When buying a home, here are the pitfalls you should avoid.
For most of us, buying a home is the biggest financial decision we’ll make. When you’re talking about a purchase that will cost hundreds of thousands of dollars – or maybe even more in some Australian capital cities – you want to be sure that you make the right decision.
Buying a home is a complicated process, and there are plenty of obstacles you’ll need to overcome along the way. From following poor advice to choosing the wrong home loan lender, this guide runs through everything you should be careful of when buying a home.
Traps to avoid when buying a home
Accepting unqualified advice. The ‘help’ offered by friends and family can sometimes be a godsend, but advice from loved ones can quickly lead you into trouble if they don’t know what they’re talking about. Just because your best mate’s cousin is a real estate agent or a solicitor or was once a mortgage broker doesn’t necessarily mean that you should blindly follow their advice. Ensure that every professional you speak to is licensed with the relevant industry body. For instance, your mortgage broker should hold an Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) licence.
Failing to plan for the future. That cramped inner-city apartment might be perfect for your current lifestyle, but a home with more space would be a better option if you’re planning to start a family in the next couple of years. While it’s impossible to predict the future, take your future lifestyle plans into account when choosing a home.
Not doing any research. If you’re going to spend hundreds of thousands of dollars on a home, you want to be sure you’re getting a good deal – and the only way to be sure of that is to do plenty of research. What are the current market trends in the area? What have similar properties in the area sold for recently? What infrastructure projects are in the pipeline? Are there enough public services and amenities nearby? Is the property in a flood zone or at risk of bushfires? The more you know about an area, the better placed you are to work out whether a property is right for you.
Not negotiating. If you think a property is overpriced, don’t be afraid to negotiate down to a fair price. You have nothing to lose by asking for a better deal. However, if you’re going to negotiate, make sure you’ve done your homework. If you’ve noticed some cracks in the walls during an inspection or you think the property is overpriced compared to similar properties in the area, use this to up your bargaining power.
Selecting the wrong building inspector. The building and pest inspection is a crucial stage in the property purchase process, so don’t simply breeze through it by choosing the cheapest inspector you can find. Make sure you work with an experienced professional who will cast a thorough eye over every aspect of your property and give an honest appraisal of any problems.
Building inspection checklist
A trusted and experienced building inspector will check a wide range of factors when inspecting a property:
The interior of the property, including the kitchen, bathroom, bedrooms, laundry and toilet
The exterior of the property, including the roof
Any underfloor space
Any roof space
The property site, including the garage, carport, paths, driveway, fences and retaining walls
Some building inspectors also conduct pest inspections at the same time
Once the inspection has been completed, you’ll receive a written report detailing the condition of the property.
Ignoring faults and defects. It’s vital that you take the time to sniff out any potential problems with the property that could create stress (and expenses) in the future. From mould and odours to pests and even structural defects, make sure you’re fully aware of all the baggage your home comes with and how much you’ll need to pay to fix any issues.
Over-committing. Before you put an offer in for any home, make sure your budget will be able to cover the cost. Not only will you need to factor in your deposit and interest repayments on your home loan, you also need to budget for costs such as loan fees, lenders mortgage insurance (LMI), stamp duty, and conveyancing and legal fees. Then there are your other ongoing expenses to consider as well, so you need to be certain you aren’t biting off more than you can chew. Use our property buying calculator to get an idea of the costs involved.
Assuming that buying is your only option. Depending on where you live, the cost of renting may work out to be cheaper than buying over your lifetime. You may not have to buy a home and there are plenty of potential benefits to renting, so keep this option in mind.
Letting your heart rule your head. Buying a home is an emotional decision; it can be very difficult to think clearly and rationally. Always remember the importance of making decisions with your head rather than being ruled by your emotions. If you can’t eliminate emotion from your decision-making, surround yourself with professionals so you can get independent advice.
Kath and Ryan’s mistake
Kath had always promised herself that she would take her time when it came to buying a house, but she soon found out that was easier said than done. On her second weekend of attending open-house inspections, Kath finds a great two-bedroom home in Melbourne’s eastern suburbs.
Clocking her interest, the real estate agent is quick to inform Kath that there are several other interested buyers. Not only that, the current owners are keen to sell as quickly as possible.
Caught up in the excitement of having found a potential property, Kath overlooks a couple of concerns she has about the property: It’s a little further from public transport than she would like, and it wasn’t a three-bedroom home that Kath and her partner, Ryan, were hoping for in anticipation of starting a family soon.
Before they rush into a decision, Kath and Ryan decide to consult a mortgage broker, a buyer’s agent and an accountant for independent advice. After speaking with the professionals, Kath soon realises that the property does not match her lifestyle or budget needs, and they decide to research neighbouring suburbs.
Traps to avoid when choosing a home loan
Not getting pre-approval. Getting home loan pre-approval from a lender can increase your property buying power, but some so-called ‘pre-approvals’ from lenders are worthless. Make sure your lender offers fully assessed pre-approvals so that you will be able to access the funds you need if you decide to buy a property.
