Top 7 Mistakes when Moving       

1. Spending beyond your budget. Be aware of the hidden costs when buying a home. Consider the financial obligations beyond a mortgage that add to the cost of homeownership, including: city taxes, utilities, insurance, and maintenance - not to mention the length of a commute, given the fluctuations in gas prices. And remember updating expenses such as granite counter tops, plantation shutters, or a pool or spa.

2. Not researching your new community. Use the Internet to research real estate listings and to learn about your new home, city, local amenities, school ratings, crime rates and children's activities. Talk to parents in the community who can provide firsthand insight on the topics that are most important to you. Make sure to understand your neighborhood by day and by night before moving in.

3. Lacking a household inventory. Use photos, video, or a notebook to document valuable items. This will help you file a claim if an item is lost or damaged. Store them in a moving file or on a thumb drive.

4. Not watching how boxes are organized. One of the most common mistakes when moving to a new home is placing large items, like lawn equipment, next to boxes containing valuables in the moving truck. Keep a watchful eye on those packing for you if using a moving company.

5. Moving all belongings. Not everything has to go with you. Pack suitcases and storage bins as if you're going on a short vacation. Include essentials for the first few days in your new home. And take the time to separate items into sections of keep, sell, donate or discard before you pack.

6. Dismantling your electronic equipment without labeling wires. Take photos of the connections, and place the wires in a single box. Knowing how to reinstall your kids' computer games can be a lifesaver.

7. Not keeping important documents with you. Hang on to important documents so you can easily re-establish your lifestyle. These are needed at every stage of a move, from making travel arrangements, registering children for school and establishing new physicians using your prior medical records.

Deciding how much house you can afford...

Your lender decides what you can borrow but you decide what you can afford.

Lenders are careful, but they make qualification decisions based on averages and formulas. They won’t understand the nuances of your lifestyle and spending patterns quite as well as you do. So, leave a little room for the unexpected – for all the new opportunities your home will give you to spend money, from furnishings, to landscaping, to repairs.

Historically, banks use a ratio called 28/36 to decide how much borrowers could borrow. An approved housing payment couldn’t be more than 28 percent of the buyer’s gross monthly income, and his or her total debt load, including car payments, student loans, and credit card payments, couldn’t be more than 36 percent. 

In the recent past as home prices rose, some lenders responded by stretching these ratios to as high as 50 percent. No matter how expensive your market though, we urge you to think carefully before stretching your budget quite so much.

Deciding how much you can afford should involve some careful attention to how your financial profile will change in the upcoming years. In the long run, your own peace of mind and security will matter most.

 Location, location, location

Where you buy not only affects the home's current and future value, but it also affects your lifestyle. I will be able to conduct a more targeted home search if you outline your preferences in neighborhoods and nearby amenities. Here's a checklist of items you should consider.

* Urban, suburban or rural
* Commute time
* School districts
* Desirable neighborhoods
* Proximity to the airport
* Proximity to restaurants and retail
* Access to major highways and thoroughfares
* Access to public transportation
* Health care facilities
* Parks and recreation
* Length of time you plan to live in the home (Your agent should be knowledgeable about growth trends and projections that could affect your investment.)