7 step guide to buying your next home

Decided it’s time to find a bigger place, a more convenient location or a larger backyard? Maybe you’re an empty nester looking to downsize, or make that long thought about sea or tree change? For the many Australians these can be very enticing thoughts.

But, before you start searching for properties, it pays to do some research. Because you may find buying the second time around quite different to the first. For starters, there are two homes involved and usually both a buying and selling process to negotiate. And if you buy first, before you sell your current home, the finance can be more involved.

To help you plan your strategy and explain your options, here’s a step-by-step guide to the process, to get you on the road to your next home.

Step 1

Figure out what you’re looking for

Buying your next home is a major life decision. So the first thing you need to ask yourself is why do you want to move and what are you looking for in a new home.

Take a moment to list what your main priorities are for a new home, for example more space, closer to the beach or quicker work commute. This allows you to start doing your real estate research – to see, for example, how much the property you’re looking for is likely to cost, in the area you want to move to.

Once you’ve figured out what you’re after, you might come to the conclusion that you’re basically happy where you are, and would be better off renovating your home to make the changes you need.  Or, it may help make it even clearer that it’s time to move.

Step 2

How much equity do you have?

If your current home has increased in value over the years or you’ve made extra mortgage repayments, you may hold significant equity in your current home.

You may be able to use this equity in the process of purchasing your next home, for example as security for your next loan, or to help with your deposit.

To get an idea of the equity you hold, you’ll need to get an estimated market value of your current home. Your equity will be the difference between your home’s market value and the amount you still owe on your home loan.

However, in most cases, you won’t be able to borrow that entire amount. To get an idea of how much equity you might be able to use towards your next home, just jump onto our equity calculator.

Step 3

How much can you really afford?

Now that you have a rough idea of what the home you’re looking for will cost, and the equity you have available, you need to get an understanding of how much you can afford to borrow and repay.

Another consideration here is your income. As a rough guide, it’s suggested that repayments on your new home don’t exceed 30% of your after-tax salary. It’s also worth noting that it’s generally recommended that your home costs no more than 3 to 5 times your household income.

Our borrowing power calculator can help you figure out how much you could borrow, while our repayment calculator can show you what you would need to budget for each month based on the amount you want to borrow. But again, chatting with your lender, or one of ING’s home loan specialists, can help you to begin to assess your situation in full.

 Step 4

Are you selling or buying first?

Now you know your budget, next comes the age-old upgraders’ question. Is it better to sell or buy first?

Selling your current home first is generally considered the safer option, while buying first may give you more opportunity to find your ideal next home. But there are  pros and cons to both. And the current state of the housing market is also a big consideration.

To discover both sides of the story, read our article To buy or sell first, that is the question?

Step 5

Get your finances sorted

Alright you’re getting serious now. Even if you’re in the ‘sell first’ camp, you need to start thinking about getting your finances in place to buy – as you may want the gap between the two settlement dates to be as close as possible.

Getting a home loan pre-approval from a lender is a great way to get the confidence to start your property search. Pre-approval is an indication of your ability to borrow funds from a lender (based on the information you’ve provided them)  It will allow you to shows real estate agents and buyers that you’re in the game and are more likely to afford the property. It allows you to bid at auction and gives you an idea of what price range to keep your property search within.

If you’re buying first, it’s a bit different. You will need to think about how you’re going to pay your deposit and potentially organise bridging finance with a lender, so you can juggle two loans at once.

Step 6

Start searching for the new (or preparing for sale)

You’ve got your pre-approval sorted, now the search begins. You’ve got a good idea of what your budget is and what you’re looking for, which helps narrow the field. Now it’s just a matter of finding the home that’s right for you.

You may have to attend quite a few open homes and it can be hard to remember which home is which. So a good tip is to keep a little checklist of the things you like and dislike with each home and take lots of photos to help trigger your memory.

At the same time, you may be getting your current home ready to sell, depending on your strategy. If that’s you, then take a look at our article ‘How to help buyers see what you love about your home, for some great tips on helping prospective buyers fall in love with your home, just like you did.

If you’re selling and buying at the same time, it can be quite stressful. So it’s important to do as much as you can to get your finances sorted and do your research upfront so you’re ready to go when you find your dream home.

Step 7

Make an offer and finalise your finances

You’ve found a home you like. It ticks all your boxes, or most of them, and it’s in your price range. If you’re confident that this is the home you want and can afford, and all the inspections check out it’s time to make an offer. Once you’ve agreed on a price with the seller, link in your lender to ensure all the finance is assessed and approved so that you can get ready for settlement.

If you have yet to sell or rent out your home, time to get that in full swing to minimise financial losses and get ready to move into your new home!

Get a helping hand from a specialist

Our ING home loan specialists are here to help. No matter where you are in the process, whether you’re trying to calculate your equity or obtain pre-approval, they can chat you through all your options and give you a clearer picture of your next steps.