You have spent hours pouring over your budget to make sure you can afford the mortgage repayments on your dream home and that you have the right amount for the deposit. But have you accounted for the added extras that will come along with that purchase? Here are the main expenses to keep in mind.
Building and pest inspection
A home is one of the biggest investments you will make, so you need to make sure there aren’t any expensive surprises waiting for your once you move in. A qualified building inspector will check the structure of the home and be able to tell you if there are any major issues that would cost thousands to fix. They will also be able to let you know what upgrades and repairs you’ll need to do in a few years’ time.
A pest inspector will check for the dreaded white ants, which can quietly eat away at a house for months before the damage is evident.
These inspections will set you back a few hundred dollars, but could save you thousands in the long run, not to mention a lot of heartache and stress.
Legal fees
Unless you have your own qualifications in property law, you need to engage the services of a professional to help you through all the contracts and paperwork involved with transferring a home into your name.
The steps taken on your behalf by a conveyancer or property lawyer are to
• Lodge legal documents
• Research the property to ensure there aren’t any hidden complications you might not know about such as zoning issues
• Put your deposit in a trust account
• Keep you up to date on the progress of the property settlement and notify you when you have to sign documents (and walk you through them)
• Remind you what cheques need to be ready and when.
This service will usually cost approximately $2000.
Stamp Duty
AKA tax! The government gets a slice of the pie when you buy a place, unless you fall into the first home buyer category. Stamp duty is unavoidable and is calculated depending on how much you spend on the house. For example, in NSW a $500,000 house would attract a stamp duty cost of around $17 – 18,000. There are plenty of online tools to help you figure out the amount you’ll be paying.
Insurance
Unless you have 20% or more to put towards a deposit, your loan will need to be covered with mortgage insurance. Online calculators can help you figure out the exact amount you will need to pay.
Make sure you’ve budgeted for additional costs so that you know the exact amount you can spend before you hit the market looking for your dream home.
Buyer’s Agent Amanda On My Side will help you with all your property purchase needs. Contact them today.
