Homeowners, I need help!!

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-01-2004
Homeowners, I need help!!
5
Wed, 04-07-2004 - 1:19pm
Hey you guys!

My hubby and I are ready to buy a house for the first time. Hellllpppp!!

Anybody who knows anything at all about where to start, please help!

We are thinking about building instead of just buying; which is better?

Also, we are working on paying off some of our debts now, however, do we need a perfect credit to get started??

Please send me any info you got, and tips on how you started yourself(We are from Florida).

Thanks.

iVillage Member
Registered: 09-28-2003
Wed, 04-07-2004 - 1:33pm

I don't know what part of Florida you live but I live in Cape Coral (SW region).

   

Avatar for lori_mcbride
iVillage Member
Registered: 07-01-2003
Wed, 04-07-2004 - 1:44pm

We used what is called a buyers agent when we bought our first home.

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having a baby

Avatar for my3girls2001
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Wed, 04-07-2004 - 1:57pm
It is a scary process and can get very frustrating, so hold on tight!! Sit down with your dh and let him know that you both want to stay on the same page through out all of it,,,We just sold our 1st home 4 years ago and built this one we are living in right now.
iVillage Member
Registered: 01-06-2004
Thu, 04-08-2004 - 8:42am

We just bought our first home a little over a year ago.


We went with a builder, cause newer homes where we live are cheaper then the ones already built.
I am not sure if you need PERFECT credit, but having good credit is something you will need.


I would just take your time and do it right. Cause once you do it, theres no turning back. I wish sometimes that we were not in a rush to have a home.

Good luck.

Mel


Andrew 3-4-99


Dalton 12-4-03

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iVillage Member
Registered: 10-21-2003
Thu, 04-08-2004 - 1:38pm
We also built our new home. It is cheaper to build, especially if you act as your own contractor. We bought our land 4 years ago and worked on paying it down. This is what we used as our downpayment rather than actual cash. We could act as our own contractor as we know someone in almost every field required to build our house. If we had to have had a builder come in and build the house we have now the cheapest price we got was 189,000; but probably higher...when we built it ourselves (And I mean 10 hour days, almost everyday for 4 months.) we ended up with a mortgage for 120,000. It is very nervewracking building a house on your own, but it gives you a sense of accomplishment when it passes inspection. If you know people who are willing to help and know some of the qualified people it can be fun. Our electrician was my DH's cousin, it still cost us 6000 for electrical, but it would have been worse if we didn't know him.

So I'd suggest checking around for land first and if possible waiting a while before going for the pre approved martgage...especially if you get your land as a mortgage with the same bank (then they know that you pay your bills.) Good Luck