It can also crowd out other opportunities such as funding a retirement account, a child’s education fund or savings for a vacation.
What to do instead: Focus on what monthly payment you can afford rather than fixating on the maximum loan amount you qualify for. Just because you can qualify for a $300,000 loan doesn’t mean you can afford the monthly payments that come with it in addition to your other financial obligations. Every borrower’s case is different, so factor in your whole financial profile when determining how much house you can afford. Likewise, it’s important to be completely honest with your lender or broker about your finances. At the end of the day, you’ll be the one repaying your loan, and you don’t want to struggle with a bill you can’t afford.
- Moving too fast
Buying a home can be a complex process, particularly when you get into the weeds of mortgage underwriting. Rushing the process can cost you later on, says Nick Bush, a Realtor with Keller Williams Realty in Rockville, Maryland.
“The biggest mistake that I see is to not plan far enough ahead for their purchase,” Bush says.
How this affects you: Rushing the process means you might be unable to save enough for a down payment and closing costs. Speeding toward closing can also keep you from addressing items on your credit report that prevent you from securing more favorable loan terms.
What to do instead: Map out your homebuying timeline at least a year in advance. Keep in mind it can take months — even years — to repair poor credit and save enough for a sizable down payment. On average, most buyers can only save about $5,000 per year toward buying a home. Work on boosting your credit score, paying down debt and saving more money to put you in a stronger position to get preapproved.
- Draining your savings
Spending all or most of your savings on the down payment and closing costs is one of the biggest first-time homebuyer mistakes, says Ed Conarchy, a mortgage planner and investment adviser at Cherry Creek Mortgage in Gurnee, Illinois.
“Some people scrape all their money together to make the 20 percent down payment so they don’t have to pay for mortgage insurance, but they are picking the wrong poison because they are left with no savings at all,” Conarchy says.
How this affects you: Homebuyers who put 20 percent or more down don’t have to pay for private mortgage insurance (PMI) when getting a conventional mortgage. That usually translates into substantial savings on the monthly mortgage payment, but it’s not worth the risk of living on the edge, Conarchy says.
What to do instead: Aim to have three to six months’ of living expenses in an emergency fund, even after you close. Paying mortgage insurance isn’t ideal, but depleting your emergency or retirement savings to make a large down payment is a risk best avoided.
- Being careless with credit
A mortgage lender will pull your credit report at preapproval to make sure things check out and again just before closing. Your lender wants to make sure nothing has changed in your financial profile.
How this affects you: Any new loans or credit card accounts on your credit report can jeopardize the closing and final loan approval. Buyers, especially first-timers, often learn this lesson the hard way.
What to do instead: Keep the status quo in your finances from preapproval to closing. Don’t open new credit cards, close existing accounts, take out new loans or make large purchases on existing credit accounts in the months leading up to applying for a mortgage through closing day. Pay down your existing balances to below 30 percent of your available credit limit, if you can, and pay your bills on time and in full every month.
- Fixating on the house over the neighborhood
Sure, you want a home that checks off the items on your wish list and meets your needs. Being nitpicky about a home’s cosmetics, however, can be short-sighted if you wind up in a neighborhood you hate, says Alison Bernstein, president and founder of Suburban Jungle, a real estate strategy firm.
“Selecting the right town is critical to your life and family development,” Bernstein says. “The goal is to find you and your brood a place where the culture and values of the [area] match yours. You can always trade up or down for a new home, add a third bathroom or renovate a basement.”
How this affects you: You could wind up loving your home but hating your neighborhood.
What to do instead: Settle on what your priorities are in a community, and do your homework. Depending on your needs or preferences, you might want to research school ratings, commute time and other factors. You could visit the neighborhood at different times to get a sense of traffic flow and see if it’s an area that’d appeal to you.
- Making decisions based on emotion
Buying a house is a major life milestone. It’s a place where you’ll make memories, create a space that’s truly yours and put down roots. It’s easy to get too attached and make emotional decisions, so remember that you’re also making one of the largest investments of your life, says Ralph DiBugnara, president of Home Qualified in New York City.
“With this being a strong seller’s market, a lot of first-time buyers are bidding over what they are comfortable with because it is taking them longer than usual to find homes,” DiBugnara says.
How this affects you: Emotional decisions could lead to overpaying for a home and stretching yourself beyond your budget.
What to do instead: “Have a budget and stick to it,” DiBugnara says. “Don’t become emotionally attached to a home that is not yours.”
- Assuming you need a 20 percent down payment
The long-held belief that you must put down 20 percent is (often) a myth. While a 20 percent down payment does help you avoid mortgage insurance, many buyers today don’t want to (or can’t) put down that much money. In fact, the median down payment on a home is 12 percent, according to the National Association of Realtors, and 6 percent for first-time buyers. Some communities, like co-ops or condos, could still require a larger down payment, so check with your real estate agent about specific community requirements and budget accordingly.
How this affects you: Delaying your home purchase to save up 20 percent could take years, and could constrain you from hitting other financial goals like maximizing your retirement savings, adding to your emergency fund or paying down high-interest debt.
What to do instead: Consider other mortgage options. You can put as little as 3 percent down for a conventional mortgage with PMI, and FHA loans only require 3.5 percent down if your credit score is 580 or above. With some other types of loans, you might even be able to secure a mortgage with no down payment at all. Plus, check with your local or state housing programs to see if you qualify for housing assistance programs designed for first-time buyers.
