In today’s active real estate market, you may be required to make a decision on buying your dream home sooner than what you’re comfortable with as another family could be looking to make an offer on the same home. In fear of losing the home you’ve fallen in love with, you make a quick offer and the home is yours.

Overwhelmed with the excitement of the purchase of your new home, you may have overlooked a few items that you didn’t think about. Unfortunately, it’s usually the items that will end up costing you money that get overlooked.

Here are just a few things to keep an eye out for:

Closing Costs: A costly oversight is typically your closing costs. Most purchasers understand that there are closing costs but underestimate the transaction amount. A good rule of thumb is to set aside 3% of the purchase price for closing costs.

Utilities and Maintenance: There are a number of online calculators that can help you calculate your estimated monthly expenses. This exercise should be completed before you begin looking for a new home so you know what to expect.

Property Taxes: Property taxes are to be paid by every homeowner. The taxes vary city to city, so it is important to know what you can afford. As a first time home buyer, your lender may ask you to pay towards your property taxes every month. The other option is to set money aside so you can pay it when it is due in July.

Furnishing your home: Can you furnish the space? Will the furniture you have fit or will you have to buy new furniture?

Safety: Is the home equipped with an alarm system? What is the crime rate in the neighbourhood? How are your neighbours?

Disclosure Statement: If buying new, read through the Disclosure Statement to make sure there are no surprises. If buying resale, go through any available strata council documentation and ensure you hire a solid home inspector.

Purchasing a home can be a very stressful yet exciting time in your life. Although you may need to make a quick decision on making an offer on a home, you should ensure that you’ve asked yourself these questions ahead of time. It is a great way to protect yourself from any surprises after you’ve committed to making a decision this big. Good luck!