Ok, maybe this is not quite you.  Maybe you’re just tired… of going through those “House to Rent” classifieds, like you go through life, wondering if you’ll ever truly own a home of your own.  Maybe you’ve always wanted a luxury home, or you realise you could buy, renovate and sell houses or even rent houses (or flats) out.  Perhaps you’ve always wanted to get into real estates.  Or heck, maybe you just feel like owning something you love and can build upon.   Whatever your reason for choosing to buy property – be it a house, flat or condo - and whether you’re buying for the first time or you’ve bought many times before, this is an exciting time!

Mind you it is likely that buying a property will be one of the single largest transactions you will ever make so as exciting as it is, it can be a stressful time too.  There are many aspects to take into consideration, such as determining what type of property you want.  Do you want a house, flat, maisonette, bungalow or a cottage?  Are you looking to renovate to increase the value of the property or would you prefer to move into an already finished property with minimal work to do?  Are you looking for a period property or a specific style new home?  Do you want a 5 bedroom, 3 bathroom or a single bedroom en-suite?  Near, set back, or away from main roads?  What kind of kitchen do you prefer?  What about a swimming pool?  All these things matter a great deal, and it’s important to get a firm idea of what you want (visit Home or Find a Property for excellent guides and articles on this matter) but most importantly you need to work out a budget.

So the banks aren’t exactly welcoming borrowers with open arms these days (can you blame them?), but the good news is that, if you require one, mortgage lending has actually become a little easier.  There are thousands of mortgages to choose from and most lenders will lend up to three times your salary – although some may lend more  (usually at a higher rate).  Your budget will be largely determined by a number of factors such as you and/or your partner’s income , any outstanding debt you may have, the equity in any existing property, and your mortgage deposit (again, if you need one).  For Top Ten Tips on how to get the home loan you want visit Find a Property, or check out Home  for advice on how to finance your mortgage. 

So, get an idea of what you want, where and for how much... and start searching!  There’s a number of ways you can go about this:

1.       Take advantage and be on the lookout for those HOMES FOR SALE, HOUSES FOR SALE, PROPERTY FOR SALE or LAND FOR SALE signs!

2.       Check the classified section in the local newspapers.  It sounds “old school” but can be a useful source for finding a number of properties that have just entered the housing market.

3.       Make use of property search agents, estate agents or realtors.  That’s right, these guys don’t just hand you the keys on the day of completion (with dollar signs in their eyes and a big grin), they can provide valuable advice and help you to track down, view and secure your property (visit Find A Property  for great tips on how to find a good estate agent).

4.       And finally (and thankfully) there’s THE INTERNET (ta da!)  Searching for a property to buy has never been easier with today’s online properties for sale websites which provide advantages such as convenience and greater choice.  You can search by price, location or keywords –the website Home, with links to some 600 thousand homes for sale across the U.K. is a perfect example of this.  Sites such as Property Finder include international links as well as area guides, and for the latest European and UK news on the housing market along with in-depth articles you should check out Europe Real Estate or Property Week.

Other advantages that the internet brings include access to photos and e-mail alerts…not to mention the huge chunk of time saved by simply discarding properties you’re not interested in to quickly view and find those that appeal to you.   It’s really very much like going to a restaurant, choosing exactly what you want from the menu and selecting the level and speed of service (although your internet connection might have a lot more to do with that), instead of taking a whole day shopping for groceries, cooking your own dish and cleaning up afterwards.  Plus you don’t even have to tip (or find parking) - it’s all included!  ;)

Once you’ve found the apple of your eye, and gathered all the information you need (this includes physically viewing the property yourself – in daylight), you should be ready to make an offer.   Don’t jump straight in with a figure – first arm yourself with as much info as possible about the property you’re interested in and the market (you can find comprehensive and thorough market reports and analysis by visiting sites such as Europe Real Estate or Property Week) before you start negotiations.  Be calm, polite and patient.   Seek advice from professionals if need be.  The estate agent involved, for example, may offer good advice, so they might help you to negotiate a reasonable offer (although you should remember that they are essentially working for the seller).

Last bit of advice?  Take your time and trust your gut.  Rushing into any kind of decision making as important as this is not always prudent, but don’t take too long looking for the “perfect buy” or that “perfect home”.  Chances are, if it feels right (and the price is right) you’ve already found it!