REAL ESTATE UPDATE June 2016 | Page 6

Be a homeowner: 5 questions you should ask yourself. Things to think about wh How am I going to advertise my home for rent? How am I legally required to give my tenants? How will I AsPrudent a professional property leasing manageme by: rent? Christelle Like all of us, are you tired of wasting your hard-earned paycheck month after month on rent? Well, if you’ve consciously budgeted each month over the years, and have built up a significant savings, it might be the time to consider buying. Yes, become a homeowner! Buying your first home is a big step towards building your personal wealth. Chances are that this will be one of your big investments, if not the biggest. So it’s important to ensure that you have done all the necessary research before you sign an offer to purchase the property of your dreams. Are you ready to be a homeowner? While it may not be a big deal to grab something off the sale rack at the local department store, the decision to buy a home requires thoughtful planning and decision making. Once you’ve made your offer to purchase and it’s accepted, the transfer process commences to register the home in your name. This is a costly exercise and must be factored into the cost of the property. Due to the expense involved, you’re unlikely to be able to get a return on your money, if you sell your home in the next few years, so make sure before buying that you’re ready to stay put for a long period of time. Buying your dream home has got to rate amongst the best feelings in the world, but keeping your home in good condition requires not only money but also time and effort. Make sure you’re in a position to dedicate all of these to deal with on-going maintenance, upgrades and improvements that will be necessary to keep your home looking good, if not better than the day you moved in. Your property is an investment and you need to take good care of it, if you don’t want to lose money when you decide to sell in the future. Property Leasing Management Services