When Is the Right Time to Upgrade to the House of Your Dreams?

Now that you’ve determined that you need to upsize,  you need to figure out if now is a good time to do so. When weighing the pros and cons, keep the following considerations in mind: 

Low interest rates

Low interest rates often spark a spate of borrowing — and for good reason. You’ll pay less for your loan over its lifetime and enjoy lower monthly payments as well. This is especially attractive when it comes to upgrading to your dream house.

Your home is likely to be the single largest purchase you’ll ever make. If you can reduce the amount of your monthly payment and pay less over the lifetime of your loan, you’ll have more discretionary income to spend elsewhere. 

Finances

Before you start looking at homes, spend some time going over your finances. Just because you want to purchase your dream house at this particular point in your life doesn’t mean that it’s a good idea financially. You want to make sure that buying a larger home isn’t going to threaten your financial security. 

You’ll also need to show lenders that you have enough financial resources to easily make the monthly mortgage payments. This often means that you need to bring home about three times the amount of your mortgage every month. 

Market conditions

One of the most important things to consider — that homeowners often don’t think about — is market conditions. If the market is in a slump, which means that prices are sharply declining, then it’s often called a buyer’s market. 

If it’s a buyers market, you will have more power to negotiate and will likely be able to purchase more house for your money. If you can manage to couple a buyer’s market with low interest rates, you’ll find that you also have lower monthly mortgage payments. 

Equity

In general, the longer you own your current home, the more equity you build up in it. Once your equity reaches the 20% mark, it’s the ideal time to trade up to a roomier abode. 

You can take the equity from your current home and use it to make the down payment of your new house. In fact, many lenders offer more attractive rates and terms if you’re able to put a 20% down payment on a home. 

The age-old question is: Should you sell your current home first before buying the house of your dreams or vice versa? Below are some pros and cons of each approach: 

The pros of selling your home first:

• You will have the peace of mind knowing exactly how much you have available to spend on your new home
• You will be able to maintain your financial security because you’ll eliminate the possibility of overextending yourself. This often happens to homeowners who overestimate the amount they’ll receive from the sale of their current home. 

Cons of selling your home first:

• The timing might be off and you’ll have to find other living arrangements before you’ve purchased a new home.
• You might have to find a short-term renting or rely on the kindness of friends or family to help you out. 
• Not only might you have to pack and unpack more than once, but you might be stuck paying extra utility connection fees and the like. 

Purchasing your dream house offers you plenty of advantages — if you’re able to afford it. 

Pros of buying your new home first:

• You won’t have to make other living arrangements, which can be concerning if you have young children, lots of furniture that requires you to store it, or you’re elderly. 
• Because you aren’t hemmed in by the requirement to sell your current home first, you won’t have to miss out if the perfect home becomes available. 

Cons of buying your new home first:

• Because you’re now paying on two mortgages, there is pressure to sell your first home. 
• You might agree to take a lower sale price that can leave you financially vulnerable. 
• It might also take you longer to sell your home than you anticipated so you’re left carrying two mortgages for longer than you’re comfortable with. 

If you are actively in the real estate market and are ready to buy a bigger house, there’s no better time to talk to us than now. Speak to the experts at Shore Financial and learn about your options for funding your home upgrade. 

Disclaimer: This is general information only and should not be taken as financial advice. Please speak to a Shore financial planning professional before making a decision on your home loan.