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How Much Can You Afford?

When most of us think of buying our first home, we start having visions of our dream home with the 4-car garage, guest suite, home theatre and spacious backyard with a pool. You might want to think again. We’re not saying it’s not obtainable – one day. But you might want to scale back your expectations to meet your current budget and lifestyle.

Chances are, your first home will be modest, need some work and not have everything on your wish list. We’re not trying to bum you out, we just want to give you a reality check before you start your search.

Doing the Math

Get started by checking out our loan calculator to help determine what the principal and interest would be with different loan scenarios.

The best way to get an accurate idea of what you can afford is to speak to a mortgage specialist at your credit union. They’ll pull your credit report and come up with a concrete number for you to work with when house shopping. Plus, your credit union has more financing options than many other mortgage lenders out there with interest rates that are historically lower.

Calculating Costs

If you’re a first-time homebuyer, you may not be thinking beyond your down payment when it comes to the costs of purchasing a home. Here’s an overview of what costs you’ll be responsible for:

Ready to get down to business? Learn about Applying for a Mortgage.