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Homes & Apartments
Photo © Roy Katalan
After
you get married, you'll spend a week or two on your honeymoon and then return
home to start your new life together. But where will "home" be? Some
new couples lived together prior to their weddings but many others kept separate
residences or even lived with their parents until the big day. Finding a place
to live is a very important process for newlyweds that can probably wait until
you return from your honeymoon. It is almost impossible to look for a house or
apartment and plan a wedding at the same time.
Apartments
If
you are looking for an apartment, the most important things to consider are location
and price. First, determine how much you can afford to spend on rent per month.
Many apartments include utilities with the price of rent. Be sure to find out
what is included in your rent. The next thing you need to agree on is location.
There are thousands of apartment complexes in northwest Ohio and southeast Michigan
so it is important to narrow your search.
Once
you have answered those two questions, you can start looking in the newspaper,
apartment magazines and on the Internet for viable possibilities. Visit several
apartments before making a decision, even if you fall in love with the first one
you see. Be sure to carefully read the contract to make sure you understand all
of the terms and conditions.
Homes
The
first step in the home-buying process is finding a realtor who is reliable and
trustworthy. It is very important that you get along well with your realtor because
you will be spending a lot of time with him or her, going over potential homes,
visiting the houses and drawing up offers. It is the realtor's job to find you
a home that meets all of your specified criteria so be open and honest with them
about your needs and wants.
The
second thing you should do is to go to a bank or mortgage company and become pre-approved
for a certain amount. Shop around at different institutions to determine who offers
the lowest interest rates and allow for low down payments. Many banks offer special
incentives for first-time homebuyers. Your loan officer will take all of your
financial information and determine how much you can afford for a mortgage. Pre-approval
is important because it shows you how much you can spend. This can help narrow
your home search. Once you find a house, the seller will be happy to hear you
have been pre-approved. This is like an insurance policy for them, ensuring that
you can afford the house.
Tell
you realtor you pre-approval amount and the area you would like to live in. He
or she will probably ask you a lot of questions in order to find the perfect house
for you. Some of these questions may be:
- Are
you looking for a one or two-story house?
- How
many bedrooms would you prefer?
- Is
there a certain school district you would like to live in?
- Is a basement a necessity? What about an attic?
- Would
you like a lot of property or a small yard?
- How
many bathrooms are you looking for?
Your
realtor will print out a listing of all of the homes on the market that fit your
price range, location and specifications. You and your husband will go over this
list and select homes you would like to tour. It may take weeks or months; you
may go through five homes or 16, but you will find the right home for you in time.
Be patient and check out many homes before making your decision.
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