A Blue Sign That Says Welcome To Pennsylvania

College grad’s guide to buying a home in Pennsylvania

You are done with college and are ready to buy your first house. There are a lot of challenges that await you. You have to pick a place and then begin the process. But you thought it through, and the thing is that Pennsylvania is the perfect place where you want to buy your first home. We will help you tackle all the obstacles of buying your first home. College Moving Deals has a college grad’s guide to buying a home in Pennsylvania.

A college grad should learn about the cost of living before buying a home in Pennsylvania

Before we talk more about what to look for in a home, you have to know how much it will cost you to live in Pennsylvania. Until now, you were living in college apartments, and your parents were paying your bills. Now that you are setting out alone, you need to know how to organize your budget.

The best way to know how much money you will need for your life in Pennsylvania is to learn about the cost of living. When it comes to the cost of living, you have chosen a good state because the cost of living in Pennsylvania is 7% lower than the national average. You will, on average, pay 7% less on your daily expenses. Since you are a newly graduated student and are buying a house, you need to save money everywhere you can.

person holding money they will use for buying a home in Pennsylvania — You will not have to count every penny in Pennsylvania because the state is affordable.

Cost of homes in Pennsylvania

The second thing you need to know is the median home cost in Pennsylvania. While it is important to know about the cost of living in Pennsylvania, the most significant number is the cost of homes. Buying a home is the biggest investment most people make in their life, and you want to get a reasonable price. The trend of Pennsylvania being affordable applies to home prices.

Homes in Pennsylvania are 25% less expensive than the national average. The median home cost in Pennsylvania is around 235,000 dollars, and in the country, it is 290,000 dollars. Another reason why Pennsylvania is a great state to buy a home in.

Financing your Pennsylvania home

Now that you know how much it costs to buy a home in Pennsylvania, you have to get the money. Since you are a college graduate, you have two options:

The first option is to ask your parents for help with purchasing residential property in Pennsylvania;
The second option is to get a loan.

You can get a loan if you already have a well-paying job and you are deemed a good candidate. If that is your case, here are the steps you have to follow:

First, you have to find a lender that has the best rates;
Second, give the lender all the appropriate documentation;
Finally, wait for their response.

white tiles that say MORTGAGE — Since you just finished school, you probably will not be buying a home in Pennsylvania with a mortgage.

But if you can not get a loan, you will have to talk with your parents to lend you the money. Talk with your parents about their finances and if they can pay for your home. If your parent can lend you the money be prepared to show them a plan on how you plan to pay them back. You have to pay your parents back because they might be tapping into their retirement fund to help you buy a home. With financing out of the way, you are on your way to owning a home. And pros can arrange everything when you finally buy it and need help with your residential relocation to Pennsylvania. They have experience, so a residential move is nothing for them.

A real estate agent can make buying a home in Pennsylvania much easier

Since it is your first time buying a house a real estate agent by your side is a must. The benefits of a real estate agent are countless, here are some of them:

Advise you about the best location in Pennsylvania to buy a house;
They can negotiate for you;
Tell you if the home is overpriced.

But not all real estate agents are made equal, so you need to pick a reliable one. The traits of a good real estate agent are:

They need to be local to Pennsylvania;
Have a real estate license;
Do not take a large cut, no more than 6% of the closing cost;
Are well know in Pennsylvania;
Finally, have great communication skills.

man in blue blazer talking on phone — A real estate agent will find you a home in your price range in Pennsylvania without any problems.

If you find a real estate agent with all the qualities above, you will find your ideal home in Pennsylvania problem free. And when you do, check out The Gentleman Mover to help with any moving-related task.

Get a home inspector before buying a home in Pennsylvania

The final tip in our guide is to hire a home inspector. Real estate agents know everything when it comes to the Pennsylvania housing market, and home inspectors know everything about maintaining a house.

Before signing any contract, let the home inspector check out every part of the home you want to buy. They will tell you if the roof needs replacing, if the foundation is solid or if the pipes are good. Many houses might look amazing, but what’s under the hood matters. With a simple home inspection, you can change your whole opinion about the house.

While a realtor has to barge to lower the price, a home inspector can lower the cost with evidence. In addition, they can advise you if buying and repairing homes is a good investment.

You are ready to buy a place in Pennsylvania

If a newly graduated person follows our guide to buying a home in Pennsylvania, they won’t have a hard time finding their perfect home. You know about the price of homes in Pennsylvania and who can help you pick the best one. When the buying process is complete, contact us with any questions about reaching your new house in Pennsylvania.