Borrowing too much. Before you take out a home loan, consider how much you can comfortably afford to repay each month. Take your income, debt and other ongoing expenses into account – not to mention potential interest rate rises – when calculating your repayment capabilities. Use our borrowing power calculator to estimate how much you can afford to borrow.
Not shopping around. The loan you choose will impact your finances for several years, maybe even a few decades, so don’t just choose the first home loan you find. Compare different home loan features and fees to find one that meets all your borrowing requirements.
Compare a selection of home loan rates today
Rates last updated March 15th, 2016.
Newcastle Permanent Building Society Premium Plus Package Home Loan - New Customer Offer ($150,000+ Owner Occupier)
New customer interest rate discount for loans over $150,000.
February 11th, 2016
Newcastle Permanent Building Society Fixed Rate Home Loan - 1 Year Fixed
Interest rate increased by 0.10%
February 29th, 2016
Newcastle Permanent Building Society Fixed Rate Home Loan - 3 Years Fixed
Interest rate increased by 0.10%
February 29th, 2016
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HSBC Home Value Loan - Home Sweet Home (Owner Occupier)
Pay $0 application fee and borrow up to 90% LVR with LMI
3.99%
4.01%
$0
$0 p.a.
90%
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loans.com.au Essentials - Variable (Owner Occupier)
Loans.com.au offer a low interest variable home loan with no application fee. Option to pay interest only or principal and interest.
4.09%
4.11%
$0
$0 p.a.
80%
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UBank UHomeLoan Variable Rate - Standard Variable Rate Value Offer (Owner Occupier P&I)
A home loan with no application fee or ongoing fees and you need a minimum 20% deposit.
3.99%
3.99%
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Mortgage House Easy Start One Home Loan
A variable rate home loan with a competitive discounted interest rate for 12 months.
3.69%
4.58%
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$395 p.a.
70%
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IMB Budget Home Loan - $150,000+ LVR
Get a competitive rate for keeping your LVR below 80%.
3.99%
4.16%
$445
$10 monthly ($120 p.a.)
80%
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AMP Essential Home Loan - Owner Occupier
Take advantage of a redraw facility, competitive variable rate and no application or settlement fees for a limited time.
4.08%
4.10%
$350
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90%
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ME Bank Flexible Home Loan With Member Package - LVR
Enjoy a discount of 0.79% off your interest rate with this new owner occupier home loan special offer.
4.09%
4.49%
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$395 p.a.
80%
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Australian Unity Health, Wealth and Happiness Package - Owner Occupier
Get a 0.60% discount on your home loan with 100% offset and no ongoing fees.
4.09%
4.12%
$600
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90%
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NAB National Choice Package Home Loan - 2 Year Fixed (Principal and Interest)
A fixed rate home loan package with flexible repayments options. 250,000 Velocity Frequent Flyer point offer, conditions apply.
4.19%
5.23%
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$395 p.a.
95%
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loans.com.au Offset Variable - Up to 80% LVR (Owner Occupier)
No application or annual fees, and access to a 100% offset account.
4.14%
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Switzer Home Loan
No upfront or ongoing fees and a competitive variable rate for owner occupiers.
4.09%
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Newcastle Permanent Building Society Premium Plus Package Home Loan - New Customer Offer ($150,000+ Owner Occupier)
Apply for a new owner occupier loan or refinance from another lender and receive this discounted rate. $1000 cashback offer for owner occupier refinancers available.
4.09%
4.45%
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$375 p.a.
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Macquarie Bank Basic Home Loan - Owner Occupier Promo ($750k+ LVR ≤80% P&I)
This basic home loan has no application fee and an even lower rate when your LVR is below 80%.
4.24%
4.24%
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$0 p.a.
80%
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loans.com.au Essentials - Package Offer
Package your owner occupier loan with your investment loan to access the same competitive rate for both.
4.09%
4.11%
$0
$0 p.a.
80%
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Yellow Brick Road Rate Smasher Home Loan
A low interest rate home loan with up to 70% LVR. Pay no ongoing fee and 24 hour loan access.
4.07%
4.07%
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Over-applying. Making multiple applications within a short period of time can harm your credit file. If a lender reviews your credit file and sees several previous enquiries, it may be assumed that you’ve been rejected for other home loans. The lender will see this as a red flag, which could reduce your chance of being approved.
Getting sucked in by an introductory rate. Home loans that offer a discounted interest rate for an introductory period may sound like an attractive prospect, but make sure you’re aware of the rate you’ll receive once that introductory period ends. For instance, you may receive a competitive rate of 4.5% for the first 12 months, and then it may revert back to the standard variable rate of 5.5%, which will affect your repayments.
Not using features. It’s vital that you choose a loan with features that match your borrowing needs such as the ability to make unlimited additional repayments or the inclusion of an offset account to reduce the amount of interest you pay.
Not getting advice. Choosing the right home loan can be very difficult, so don’t hesitate to ask a licensed mortgage broker for assistance. Brokers assess your borrowing needs and then present you with a selection of suitable loans from their panel of lenders. They can even guide you through the application process from start to finish, helping you avoid any traps and pitfalls along the way.
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