When you buy a house to live in, that means you will be moving from where you currently live in to that planned-to-be-bought new house.That also means that there are habits that will be affected which you have to consider so that as little change as possible will take place (unless you really enjoy change, and abrupt ones, for that matter).

1. Your work habit. This is usually everyday or at least 5 days a week. If you’re an employee, you have a regular schedule of going to work and coming back home. Can you handle the distance of the new location? That also means the time factor, depending if you got nearer or farther from your workplace.

2. School habit. If you have children (or you’re still one of the children with parents considering buying a house), how far will be the school from the house? Is there a need to change school? If so, where? Is it safe going home alone? This is also a 5-days-a-week habit, sometimes 6.

3. Marketing/Shopping habit. How often do the wife go out to shop for food and everything else for the house and the need of the family? Where is the nearest shopping mall or grocery store? Can you walk to it? Can you get public transportation? Or will you always need the car (which you may or may not have)? This is usually a twice-a-week or once-a-week habit.

4. Spiritual habit. Do you go to church once a week? Where is the nearest church?

5. Recreation habit. How often do you go out as a family? Once a week? Twice a month? A walk in the park, cycling around, sketeboarding, movie tripping, clubbing…

6. Medical habit. If you know the names of all the nurses in the hospital you frequent, I say that’s more than weekly habit! The distance of the nearest hospital is very important for you then if that’s the case. We may not like it but emergencies occur at times we rarely expect.

7. Hazard habit. How often do you encounter hazards such as fire and assault that you need a firefighter or a police nearby?

8. Anniversary habit. Birthdays, weddings, etc.

9. Visiting habit. How often do you go to extended families to stay connected?

10. Reunion habit. Once a year? Once in 2 years? 5 years?

When is it time to just rent or finally buy a house you can call your own?

Probably for most women, owning a house is one part security for her family. It is more likely that married women would prefer their husbands buying them their own house which she can fix and dress, bring up her family, rear her children, show the grand children around and show framed pictures of their children to her grand children. In short, it’s a house turned into a home….a more permanent home, that is.

Most people hate change though the irony of it is change is the only thing permanent in this world. There are things to consider, though, when you are pressed with a decision whether to rent or to buy your own house.

Consider the following:

Rent if:
- you can’t stay in one place for a long time; you get bored easily
- you don’t have enough money to buy even a small property
- your job takes you everywhere you rarely see your home

Buy if:
- you have the money
- you want your roots to hold
- seeing your neighbors (and probably ‘enemies’) the rest of your life is not a problem

People always think that having your own house is always better than just renting. It has always been a dream to have a house to call your own but when does renting become better than buying???

It is better to just rent when you are not planning to stay in the country for a long time. If you have plans of going elsewhere then buying a property may not be a good idea as you only have short term plans and it takes lot of decision making in buying or selling a property.

It is better to just rent when you do not have enough finances to support buying a house of your own. If buying a house would put you in dire financial strain then you might think twice before doing so.

It is better to just rent when you and your spouse are having marital problems. Having a property would only add to the complications if you do decide to divorce.

Buying a house is an enjoyable experience so it needs thorough planning and financial stability.

What are the things or factors you should consider in buying your dream house? Basically it should suit your needs as well as your family, here are some factors to consider before deciding to buy a home:

a.) Location-check for accessibility because location should be on top of your list
and should bring you convenience and comfort
b.) Condition of the house/condominium, etc.- check the age of the property if still in good condition even if it’s an old building/condominium already
c.) Price- ask yourself if it’s worth buying with your hard earned money.
d.) Check if you’re happy and contented with all the things that you saw and learned about the property.

As far as real estate buying is concerned, the initial price you will see is normally negotiable. Normally, the proper amount that a property seller would want depends on the mode of payment, cash or installment.

Cash Payments. This is perhaps the sweetest sound that a property seller would want to hear and that if possible, consummate the deal immediately. It is not everyday you will see buyers who will purchase property in cash so ask them to give their goodwill just to verify their sincere intentions.

Installments. For people who rely on loans or financial aid, the time element of settlement of the property amount is really the one in question. So if it takes time to fulfill, expect stiff decisions on the asking price although some would tend to bend over.

These days, buyers don’t even look at an online listing unless it has a virtual tour.  A virtual tour allows a prospective buyer to get a 360-degree view of your home’s interior without having to leave their own homes or offices.  Some virtual tours are interactive, meaning that a click of the mouse will allow the viewer to look at the walls, ceilings, floor.  Other tours are 2-D flat-screen views that gives you a movie image that you can’t control.
You can make a virtual tour for your house by taking digital pictures of your home and hiring a professional to upload and assemble them for you.  You can also hire a professional to take the photos and assemble the tour.  And if you’re really tech-savvy, you can even buy your own software and make the virtual tour yourself.

If you want to live in your own home, consider renting instead of buying your own real estate. Renting is cheaper in the short term because when you acquire property outright, you would have to shell out cash or take a long-term loan.

Trends from the past several decades indicate that the housing market slumps every 10 to 15 years. Even when home prices rise from 4.5%, your income would still appreciate at 4% every year for a decade before you would save more by owning your house than renting it.

There are also a lot of expenses associated with owning a house, such as real estate taxes, transfer taxes, repairs, and the like but these do not build equity. Renting is more favorable not only because it is more inexpensive in the short term, but also because it saves you trouble, offers you flexibility and may be a stable decision when just starting out.

Many people wish to have a second home apart from their own for various reasons. It can be used for family vacations or a rental property or maybe an additional investment. Whatever reasons there maybe, consider the following:

• Recognize if buying a second home is okay for your finances. Think carefully if you can afford having a second home. If you have enough money to spare then, it can be a good investment.

• Select a location where the value of the property would not easily depreciate. A location that is accessible to all and has amenities if you intend on renting it out.

• Have knowledge about rental income. You can have the place rented when you are not occupying it. It can help minimizing mortgage payments

• Choose a home that would suit your lifestyle. Would you rather have a condo or a townhouse instead?

Think carefully before venturing into buying a second home. You would not want to go broke because of it. But then, you might enjoy living in your second home and it would not become a second home after all.