Tips for a First Time Homeowner

Property Tax Reduction Consultants

125 Jericho Turnpike, Suite 500 
Jericho, NY 11753

(516) 484-0654 or (631) 484-0654

Being a first time homeowner is no easy task. There's a whole new mess of bills to pay, maintenance to perform and not to mention the financial burden of it all. This can cause some people to have anxiety and not appreciate the excitement of the process. The best thing to do in this situation is take a step back, breathe, and follow the guidelines to buying and maintaining your first real home! 

Think Long Term Re-Sale 

You need to think of your first home as an investment the same way you would a stock or bond. As a young person, you have a long working history ahead of you and you can afford to take on more risk than a person who is getting ready for retirement. Keep this in mind when comparing a fixer upper to a finished product. While the fixer upper might be riskier, it has more valuable long term benefits for a young buyer.

Make a Maintenance List

The biggest struggle for new, inexperienced homeowners is keeping up with the day-to-day operations of a home. The plumbing, heating, cooling and pest maintenance along with the cleaning and smaller tasks. For this we suggest making a maintennace schedule before every season. Were the gutters checked, is the furnace ready for the winter, can I get the snowblower out of the garage? These are all things you need to ask yourself to stay ahead of potential headaches and repair fees.  

Consult a Veteran 

Your parents or guardian have gotten you this far and this is just one more task you should lean on them for. In all likelihood, they have owned a home for decades and they know a thing or two about buying, selling and upkeep. RESPECT their opinion and always remember that experience breeds knowledge and they can really be a great resource as you head into the real estate world. 

Don't Be Passive

If there is a deal on the table for a home you really like, snatch it up before someone else does. When it comes to real estate, a good property in a good community is not easy to come by and it is always going to hold value. We are not suggesting that you go into an unreasonable amount of debt, but if a few thousand dollars is the sticking point, try to negotiate your way into the home. Channel your inner Shark Tank! 

Did these tips help? We hope they reached you BEFORE the freak out and we want you to know that P.T.R.C. Inc, will be here for you every step of the way. One tip we left out that could be a HUGE help id filing your tax grievances with us in the coming weeks. The Nassau County deadline is now March 10th and we are still accepting applications today. 

To learn more about the application process, call 516/631-484-0654 or file here!