Exhilaration and exhaustion are just two of the emotions you’re likely to feel throughout the process of buying a home. Indeed, the ups and downs can be jolting, especially for home buyers who are looking for accessible housing. If you live with a disability, you need accommodations in your home to ensure that you can complete daily tasks. Consider the following six things you should do in order to find an accessible house and become a homeowner.
1. Add Accessibility Features
Accessibility features are unfortunately uncommon in many homes. Although you may luck out and find a house with a ramp — or another essential accessibility feature — you need to account for the possibility that you will need to add these features after you purchase a home. Make a list of the accessibility features you need, estimate the cost of these modifications, and tailor your budget to accommodate the potential expense.
2. Look for Other Important Features
In addition to accessibility amenities, you should look for features that will minimize the burden of maintenance that you need to do upon moving in. A home with a new roof, for example, will reduce the likelihood that you have to pay for repairs or a replacement soon after you buy your home.
3. Minimize Moving Stress
You must also craft a strategy for reducing the stress associated with moving. Hiring movers is a great way to do this. According to research, the average cost of professional moving services is $1,250 and $4,890 for local and long-distance moves, respectively. Though this might seem steep, it’s likely a wise investment for anybody with a disability.
4. Search Based on Budget
It might be easy to focus your search based on a specific area that you want to be in or on the number of bedrooms and bathrooms a home has. The easiest way to find the right home, though, is to search based on your budget. You can look at listings online, filter by price, and find the neighborhoods that are in your price range.
5. Find the Right Mortgage Lender
The mortgage lender that you choose will be a major component of your budget. When you start researching mortgages, you will likely find that you receive quotes for different interest rates and preapproval amounts from different lenders. Reviewing all of your options will offer a big-picture idea of how much you can really afford. Remember that the terms of a mortgage are determined by your income, your job, and your credit.
6. Learn the Home Buying Process
Finding the best mortgage is just one step in the home-buying process. There are many other parts that are just as important, including finding a reliable real estate agent, setting aside funds for a down payment, and ensuring that the home you choose can be modified to meet your accessibility needs. Don’t overlook these parts of the process when you start house hunting.
Home Ownership Is Within Reach for You
Many people feel like home ownership is out of reach due to finances, personal obstacles, or simply a lack of knowledge about the home buying process. You might even feel hindered by a disability, but there are many resources that can help you research mortgages and buy a house.
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