1. Mortgage first home: find out in time
Before you can start looking for your dream home, it is wise to visit a mortgage broker. He or she can tell you the maximum amount you can borrow. You can decide whether the student debt will be included. Our advice is to include it if you have the financial room for it. If you choose not to, add it to your monthly mortgage payments to get a clear picture of your monthly expenses. In addition to wanting to know your maximum mortgage, you'll also want to figure out what your maximum monthly mortgage costs are. After all, this is a substantial difference.
After talking with the mortgage broker, you'll know what price range you can buy a home in. After that, it's important to make a wish list, more on that below.
2. Compile wish list for starter home
Now that you know what your budget is, you can start making a wish list. Make a clear overview, so you can look at it again and again. Stay realistic about your wishes, meaning that they should match your budget. Otherwise viewings will always be disappointing.
Wishes that you can think of are:
- Are you choosing new construction or existing construction?
- What type of home are you looking for? A row house, apartment or detached house?
- How many rooms should your home have? Also consider your future plans, which may include family expansion.
- What neighborhood would you like to live in? What facilities would you like to have nearby? You can think about a convenient elementary school, supermarkets or just natural beauty that you would like nearby.
- Do you want a garden or not? And a separate study, garage or opportunities to create your own practice?
- Do you have a lot of requirements? Then put your most important requirement at the top. Which wish will make you less sad if it is not found in your dream home? Then put it at the bottom.
3. Starter home search
With your financial capabilities and wish list in mind, now is the time to start looking for your first home. You can do this by turning on alerts on various housing platforms, the largest and best known being Funda. By turning on alerts you will only be sent properties that meet your requirements. We can help with this as well.
You can create a search profile on our website so that you will always be forwarded properties that meet your requirements. Even before these properties are listed on Funda. If you want to view a house, please send it to us so we can tell you the approximate price for which the house will be sold. Then it is up to you to determine whether it is interesting to visit. This saves energy and time!
4. Determine a good opening bid
You know the maximum amount you can borrow, you've made a wish and requirements list, and you've found your dream home online. And then? Then you go and view the house. Our advice is always to involve us before you go for a viewing. We are happy to go with you if you are very enthusiastic.
Are you still enthusiastic about the house after the viewing? Then it is time to make an opening offer. We will do this for you, always in consultation with you. We know what a realistic offer is, know your financial situation and have a lot of experience in doing negotiations.
Having a purchase broker increases the chances of actually buying. Often bids made through a buying agent are taken more seriously than those made by the buying party without a buying agent.
5. Engage experts
Whether you purchase your dream home with us or without a buying agent, after the sales price is agreed upon, it's time for the second phase. That means we bring in two experts:
- Building expert. They will do a walk-through inspection of the house with you. So you know exactly what state the house is in. The expert can also tell you what renovations are possible and what the expected costs will be. This report is also shared with us so we can advise you. An architectural inspection is not mandatory, but recommended!
- Appraiser. To obtain a mortgage, you need a validated appraisal report. An appraiser will prepare this for you. We have many partners such as architectural consultants, appraisers, mortgage brokers and notaries connected to our platform. These partners work at competitive rates for our clients, which can quickly save you hundreds of euros.
Do the inspections reveal no unexpected defects? Then a purchase contract is drawn up and signed by both parties. We always check the contract of sale for accuracy. After signing the purchase contract, you have three days to think about it. After these three days have passed, you can no longer withdraw from the purchase of the house, unless you have made an offer subject to conditions.
Now it is time to look forward to the key transfer. Before you go to the notary there will be an inspection of the house. We will also accompany you to this inspection to check that everything is in its original state. If there are no defects during the inspection, you go to the notary. You will receive the keys at the notary when the deed of transfer and the mortgage deed are passed. Congratulations on the purchase of your (first) home!
