FAQs
Buying a house is not like buying some groceries from the store. One has to consider several factors before deciding to purchase the property. It is more than the house that matters to you. At Zest Realty, we help clients make the best buying decisions by looking at all the essential facts before purchasing a property. We are a trusted real estate company that walks with you throughout the entire process of buying properties.
Our agents are committed and devoted to providing you with all the necessary guidance, help, and advice to make your dream of owning a house come true. We have realised that most home buyers have the same questions about buying houses. In this comprehensive guide, we have responded to the most frequently asked questions that will help ease your decision-making.
What questions should I ask the agent when buying a home?
In the quest to understand and learn more about the house, ask some of these questions from the agent.
- What is included in the sale?
- Tell me more about the neighbourhood?
- How long have the owners of the property lived here?
- Any local plans that could affect homeowners here?
- How much are the council rates?
- How much are the council taxes and utility bills in the area?
- Have significant works been conducted on the property?
- How old is the property?
What are the steps to buying a home?
The process of buying a house is easy with the following basic steps.
- Start by doing your research as early as possible
- Check your credit score
- Choose a lender and get prequalified and preapproved for a mortgage
- Determine how much you can afford
- Decide the suburb you wish to buy in
- Start the process of searching for a home
- Make an offer
- Conduct a final walkthrough
- Get home insurance
- Settlement occurs and you get the keys to your new home.
What are the different ways to buy a home?
There are various methods of buying a house.
- Online Auction: The property is sold to the highest bidder using an online platform
- Auction: The property is sold to the highest bidder in public bidding.
- Tender: Involves submitting a formal offer in response to the vendor’s tender price, which the vendor can accept or reject
- Private sale/ treaty: The homeowner sets a price they would like to sell their property, and then their real estate agents negotiate with the buyer to achieve a sale.
- Expression of interest: The property, in this case, is not always advertised. Prospective buyers send an expression of interest document by a specific date.
- Price by negotiation: Here, the cost of the property is not given, and the seller and the buyer through the agent get into private talks.
- Offers/no price: Involve giving offers for the property without any price reference
What are the costs of buying a property?
Buying a home is usually an exciting time. However, there may be some costs you haven’t budgeted for. Being aware of these costs will help your budgeting.
- Inspection costs: You may be wise to add building, structural and timber pest reports as conditions on your offer. These reports are at the buyers cost.
- Stamp duty fees: These are taxes applied on property purchase price.
- Finance and deposit: This is usually 10-20% of the overall cost of the property
- Mortgage application fees
- Moving costs: Once you have successfully bought the house, you need to budget for moving expenses, including packing, hiring a moving truck, and all other activities involved with the actual moving.
- Legal and conveyancing costs
- Council tax rates and strata fees
- Building insurance costs
What is the process of applying for a mortgage?
A mortgage application may be a tricky process, especially if you do not start early enough. Forgetting even the slightest piece of information may be enough reason for the lending institution to deny your application. Each bank has its home loan packages. However, the general guide on applying for a mortgage is as follows.
- Calculating the deposit: The deposit for most homes is between 5% to 20% of the total value of the property.
- Calculating your credit capacity: Lending institutions will only grant you the loan if they are satisfied with your credit score.
- Choose the best home loan package for you: Lending institutions offer several loan packages. You are at liberty to choose the one that best suits you.
- Apply for the loan: Actual loan application
- Formal loan approval and settlement
Due diligence is essential when you want to apply for a mortgage. Research different lending companies and their different packages, then compare the options before settling for a specific one. You will have to provide proof of your capacity to repay the loan, like payslips for those who are employed.
What factors do I have to consider before buying a house?
Buying a house is one of the most significant financial decisions you will ever make. There are many vital factors you have to consider to ensure you forever enjoy your property, and you do not have any regrets.
Consider the following:
- Location: It is perhaps the most critical factor you will have to consider. A great location will always remain an asset despite future fluctuations in the real estate market. You may also consider the distance to your workplace.
- The neighbourhood: Decide which neighbourhood you would like to live in.
- Infrastructure: Is there the required public infrastructure in the area to meet your needs.
- Condition of the property
- Crime: Check the crime rate of the area.
What are some of the benefits of buying a house?
People looking to become homeowners often ask of the benefits of buying and owning a home.
- Building your equity is the amount of the value of your property. As the market value of your home increases, your equity grows.
- Living security: Especially when compared to people living in rented properties
- Ability to create your dream home.
- More control over costs: You are not at the mercy of rent increases.
- In the long term, it is cheaper compared to renting
- Tax advantages
- Sense of freedom – You have no landlord to answer to
Why should I choose Zest Realty?
We are Perth’s exclusive residential real estate agents that you can trust. We give genuine care, and have the highest skills and many years of experience in the real estate market.
- Customized services: We appreciate that different clients have varying needs. We ensure all our clients’ needs are fully satisfied by customizing our services to suit you.
- We have proven marketing strategies: For homeowners who want to sell their property.
- Constant communication: We pride ourselves on maintaining continuous communication with our clients. You will be updated on every progress of the sale.
- People first philosophy: ‘People before contracts.’ We appreciate building trust with our clients before signing the contracts.
