A Guide To Successfully Buying Property

Buying a property, whether it is your first or fiftieth time, is a stressful process. For most people, buying real estate represents the biggest financial decision of their lives. Because there can be so much riding on this one purchase, it is imperative that you do the correct research and follow the correct procedures - a failure to do this can mean financial disaster.

Below is a brief guide to buying residential property. Consider this guide a starting point for your own research into buying property - information is your best friend in the real estate game!

Research

Research forms a solid base for any major purchase and the good news is, that you are doing some right now by reading this article! There is a variety of information you need to gather about your desired property and the local area before you commit to buying.

The first thing you need to do is look at is the historical sales results for the suburb you wish to buy in. It is very likely that in the last few years a house very similar to the one you wish to purchase has been bought, or sold, in the local area. By comparing the historical prices paid to the current asking price, you can start to build a picture of the local market and decide if you are getting a good deal.

The next thing you need to seriously research, is the properties boundaries and any limitations on the use of the land it sits on. As people rebuild fences and conduct home improvements, the official boundaries can often be compromised. It is important that you are aware of the exact boundaries of the property you are purchasing - you can't just rely on what your eyes tell you! In addition to this, local councils often place provisions on the use of residential land, such as specifying drainage areas and wildlife corridors. You can contact the council responsible for the suburb you wish to buy in to find out more about any land use limitations.

Inspections

Once you have done your research on the local real estate market and selected a property that you feel is a good deal, you need to start scheduling more in depth inspections. For this, you should hire a qualified building inspector. They will go over the property with a fine tooth comb, finding any major or minor faults, which may compromise the structural integrity of the house now, or in the future. If a house has faults, this doesn't necessarily mean you shouldn't buy it. However, you need to consider how much repairs will cost when deciding how much you will offer for the property.

Financing

Before you even start looking, you should have finance arranged. By knowing how much you have to spend, you will be able to focus your search on properties that you know are in your price range. Without positive confirmation of finance, you could just be wasting your own and everyone else's time by looking at properties to buy.

This article is just a starting point for your own research - there are many ore things to consider when buying property. For more information, consider speaking to a real estate professional.

If you are looking for the finest real estate agents Melbourne has to offer then Abercromby's is the right place to be. For more details visit their website abercrombys.com.au/buying_advice.aspx.