GROOVY PROPERTY GUIDE FOR NEWLY

WEDS

SAYING ‘I DO’ TO BUYING & RENTING A PROPERTY…

FALLING HOUSE OVER HEELS

• If you are wondering how to buy a house? You can find all the tips and tricks here, just hold my Slideshare hand and let me waltz you both through the finer points of falling house over heels and all that you need to know will be revealed….

• The next scariest thing in life, apart from falling head over heels in love and getting married, is most probably renting or buying your first house as a couple!

• Whether you are new to buying property, or looking for houses to rent, the fact that you are looking to rent and buy ‘together’ means you need to approach the process a little differently. Panic ye not though my little love doves.

THE COST OF COMMITMENT

• Forget romance for a second and focus on reality. Yes you can still hold hands whilst you do this.

• Take all rose tinted spec off and discuss your joint financial situation.

• Work out what you can afford by combining your finances and how much deposit you will require.

• Work out how much you can borrow if you are planning to buy a house and work out any stamp duty to pay on the property.

HANDY TOOLS FOR LOVE STRUCK FOOLS

• Be sure to research mortgages and find the absolute best one for your circumstances.

• Then have a flirt with this marvellous mortgage calculator which will work out your monthly bill for you. That way you will be certain about how much you have left over to spend on quality romancing!

TO ‘PULL’ OR NOT TO ‘PULL’ THAT IS THE QUESTION!

• Don’t go for something out of your league.

• Put it this way, you wouldn’t try pulling Angelina Jolie or Brad Pitt so don’t go looking at houses that you cant afford!

• Think about it. A house with a swimming pool and indoor cinema is great, but only if you still have enough money to feed yourselves after you have paid for it!

THE VOICE OF REASON• Be realistic. You may have Rolls

Royce ideas but only Mini metro money!

• So, set a budget and stick to it!

AGREE ON THE BASICS!• Agree on the basics together!

For example what is more important, an extra room if you are planning to have children or a games room?

• Remember to decide on whether having a garden and off road parking is essential as these factors can considerably affect the price of a house.

Drive Way...

Garden!

IS BUYING A DIY A GOOD IDEA?

• Bear in mind that DIY is not for everyone, no matter how good either of you look in overalls.

• Can you afford to buy a house that needs doing up? It may be cheap in the first place but materials can work out expensive.

• If you are going to undertake the DIY yourselves make sure you have the time, the skill, the patience to do it as well as the ability to live what may resemble a bomb site for a good few months!

LOCATION LOCATION!• Mother in law from heaven or

from hell? Living near family can be a blessing or a curse! Decide together just how blissful this could actually be.

• Consider how good the local transport and schools are.

• Good local facilities? How important is easy access to these?

GO HOUSE DATING!

• Now you have worked out budget and agreed on what kind of property you are looking for and where, you should get out dating!

• Only look at a couple of properties a day to avoid overload of information or mixing up qualities of different properties.

• Avoid temptation to stray from the budget!

MAKE LOVE NOT WAR• Looking for the right property to

fall house over heels with can be stressful so…

• Be kind to each other.

• Be patient.

• Remember to have fun.

• Try not to argue but if you do there is nothing a big kiss, bottle of wine and foot rub won’t put right. By all means, feel free to use your imagination on this point :)

HAPPILY EVER AFTER

• Renting and buying a house together is a big step but just like when you decided to get married, if it is approached with a little planning and passion, mutual goals discussed/agreed and a proper budget put in place then it can be hugely successful.