How can I afford to buy my dream home? How much house can I afford? How much house can I afford in the area where I want to live? These are all questions people ask when it comes time to buy a new home, and answers to those questions can be difficult to find. That’s why we’ve written this guide on how much you can afford, whether you’re looking to make a quick purchase or hoping to build equity over the long term. We cover things like calculating your monthly mortgage payments, understanding down payment requirements, and even choosing between FHA loans and conventional mortgages.
1: Decide where you want to live
House-hunting is one of the most exciting experiences. But with so many areas to consider and so many homes for sale, it can be difficult to figure out where you want to live. To help you narrow down your options, we’ve devised a list of criteria to compare each area against.
- How much do I want my monthly mortgage payment to be?
- What's public transportation like?
- How safe are the schools?
- What kind of stores/restaurants are nearby?
- Is there a lot of local job growth?
- Are there any community events I'm interested in?
- Do I want to live near family or friends?
2: Decide how much you can spend
Knowing how much you can spend helps narrow down the home search. You might need to consider what your transportation costs will be, if any, as well as other life changes such as marriage or divorce. If you’re single with no children, a typical budget many per month. Married couples with one child should expect to spend many per month or more depending on location and number of bedrooms needed. Prices vary greatly depending on the size of the home, age, features, and neighbourhood. Location plays a major role in affordability: homes near public transit may be pricier but offer lower transportation costs; high-priced homes in desirable neighbourhoods are offset by higher property taxes and maintenance fees.
3: What kind of place do you want?
Many people are not sure about what type of home to buy. Maybe you have a family and would like a large house with enough space for everyone. Whatever your needs are, there is the right home for sale at the right price. Many factors will determine how much you can spend on a home, but it’s important to know your budget before looking at properties so you know what price range to look in. It can be overwhelming when looking for homes for sale because there are so many different things to consider such as square footage, number of bedrooms and bathrooms, neighbourhood, school district, and more. But remember you’re in control here. Take some time to figure out what works best for you and then go ahead and make it happen!
4: What neigh boor hoods fit your budget?
The most important thing to consider when looking for a new home is your budget. It’s not just about the monthly payment, but also the down payment and other expenses that come along with purchasing a house. There are many different neighbourhoods in the Columbus area, so it may be difficult to narrow down exactly where you want to live. That’s why we’ve created this list of neighbourhoods that might work for you based on what your budget looks like. We’ve also included links to houses in each neighbourhood listed below. If you’re interested in seeing more details or pictures of any one specific house, please click on the link!
5: How long will it take to get a mortgage?
It is important to understand the process of getting a mortgage. Many factors affect the time it takes to get approved and receive a loan, such as your credit score, income, debt, and down payment amount. Here is a breakdown of what you should expect:
a) You will need to provide details about your employment history and any other monthly incomes you have coming in.
b) If you are self-employed or work on commission, you will need to show proof of income for the past many years which includes tax returns, bank statements with deposits, and business invoices.
c) You may also be asked to provide pay stubs forms if you are employed full-time.
d) It may take one to three months before you hear back from your lender once all documents are provided.
It’s best to start the process early because it can be difficult when you don’t know how many houses you can afford.
For more information on buying a home, check out the links on this page.
