Plan Ahead for Success

Before setting out to buy a house or an apartment or any other type of residential property, it pays to think about your needs. Often one may fall in love with "the perfect house" only to find that the home is not in the right area or that the garden is too big to manage. If the home is for a family, the needs of the whole family must be considered - husband, wife, children, and sometimes even grandparents. Think about how many bedrooms and what size kitchen is needed; and whether having a garage is important. Do you have a dog and need the property to be fully fenced?

Very few people have the money to buy exactly what they want, so make a list of your requirements and break it down into "must have" and "like to have". It will help you when you start looking at homes. Then think about the area where you want to live - is it quick and easy to get to work? Are there schools and shops nearby?

Monthly expenses need to be budgeted before you even start looking. Owning a home not only means paying a monthly bond installment but has many new bills too. Make a list of everything you'll have to pay - bond installment, rates or levies, house insurance, mortgage (bond) protection insurance, electricity and water, repairs and maintenance; and make sure your budget can afford everything you have listed.