Home ownership, a vital element in what constitutes The American Dream, is certainly a blessing. Unfortunately, it also contains the seeds of what can be financial misfortune, perhaps never more graphically depicted than in a 1986 Steven Spielberg movie, The Money Pit, in which a young couple experiences every calamity possible in remodeling a dilapidated house. With the aim of helping aspiring homeowners avoid some common errors, I want to pass on seven tips.
1. Pick the right area. Perhaps the most overused phrase in real estate is: "The three most important factors in real estate are location, location, and location." That happens to be true, but rarely does advice follow its utterance. What this means in practical terms is that you select your home in an area that exhibits pride of ownership, few if any slum properties, an absence of nearby vacant commercial spaces, neighborhood schools with high performance ratings, and a community with a low crime rate. Whatever cannot be noted by inspection is readily available from a variety of sources. And as to the house itself, though it's always nice to get a pretty one, the location is the main concern. I've always operated on the premise that the worst house in the best neighborhood beats the best house in the worst neighborhood.
2. Don't stretch beyond your means. It's common knowledge in the real estate industry that tenants tend to rent less expensive residences than they can afford, whereas homebuyers customarily reach for the moon-and beyond. Perhaps it's a psychological acknowledgement of intentions: temporary vs. permanent. Regardless, there is an approach toward life that I advocate, known as sandbagging. It suggests that you don't commit to obligations that may strain your limits. It's far more sensible that you obligate yourself to less than you think you can handle, this in recognition of the workings of Murphy's Law that says: "Whatever can go wrong, will!" For those of you who need it spelled out in simpler terms: Choose a cheaper home than you can afford.
3. Avoid a hazardous mortgage. At no time in the past forty years have mortgage interest rates been as low as they are today, nor does it seem likely that they will drop lower. Though that doesn't necessarily mean rates will rise, the odds favor it. The significance: If you finance your home with an adjustable loan, there's a likelihood that your payments will rise in the future. For this reason, opt for a fixed rate loan. It's true, of course, that your initial rate will be higher, but if you can handle a 15-year fully amortized loan, you'll come close to getting the best of both worlds.
4. Don't stint on the down payment. Home purchases today can be financed with extremely small down payments, sometimes as low as nothing at all. There is temptation for many buyers to lever into as expensive a home as they can with the least cash possible. I recommend against this for a variety of reasons, but which, if you harbor any caution at all, you can feel in your bones. However, there's a specific percentage down payment to aim for. It is 20 percent, and there's a reason. Loans not exceeding 80 percent of a home's value normally carry lower interest rates, and are exempt from mortgage insurance that adds a premium of about ˝ percent per year.
5. Make sure that your title is secure and adequate. A form of insurance protection that a buyer receives is called title insurance. The company providing it examines the ownership record of the property and insures the buyer against any title defects. The premium for this coverage is paid at the time of sale and protects the buyer for as long as ownership lasts. Normally the amount of the coverage is the purchase price, but it's not a bad idea to anticipate the future. As real estate has a tendency to appreciate in value over time, you might consider increasing the face amount of coverage as an added protection. In some states this increase is possible on payment of an additional premium.
6. Hold title wisely. Married couples traditionally hold title to their homes in joint tenancy. The reason why is understandable. In the event of a death, the surviving spouse receives automatic title to the property without the inconvenience of probate. Although this solves one problem, there is an inherent disadvantage. Only half the property takes a stepped up basis as of date of death. The other half remains at the original acquisition basis. Under certain circumstances this might result in the imposition of an eventual capital gains tax. This problem is resolved if title is held, instead, as community property, where the full property takes the stepped up basis. Check this with your counsel.
7. Be slow to remodel. Now that you're sitting in your very own home, you see all the things you want to change. To this I say: certain items of repair may be required at once for simple habitability, but except for these, go slowly. It's best that you live in a structure for awhile to get a feel of what you really want. It's simply that a home will grow on you with time, and ideas concocted during your first week of occupancy often seem outlandish by the third month. It's best that you spend the first six months in planning, measuring, sketching, collecting prices, inspecting other homes and models, and enthusiastically fantasizing. At the end of that time you may be ready to proceed.
There is, of course, far more to the subject of real estate than its initial acquisition. For a fascinating view of the unique potential of home ownership, you're invited to visit The $900 Home in the Newsletter Archives on my website at www.onthemoneytrail.com.
© 2004-5 Al Jacobs. All rights reserved.
About Al Jacobs »
Al Jacobs has been a professional investor for nearly four decades. His business experience ranges from real estate, mortgage, and securities investment to appraisal, civil engineering, and the operation of a private trust company. In addition to managing his investments on a day-to-day basis, he is a featured financial columnist for both online and print publications. He is the author of Nobody's Fool: A Skeptic's Guide to Prosperity. You may subscribe to his financial Newsletter, "On the Money Trail," at no cost or obligation, by visiting www.onthemoneytrail.com.
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