Real estate is always a major investment, and with the world seemingly moving away from owning property to simply renting it, many people are buying their homes for the first time much later. The influx of inexperienced buyers can be taken advantage of by players in the industry if they don’t know what to look out for. The nature of the real estate market makes it any mistakes extremely costly even though land is a relatively safe investment. Almost all transactions in the market happen through third parties such as realtors who deal with the business and finance side of things for the seller whereas the buyer often does not have a representative and should face the daunting task of purchasing a home themselves. Buyers often visit the prospective homes to get an idea of their purchase, but the seller may be attempting to enhance the value of the house with various services such as property styling Melbourne which allows them to decorate the house and its spaces to make it more appealing to buyers. This can work out in the buyers’ favour as well, as it allows them to see what can be done with the space and showcases the qualities in the interior design that could be brought out through the use of proper interior design elements and furniture. This article discusses several universally given advice to home buyers but is by no means an exhaustive list of considerations, and it is always recommended to consult a professional before investing in real estate.

Location

Whether buying for personal use or investment, location is the most important factor. Areas with higher quality utilities, safer neighbourhoods and access to public transport and main roads are generally more expensive. Similarly, if one can predict which area is likely to get a significant improvement in its infrastructure, making an investment in the real estate of that area is likely to net a tidy sum as the property values will increase. Proximity to schools, universities, and workplaces are often the key drivers in price.

Financing

Since real estate is a substantial investment, not many can afford to buy with their savings and must instead rely on other financing options such as bank loans, leases, and mortgages. Depending on where you live, the ease of obtaining financing for real estate can depend on your credit score. Hence it is imperative to maintain a steady source of income and a good credit score to gain favourable terms on financing options. It is also important to note that one should only commit to a financing scheme if it is feasible that it can be paid back. For example, the risk of default is extremely high in instances where the monthly instalment is a substantial portion of one’s salary.

Inspection

It is always important to inspect the house before you buy. A physical check on the features of the house can yield useful information such as the state of the neighbourhood, the state of the house itself, whether any recent repairs were done, whether any repairs may be needed in the future, etc. A physical site visit also gives you the opportunity to take a closer look at the house to identify any flaws the seller may try to conceal.