If you’ve set your sights on buying an apartment in Sydney, close to the city then you’ve got your work cut out for you when it comes to finding a suitable home to match your expectations. What should you look for when buying an apartment? How do you determine an appropriate budget? Here are some smart considerations when buying an apartment in Sydney.
Let Your Budget Do The Talking
You won’t do yourself any good by blindly looking at an apartment in Sydney before you know how much you can afford. Start by going to a bank or lender to establish a loan that is affordable to you, based on your income and other criteria. Once you are able to establish a loan amount, you will be in a better position to eliminate areas that extend beyond your budget. Be sure to include a list of costs in your budget. Remember that in NSW, you will need to consider items like stamp duty, mortgage stamp duty, conveyancer fees, building and inspection fees and insurance rates among others.
Make a Proper Checklist of your Desires
Sydney real estate is no cheap deal with the prices of one-bedroom apartments in the inner city pushing upwards of $500,000. When you pay such a steep price for your apartment, you’ll want to make sure it has everything you desire. Find an apartment that ticks off every item on your bucket list (or at the very least comes close to it). Here are some items you may want to consider:
How many bedrooms and bathrooms do you need in your home?
Do you like an open plan or closed room layout?
Do you want a balcony for entertaining guests?
How much storage space is required?
Would you like access to a garden or courtyard?
Do you need to be close to public transport and schools?
Do you need car parking space?
Does the home have special needs like wheelchair access or a study?
All these factors will help you determine whether the apartment meets your needs. Use this checklist as a stepping-stone to preparing your own customised version.
Research is a Good Friend To Have
Doing anything recklessly is always a bad idea. Just like you spend time researching a new car, be sure to do thorough research on potential apartments. This may take some time and may involve a lot of hard work, but it is a smart way to get the best deal possible. Always look at a number of different places before making the decision to buy. Check the condition of the property and make sure that the price quoted resonates with the condition of the place — you can only do this through adequate research about this apartment and other similar units in the area.
Professional Inspections will Help Make Your Decision Easier
Paying for professional inspections may seem daunting – especially when you’re already spending hundreds of thousands of dollars on your new place. But these inspections can find faults that may be too expensive to fix, even when they aren’t visible to the naked eye – saving you a ton of money in repair work. Don’t forget to also check for pests like termites in the property.
Negotiate for a Sweeter Deal
When you find an apartment in Sydney you like, you should ideally negotiate if you consider the price too high. If the seller considers the seriousness of the offer, he may be likely to bring his price down marginally to accommodate your request – so be sure to negotiate within reason. You will need to make an initial deposit soon after your offer price has been accepted, so you should always keep your initial deposit ready, in case your offer is approved.