Don’t Make These Common First-Time Homebuyer Mistakes

Follow these tips to avoid making the most common first-time homebuyer mistakes.

toy house and text first time home buyer with a family playing on the floor in the background

Common First-Time Homebuyer Mistakes To Avoid

You’re finally ready to buy a house! Buying a home differs from most other kinds of purchases. It’s a multi-step process that can be overwhelming for those unfamiliar with it. Market volatility, rising interest rates, downpayment costs, upgrades, etc. Las Vegas first-time buyers who don’t do their due diligence wind up making costly mistakes. But don’t fear. A little education can get you on the path to home ownership in Las Vegas. Follow these tips to avoid the most common first-time homebuyer mistakes and work with seasoned professionals to ensure a positive experience.

Only Looking At Pre-Owned Homes

When you think about buying a house, you probably picture buying one someone else has already lived in. However, that isn’t your only option. Some people prefer to build a brand new house, but this takes more work and money than most first-time homebuyers have. A happy medium is buying a new home in a newly constructed planned community, like one built by Touchstone Living.   

Not Asking Questions

Many mistakes first-time home buyers make come from information overload, overwhelm, and a lack of understanding. Like with anything new, you won’t know everything about buying a home when it’s your first time. The real estate and lending professionals you work with should be your source of information and guide you every step of the way. The highly experienced neighborhood experts at all Touchstone communities understand how home buying works in Las Vegas. They handhold you through the process of home ownership and welcome any amount of questions you have! 

Buying More Home Than You Can Afford

One of the most common first-time homebuyer mistakes is overestimating what you can afford. Many people get pre-approved for a loan amount and then search for a home that approaches that loan limit. Instead, you should buy a home with an affordable mortgage payment. Decide how much you can afford to pay on housing each month, then calculate how expensive a house you can afford based on that amount and your down payment. Touchstone Living neighborhood experts can prequalify you in 5 minutes and show you Las Vegas new homes that align with your monthly budget. 

Overlooking Needed Upgrades

Few pre-owned homes come completely move-in ready. Most require some repairs and upgrades to fit a new owner’s needs. Don’t make the first-time homebuyer mistake of ignoring the extent and costs of those fixes. Set a budget for immediate home improvements and don’t purchase a home that needs more work than you can afford. Alternatively, consider a new home that includes the upgrades you want. Touchstone’s 100% Home package includes modern appliances, upgrades, and fixtures at no additional cost, saving you thousands of dollars and stress. 

Being Clueless About Closing Costs

Everyone knows you have to pay for a new house, but a common mistake first-time homebuyers make is forgetting about closing costs. These fees cover things like the loan and title insurance, and property tax for the rest of the year. Your lender must disclose these fees after you make an offer on a house. Sometimes you can negotiate for the seller to cover some of these fees. Builders may cover all of the closing costs for you. Touchstone Living covers all closing costs.

Avoid These First-Time Homebuyer Mistakes By Working With Touchstone

Avoid the pitfalls of first-time homeownership when you work with Touchstone Living. You’ll get a newly built home with all modern upgrades in a gorgeous planned community, complete with on-site resort-style amenities, including pools, parks, and trails. Best of all, we offer affordable loan rates and cover all your closing costs, making homeownership in Las Vegas more affordable. Explore our neighborhoods and your new Touchstone home today!