Insurance can suck the life out of your open home – who knew?
I had a first home buyer client win an auction a few weeks back, and she was the only bidder in the room.
Sit with that for a second, because it should surprise you.
Every property has a price. Great properties always have buyers.
There’s something that doesn’t get talked about enough in property circles. Most conversations about buying a house come down to one of two questions.
The window is still open. Are you going to use it?
I know what you’re thinking. The world feels a bit wobbly right now and every time you check the news there’s something new to worry about. If you’re a first home buyer sitting on the sidelines waiting for things to settle down before you make your move, I understand the instinct.
First home buyers: Don’t fall in love
You’ve found it. The perfect first home. The kitchen’s exactly what you imagined. The garden’s just right. You can already picture yourself living there.
Stop.
I’ve seen this happen many times. Buyers fall head over heels for a property, make an offer in a rush, and within weeks discover they’ve overpaid or moved into a house with serious problems they never knew existed. Unconsented work. Insurance issues. Repair bills that dwarf their entire deposit.
The perfect storm for first home buyers
People call me repetitive, and it’s not forgetfulness (really!). It’s because on this subject, I need to drive my point home more than once. So here I go again – first home buyers, now is your time to buy!
First Home Buyers – why now’s your time (but only if you stop getting in your own way)
I was in a café the other day, and I bumped into a young couple I know who have just got engaged. We had a bit of a chat about this and that, and then, because they know what I do for a living, they said: “Cam, we’re thinking about buying our first home, but we’re not sure if we’re ready.” My response was – how do you know if you’re ready if you don’t know what you can afford?
A first home journey with Glen and Nish
That first meeting ended with a handshake and a promise: “I’ll be back.” Three years and $90,000 of paid-off debt later, Glen and Nish didn’t just come back – they powered through every setback the Auckland housing market threw at them.
National scrapping the First Home Grant is not as bad as they say!
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Top 10 things to look for in a co-ownership mortgage
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