After years of college and struggling in starter positions, you've finally landed the job of your dream, meant your dream partner, got married, and are ready to buy your first house. This interesting situation only happens once in your life, so you need to make sure you find the best houses for sale in North Liberty, IA .

However, you have no idea where to begin here and are uncomfortable with the home buying process. Thankfully, the following home-buying hacks can help you merely overcome this problem. Make sure to follow all that apply to you to get the best results for your home purchase.

The Bigger Your Down Payment, the Quicker Your Repayment

One of the most ingenious tricks that you use is to save up for a more significant down payment to minimize your repayment costs. This simple step can be the difference between paying for 20 years versus 25 years on your home. For example, a payment of $25,000 more can offset a large number of your interest payments.

Just as importantly, you can impress the home seller and make it easier to find houses for sale that meet your needs. Some sellers may expect large down payments or appreciate them more than others, so make sure that you fully understand what sellers expect from you before making an offer.

Consider an Independent Survey Before Spending a Dime

When you're buying houses for sale , you're relying on often old surveys that may have been inaccurate. This problem is common and can be heartbreaking. For example, you may find that your garage is built on a neighbor's property and that you have to pay them for that property to get access to the garage.

Unfortunately, some neighbors may not be so open to selling this land and may hold on to it just to spite you. While you can obviously take your goods out of the garage, you may not get access to it as your neighbor owns the land. Get an independent survey to avoid this problem altogether.

Pre-Approval Helps Minimize Fuss

Another issue that first-time home buyers experience is the sudden shock of being turned down for a mortgage after all but settling their home purchase. This problem is so easy to avoid, but so many people make it just because they don't understand the buying process properly.

Before you try to make any kind of deal, talk to your mortgage provider and have them pre-approve you for a purchase. This process not only ensures that you get the money for the home but also makes the seller feel more comfortable about your financial situation.

Avoid Big Purchases After You Get Your Home

People often make a home purchase and get very excited and start buying a large volume of items to put in their home. They may even hire a remodeler to improve the appearance of their home and add new additions. This step is not wise because it can significantly impact your ability to pay your mortgage.

And you don't want to miss any payments because they can quickly compile and become challenging to manage. Just as importantly, making all of these big purchases may impact your credit rating, which could complicate your attempt to buy another home or another piece of real estate. Stay financially stable for at least 3-6 months before and after a home purchase to avoid this issue.

Buy the Home That Fits You

There is a beautiful mansion on your block that is easily the biggest and most extravagant of all the houses for sale near you. And you can afford it, if just barely, and are very tempted to buy it to show off. However, bigger houses aren't always the best choice here because they may be more than you can handle.

For example, you may end up with excessive bedrooms that you don't need or a significant heating and cooling bill that drives up your utility expenses. Even worse, you have a large yard that you hate cutting and must pay someone $30-50 bucks to mow every few weeks. Be modest and choose a home that is big enough for you without being too small or too expansive.

Avoiding Secret Costs That May Surprise You

New homeowners have often rented for years without having to pay any secret or “sleeper” costs. These extra payments are familiar with homeowners and include issues such as land payments, property taxes, homeowner association dues, and utility expenses.

These sleeper costs are not included in your mortgage and can add hundreds or even thousands of dollars to your yearly house bills. Make sure to ask your real estate agent or your home builder about these issues to ensure that you can prepare for them properly.

Master the Art of Bidding

Bidding is one of the toughest parts of finding houses for sale that you can afford. You may aim too low and cause the buyer to ignore you completely. However, you may also shoot too high and end up costing yourself serious money. What is a good middle ground in this situation?

Typically, an excellent first big should be based on what you can afford and the real value of the property. You should bid below the high end of what you can afford by at least $10-20K so that you and the seller have wiggle room. If you cannot afford a house, no matter how much you haggle, move on to another home.

Check Out The Neighborhood ASAP

When you buy a home, you are not only buying into that property but into the neighborhood experience that surrounds living there. As a result, you need to visit the neighborhood near your potential new home and see what it is like before you make a purchase. Day and night trips are a smart choice here.

Don't linger around too long but drive through to get a feel for what the traffic is like, what kind of noise you can expect at night, or any questionable behavior you might notice in your neighbors. Assessing the neighborhood in this way can help you know if your purchase is worth it.

We Can Help You Get the Best Deal

These common problems plague a lot of first-time home buyers and can cause complications that you don't need to experience. Even if your new job is excellent and your spouse has a similar career path, you should still work hard to find the best possible deal for your new home.

So if you're struggling to implement any of these tips or want a little extra help finding houses for sale , please don't hesitate to contact us right away at Gateway Access Realty near Iowa City, North Liberty, Coralville, and other cities in Iowa. Our experts will work with you to find home prices that work for your needs.