Be Prepared

Arranging finances before you even look at buying property is far more practical than looking at homes that may be unaffordable.  There are so many companies offering a variety of good rates and options and all agents would highly recommend that if you can’t go through the process of having pre approval, at least talk to someone who can at give you an idea of affordability.

Once you have an idea of repayments, you can start looking.  But beware!  Some of us have a tendency to live outside our means so set a realistic budget that you can comfortably afford. 

Real estate agents are not financial advisers and as such are not qualified to give indications or financial advice.  Finance is, however, one of the many things that is required to buy property, and if you are prepared, life is a lot easier for all parties.

Once you've found your dream home, you’ll feel far more confident when putting an offer in writing.  Be prepared to negotiate and allow a bit of leverage so your budget doesn't blow out!  This advice also applies to those thinking of selling as somewhere along the line, you’ll be buying too!