Saying “I Do” to Homeownership
Getting married is an exciting time that comes with a lot of new adjustments, including when it comes to finances. Establishing a healthy financial relationship as a married couple will pay off, especially if you and your spouse plan to become homeowners someday or plan to buy a bigger house. Here are some ways to help you stay on top of your finances after you walk down the aisle together.
Assess your financial situation and consider financial goals. Whether or not you plan to have joint bank accounts, if you’re purchasing a home together, it’s important to have a clear understanding of your overall financial situation. What is your student loan balance? How much do you owe on credit cards? What is your take-home pay? How much do you plan to save for retirement? Answers to these questions all impact how much house you can afford – or if now is even the right time to buy. Also worth considering: whether you plan to be a one- or two-income family in the future. For example, if you plan to have a family and for one spouse to stay at home to raise the kids, this can affect your income, which, in turn, affects the size of mortgage loan you want to take on.
Know your credit scores. You can pull a free credit score from websites like CreditKarma.com, which will give you a pretty good idea of where your credit score falls. You may also receive one free copy of your credit report each year from each of the three credit bureaus – Experian, Equifax and TransUnion. Take advantage of these tools and know your credit score before talking to a lender.
Get prequalified for a home mortgage loan. Getting prequalified* from a lender means you’re a serious buyer. So before you ever begin house shopping, get prequalified to show your real estate agent and potential sellers that you are able to get necessary financing. Prequalification also helps you know how much you can afford, so you can narrow down your search and won’t waste your time looking at homes outside your budget.
Put your relationship first. Above all else, keep in mind that your relationship with your significant other is more important than any home. Making big financial decisions can put a strain on any relationship, so step into this process with an open mind and be willing to work together and compromise to find the house that best suits your wants and needs as well as your budget.
Christine Cleek
ABR, CRS, SFR, E-Pro
Broker, Owner
Rising Star Real Estate
850-217-0990
2016 Voted in the TOP 100 MOST INFLUENTIAL
REAL ESTATE AGENTS IN FLORIDA
2015 Trulia TOP RANKED Real Estate Agent
Based on Client Reviews & Ratings!
Featured in January 2014 FLORIDA REALTOR MAGAZINE
This prestigious award honors excellence among the top 1% of
agents in the country based on 2014 sales and client reviews.
Leave a Reply