Are you getting ready to buy your first home? It is important to know how much you can afford before you begin looking at properties. Talking with a lender and getting pre-approved for a loan puts you in a stronger negotiating position with sellers.

As a rule, your monthly housing costs should not exceed 28% of your monthly pre-tax income. These costs include the mortgage payment, real estate taxes, and insurance. If you have long-term debts, such as student loans or car payments, your monthly payments, including your housing costs, should be less than 36% of your pre-tax monthly income. Some loans, such as VA and FHA loans, are more flexible with these basic guidelines.

Depending on which type of mortgage you select, you can consider houses in various price ranges. An adjustable-rate mortgage will usually enable you to qualify for a higher loan amount. Your real estate agent can help you make the basic calculations. Remember that buying at the top end of your price range gives you more time to outgrow your home, and can save you money over the long term.

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Joe Piscitelli
Coldwell Banker
171 N. Broad Street
Milford, CT 06460
203-982-3511
Fax: 203-783-1828
ct-waterfront-realestate@NUMBER1EXPERT.com

As one of America's NUMBER1EXPERTS™ on the shoreline area of Branford, Guilford, Madison and Milford, Joe has listed and sold more upper tier, unique and waterfront homes, then any agent on the shoreline. His love for the waterfront developed over fifteen years ago, when he began swimming in Long Island Sound every day at dawn, year round. A morning habit that continually refreshes Joe’s deep connection to this dynamic and wonderful area, it is a daily reminder of his great good fortune in living within and representing one of the loveliest areas on the East Coast. With many miles of beaches, coves, rivers, outlets, rock outcroppings and abundant wildlife, this “boater's paradise” offers just about every dream location imaginable. In the forefront of the real estate market in this area, Joe is often the first person notified of upcoming properties, and his clients benefit, an extremely important asset for potential buyers or sellers. Today's technological world moves rapidly, and there, again, Joe is the NUMBER1EXPERT, superlatively equipped to handle all of your real estate needs. Call or e-mail him today!

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