Owning a home is a dream for many and a proud milestone in life. I recently had the chance to realize this dream by purchasing my first flat at 29. While the process had its challenges, I learned a lot along the way. In this article, I’ll share my experience to help others looking to buy their first home.
In this guide I have shared my experience, mistakes and what I have learned in the process of searching and finally buying the flat.
How it all started: Buying a flat
I was only 18 when I moved from my hometown to Delhi, and that’s the time when I realized; this is going to be my next home for a while.
After all, this is what my grandfather did, who moved from a small town in Rajasthan and now is a big deal in the town where he lives now.
When I was 23 I purchased my first car, even my parents were sick worried that how will I manage a car of my own.
You know how parents are? š
After my graduation, I lived in a rented house for years (7 years to be specific), and paying a huge rent didn’t made any sense to me, and I wanted to save my expenditure on rent.
It took me six years to get to a stage, where I invested all my savings, took the loan from the bank & purchased a flat that I will get possession very soon.
The fun part was; it took me two years to find a flat that was right on price & something that I liked.
I spent countless days in Noida, Expressway, Gurgaon to visit various properties. I spent countless hours on RealEstateForum to learn the tricks from the pros & moreover, I was worried of getting cheated, as I heard some real horrible stories related to real-estate scams. Luckily nothing such thing happened to me.!
In this guide, I’m documenting things which helped me to pick the right property & it might be helpful for you or anyone who wants to buy a flat in coming months.
Step by step of buying the flat:
Setting a Budget and Location Priorities:
Budgeting is one important thing when you are planning to buy a flat for yourself. My scenario is; I wanted to buy a flat for living purpose and not for investment. A good purchase is one, which is blended with both (Living and investment).
So, start with setting your budget and identify the area you want to live in. Also, you need to be sure of what would be the size of your flat.Do you want a 1200 Sq Ft. flat or 1800 Sq. Ft flat?Do you want a 2 BHK or 3 BHK? These are important questions that you need to decide of your own firstNow, Start taking advantage of a dedicated real-estate forum for those areas to identify reputed builders and properties that fit your requirement. This is just the perfumery stage where you are doing the homework, and real work starts when you start going to the property to see them.
Finding the Right Broker:
According to the dictionary, the definition of a broker is “a person who buys and sells goods or assets for others.” and he will make money when he finally sold you something.
Always remember, broker are a salesman, and they are professional in making you feel good.
The takeaway here is:
Work with the minimum of 3-5 brokers and let them suggest you and show you the property.
In this process, you will learn a lot about the real-estate market. After 3-4 meet, you can easily find 1-2 genuine broker who can get you a good deal.
Comparing Resale vs New Construction:
This is another important aspect that you need to keep in mind when buying a property. The resale market is typical bargain market where even a Rs 10/Sq. Ft. make a huge difference. Buying directly from the builder is more transparent but again it depends via which brokers you are going through. Few brokers get exclusive rights to sell the property at the lower price, and you need to identify those brokers who have a direct connection & can get you the best deal. Ensure that there is no more middle man between you, broken & property. If there is, you might end up paying more.On the other hand, it’s normal to have 1-2 extra broker when you are dealing with resale property.
Avoiding Common Real-Estate Mistakes:
Patience:
One thing which I could advise you is don’t lose patience and don’t wait for too long. My daily earning is about 10000 INR ($180), and I wasted almost months to research for flat, and that time I was like; let;s just get over it and focus on what I’m good at. After years, I could say “Money saved is money earned”.
All the time that you would invest in researching and negotiating will not only hone many of your skills (Which will help you throughout your life), it will also help you to learn one most important aspect of living a good life “PATIENCE”.
Patience is a key to success in any field, and so is in real-estate. This is also true in the art of negotiation.
My home-office in the new apartment:
Key Takeaways:
- Set your budget and location priorities first before looking at properties. Stick to what you can afford.
- Take time to research builders and visit multiple properties before deciding. Patience pays off.
- Work with multiple brokers and don’t just go with the first one. Verify their claims.
- Compare resale versus new construction. Resale can get you a deal but has more variables.
- Negotiate hard but know when to close the deal. Small savings add up over time.
- Involve your family early on if you need help with the down payment. Their support can be invaluable.
- Don’t let others pressure you into buying. Make sure you are ready for the responsibility.
- Inspect the property thoroughly yourself, don’t just rely on the broker. Look for red flags.
- Read all paperwork closely before signing. Get a legal advisor if needed.
- Be prepared for additional costs like registration, taxes and furnishings after purchase. Budget accordingly.
Conclusion:
Despite twists and turns, I gained valuable lessons from my home buying journey. Setting priorities, being patient, doing thorough research and involving family helped me make the right decision
9 comments on “How I Bought My First Home in My 20s – Real Experience”
Thanks so much for the tips man, it absolutely helps others as well as me, it just did. I just have one question, what if there is a middle man between you broker and the dealer and you know that middle man and you also know that he is going to get some out of the deal. It is win win for all and for me it is making around 20 k difference which is too much of course but the property they showed I liked that one. What do you think? And congratulations on your new flat!! š
Thanks Harsh for sharing this, absolute helpful. What do you think about buying directly from a dealer? Is that an option because I think we will be saving a bit in the broker charge, is n’t it? Let me know your thoughts. Thanks mate! Cheers! and congrats again on your new flat. š
@Prabhu
You can buy directly from dealer also but with many of these real-estate companies, you can get better deal via their main brokers. If you have or find a direct connection with management company of the real-estate company, then it would be profitable. Also, it depends on what stage are you buying. Mostly companies don’t deal with resale property directly or at least publicly, that’s why having a broker is useful.
Also, brokers takes all the pain of handling the paperwork, negotiation & ensure the transaction goes smooth.
I had started blog about one year ago and yes blogging is so much rewarding.
Congrats on your first flat.
I had followed your blog shoutmeloud and found most tips which can be helpful to a blogger at early stage. keep on the great work
Having a own house is great mental relief, Its a dream for many in metro cities. Your hard-work paid off. Hats-off harsh. Keep Inspiring the World.
Harsh, it’s a nice read. Would love to see your brand new flat pics š
Hi Harsh!
I have been following you for quite some time now. Your achievement gives me blogging goals. I am one of those person you is inspired by you. Having a flat, car and making a living with blogging is not something everyone achieves. Congratulations on your achievement.
Best wishes
Going for rent is more costly or turning your Bank into rich by the way of trap called EMI??? RE if consider as an investment, is worst financial decision… But there is no value to it when you buy it for your own use.
Harsh,
First of all heartiest congratulations for buying a flat from your blogging income. Very few can do that and you are one of them. š You are an inspiration to upcoming and professional bloggers.
The points you mentioned here are precise and great. I will surely keep them in mind while purchasing a property. Well it must be amazing to know the complete process. I hope that you now know the process well and your next purchase in property might be for investment purpose. š Thanks for sharing and all the best for your future endeavors.