Are you at a time and place in your life where you are considering buying a property? It’s one of the biggest decisions you’ll ever have to make! And, before you do, here are some points you should consider.

1. Determine your budget

Most people can’t buy cash and need to take out a bond from a bank. This means you’ll have monthly payments – that include interest – to make for a long time until it’s paid off. Make sure that you’ll be able to afford them as well as the multiple insurances you’ll need to take out. 

2. Understand the market

You can do this by doing your own online research or enlisting the help of a buying real estate agent. Pinpoint your neighbourhoods of interest by familiarising yourself with the property prices, finding out about future developments and spending time in them to get a feel for the vibe.

3. Buy with the future in mind

You might be living an independent single life currently. But what do you envision your future to look like? If you want to be your own boss, is there space for an office? Or do you want to grow your family one day? Keep these things in mind rather than buying for the now.

4. Inspect properties thoroughly

Sellers aren’t always honest when it comes to property faults. Make sure that the electricity and water are inspected by the council and hire an expert to inspect the roof to see if it’s in livable condition. Buying property is expensive enough without having to worry about extra repairs!

5. Take time to decide

Buying property is probably the biggest financial decision you’ll make in your life! So it’s not something that should be taken lightly or gone into without a lot of thought and consideration, plenty of inspections and expert input. You want to be 100% sure you’re making the right move.