Why Your First Home Should Cost Less Than You Can Afford

March 7, 2020

When you’ve made the decision to buy, it’s easy to start scouring property websites to find your dream home. But whether you’re thinking about buying an existing property, purchasing land to build on or want a house and land package in a master-planned community, it’s important to prioritise your finances first and foremost.

The main issue buyers make – especially first homeowners – is not realising that the price of the home is not all you’ll pay. From stamp duty to conveyancer fees, it’s easy for an initial budget to blow out. That’s why your first home should cost less than you can afford.

The temptation of buying a big expensive house

Most generations have an ingrained feeling that your home is an indication of your success. By that logic, bigger is better and more expensive is always best. But that’s not necessarily the best way to look at a property, as it can start you off on the wrong foot and lead to serious financial issues down the track.

Instead of thinking about a house as an impressive notch on your belt, view it as a home. It’s a place where you will spend most of your time, where you will relax after a long week at work, where you might choose to raise a family. Spending above your means just to snag a fancy house with a big price tag doesn’t make it a home.

Don’t get sucked into the bank’s preapproval suggestions

While the Banking Royal Commission has certainly changed the way lenders are allowed to assess their loan criteria, you’ll probably hear some big numbers when it comes time to get a preapproval.

Your bank or financial provider will use things like your savings, your current income, your job type, your level of debt and any history of defaulting on loans to determine how much you can borrow. The problem is that if you’re unsure exactly how much you want to spend on a home, their suggestions will often sit at the top end of the scale. But that doesn’t mean you should buy a property worth that much.

Think about a couple who make $150,000 a year combined. If the bank approves them for a $750,000 loan at 3% and they spend up to their limit, they will (depending on how much they’ve saved for a deposit) end up paying most of their salary directly into their mortgage over the life of a 30-year loan. That’s not including utility bills, council rates and all the day-to-day living expenses. With those type of numbers, you can see why some Australians are struggling with mortgage repayments and even risking repossession due to buying property for more than they can comfortably afford.

What you need to remember

  • Income doesn’t always go up: Many lenders assume your income will continue to rise over the coming years, which means your mortgage will become easier to manage – but that’s not always the case. In most parts of Australia, house prices are growing much faster than wages.
  • Bigger means more expensive: Buying a big home doesn’t just come with a bigger initial price tag. You’ll also end up paying higher utility bills, more expensive property taxes and larger insurance premiums. Then there’s the cost of repairs, maintenance and landscaping for bigger properties – which unsurprisingly come at a higher cost than a standard-sized home.
  • You’re saving for other things: If the majority of your wage goes directly into your mortgage and the remainder is spent on bills and food, what does that leave for your long-term future? Holidays, cars, new furniture and fun nights out become much harder to save for. And then there’s your retirement to think about – while downsizing may net you a hefty windfall, it’s likely it won’t equate to several decades that you could have been putting extra money into your super.

Knowing the true price of a home can make life easier

If you fall in love with the price guide of an established home, that doesn’t mean that’s how much it will actually go for. Melbourne, for example, is seeing regular increases in price guides due to so much interest – which is effectively blocking first home buyers out of the bidding war. Then there’s the popularity of auctions which regularly go for tens of thousands of dollars above the reserve price.

So what’s the alternative? Buying land for sale or purchasing a house and land package in an exceptional master-planned community. Not only do you know the price from the outset, but you’ll get to live in a family-friendly neighbourhood with all the essential amenities at your door – public transport, shopping, entertainment, education facilities, parks and grassland, and so much more.

To experience countryside connected, comfort and contemporary living, as well as the Melbourne CBD just a 30-minute drive away, Bloomdale is the place to be. With a wide choice of block sizes to suit your needs and established facilities at Diggers Rest, you’ll enjoy the life in full bloom, and the convenience of connection from the first moment you enter the community.

Enquire today to find out about house and land packages at Bloomdale.

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