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Top tips for stress-free home buying this festive season

Top tips for stress-free home buying this festive season

Author: Pranil Maharaj
Date: 2017-12-15

Estate agents are looking forward to a busy season despite the looming school holidays and festive season, and many are reporting that there has been no slowing of enquiries for accessibly-priced homes, especially in sought-after areas like the Northern Suburbs.

Buyers are still actively looking, and the number of requests for valuations from sellers their office receives hasn't declined despite the time of year.

The deeds office runs on skeleton staff from around 10 December until after New Year - and they will also need to catch up with the backlog once they reopen.

In case of inconveniences caused by the slightly extended transfer period, sellers and buyers can mutually agree to an earlier occupation before the transfer is concluded.

To avoid additional delays in the process of transfer, buyers should also ensure they have 'their ducks in a row' with all the relevant documentation at hand for a potential bond application, and they should apply to more than one financial institution.

If buyers are contemplating purchasing a home late in the year, it's a good idea to use an experienced bond originator to assist with a comprehensive bond prequalification and have access to all financial institutions in the market.

This also speeds up the administrative and application process as by using an originator, only one set of forms has to be to be completed and, as originators work electronically.

Additionally, this will not only accurately assess their buying power, it means that once a buyer does find the right home, a lot of the financial paperwork is already underway.

No matter the time of year one buys property, it's always a wise purchase and, with the guidance of experienced property and financial professionals.