After a long period of paying rent for a roof over your head, making compromises regarding the furnishing of your temporary dwelling, you have come to the conclusion that a much wiser decision would be to invest in your future home, even if this means a monthly bank loan payment.
Congratulations on your decision, but the complicated part is just beginning. Thus, because recent studies have shown that a good portion of homeowners are dissatisfied with the dwelling they purchased less than 5 years ago, we have prepared a list of 10 aspects you should consider before signing a sale-purchase agreement.
1. The first and most important aspect in choosing an apartment is its location. Thus, if you are an active person with an extensive social life, an apartment in the city, near a means of transport, preferably the metro, would be the most suitable option. However, in this case, you should also consider the age of the building.
Most apartments are old, built before 1990, 1980, or even 1970. The location may be to your liking, but it is very possible that you will need an extra budget for renovation and finishing.
On the other hand, if you are a convinced family person, an apartment located on the outskirts of the city, preferably new, with a larger area and neighbors close in age, will be the answer you are looking for. However, it is certain that it will take some time and viewings until you find the right home.
2. Since you will inevitably also relate to the financial aspect, make sure you have done a market survey, that you know roughly the values at which apartments in the chosen area are priced. One way to obtain this information is through a quick check on specialized listing websites or a discussion with a real estate agency.
This way you can get an idea in advance of what you will be able to purchase with your budget.
3. Once you have chosen the apartment, you need to consider the amenities you will have access to. It's no use falling in love with the dwelling if the first shop you have access to is at a distance that cannot be covered on foot. Not to mention the park, a possible gym or a beauty salon. Seemingly trivial, the presence or absence of these amenities will make themselves known over time.
4. Similarly, it is just as important to have access to a terrace, club, restaurant, etc. The fact that you are moving into a new house will not replace the need and desire to go out, to meet with friends. In fact, one of the major problems of homeowners located outside the city is precisely this, the lack of leisure spaces.
5. As mentioned above, it is important to know the age of the building. While some older buildings stand out for their distinctive architecture, they are at risk of collapsing at the first earthquake, and the red dot warns you of this. Let's not forget how old apartments are compartmentalized and insulated.
From this point of view, it would be better to focus on an apartment in a recently built building, all the more so as you are informed about the quality of the materials used in the construction of the block.
