Understanding the importance of pre-qualification

There is nothing worse than taking the decision to buy your first property only to find that you are unable to secure a home loan.

The starting point is to check your credit profile prior to submission so that you can smooth out any irregularities that you may have had in the past. A positive credit record is a prerequisite for obtaining a home loan.

You also need to understand the property transaction costs and know that over and above knowing how much you can buy for, you will also need additional cash on hand to pay for the necessary transaction costs. These include transfer duty (if applicable), and the transfer and bond registration costs as well as the attorney’s fees.

You will in all likelihood also need to put down a cash deposit on the property, so be sure to prepare for that likelihood as well.