- Waiting for the ‘unicorn’
Unicorns are mythical creatures both in nature and in real estate. Looking for the home that checks every one of your boxes to perfection can narrow your choices too much, and might lead you to pass over good, suitable options in the hopes that something better will come along. Don’t let pie in the sky thinking sabotage your search, says James D’Astice, a real estate broker with Compass in Chicago.
How this affects you: Looking for perfection might limit your real estate search or lead to you overpaying for a home. It can also lengthen your home search.
What to do instead: Keep an open mind about what’s on the market and be willing to put in some sweat equity, DiBugnara says: Some loan programs let you roll the cost of repairs into your mortgage, too.
- Overlooking FHA, VA and USDA loans
First-time buyers might be cash-strapped in this environment of rising home prices, and if you have little saved for a down payment or your credit isn’t stellar, you might have a hard time qualifying for a conventional loan.
How this affects you: You might assume you have no financing options and delay your home search.
What to do instead: Look into one of the three government-insured loan programs backed by the Federal Housing Administration (FHA loans), U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA loans) and U.S Department of Agriculture (USDA loans). Here’s a brief overview of each:
- FHA loans require just 3.5 percent down with a minimum 580 credit score. FHA loans can fill the gap for borrowers who don’t have top-notch credit or little money saved up. The major drawback to these loans, though, is mandatory mortgage insurance, paid both annually and upfront at closing.
- VA loans are backed by the VA for eligible active-duty and veteran military service members and their spouses. These loans don’t require a down payment, but some borrowers may pay a funding fee. VA loans are offered through private lenders, and come with a cap on lender fees to keep borrowing costs affordable.
- USDA loans help moderate- to low-income borrowers buy homes in rural areas. You must purchase a home in a USDA-eligible area and meet certain income limits to qualify. Some USDA loans do not require a down payment for eligible borrowers with low incomes.
- Overlooking the hidden costs of homeownership
If you had sticker shock from seeing your new monthly principal and interest payment, wait until you add up the other costs of owning a home. As a new homeowner, there are many other potential expenses to budget for, like property taxes, mortgage insurance, homeowners insurance, hazard insurance, repairs, maintenance and utilities and more.
How this affects you: One Bankrate survey found that the average homeowner pays $2,000 annually for maintenance. Not having enough cushion in your monthly budget — or a healthy rainy day fund — can quickly put you in the red if you’re not prepared.
What to do instead: Your real estate agent or lender can help you crunch numbers on taxes, mortgage insurance and utility bills. Shop around for insurance coverage to compare quotes. Finally, aim to set aside at least 1 percent to 3 percent of the home’s purchase price annually for repairs and maintenance expenses.
- Not lining up gift money
Many loan programs allow you to use a gift from a family, friend, employer or charity toward your down payment. Not sorting out who will provide this money and when, though, can throw a wrench into a loan approval.
How this affects you: “The time to confirm that the Bank of Mom and Dad is ready, willing and able to provide you with help for your down payment is before you start home shopping,” says Dana Scanlon, a Realtor with Keller Williams Capital Properties in Bethesda, Maryland. “If a buyer ratifies a contract to purchase a home with an understanding that they will be getting gift money, and the gift money fails to materialize, they can lose their earnest money deposit.”
What to do instead: Have a frank discussion with anyone who offers money as a gift toward your down payment about how much they are offering and when you’ll receive the money. Make a copy of the check or electronic transfer showing how and when the money traded hands from the gift donor to you. Lenders will verify this through bank statements and a signed gift letter.
- Not negotiating a homebuyer rebate
The concept of homebuyer rebates, also known as commission rebates, is an obscure one to most first-time buyers. This is a rebate of up to 1 percent of the home’s sales price, and it comes out of the buyer agent’s commission, says Ben Mizes, founder and CEO of Clever Real Estate based in St. Louis.
How this affects you: Homebuyer rebates are available in most U.S. states, but not all. Ten states prohibit homebuyer rebates: Alaska, Alabama, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Oklahoma, Oregon and Tennessee.
What to do instead: If you live in a state that allows homebuyer rebates, see if your agent is willing to provide this rebate at closing. On a $300,000 home purchase, this can be a $3,000 savings for you, so it’s worth asking.
- Not considering moving and other upfront costs
When you buy a house, you need to make sure you have some savings leftover. Between renting a truck or hiring movers, buying boxes, and dealing with storage, moving can be expensive, even if you’re handling it on your own.
You might also want to make changes or repairs to the house before you move in. Doing this before the move is a good idea because you and your furniture and other belongings won’t get in the way of any painting or construction you want done.
Make sure that you budget for these costs when buying a home.
- Missing out on assistance programs
There are lots of programs out there to help first-time homebuyers. This can range from local government or community programs that offer free classes about home buying and homeownership to grants that give you cash to put toward a down payment.
Some lenders even often discounted rates to first-time homebuyers. Keep an eye out for these programs and take advantage wherever you can.
Next steps for first-time homebuyers
If you’re in the market to buy your first home, the above tips can help you avoid some common pitfalls. Don’t forget to shop around to get the best mortgage rates and get ready for the responsibilities of homeownership.
