BLOGS

At Green Haven Homes, you'll find a caring staff that completely appreciates the virtues of home ownership. There is something so liberating about not having to fret about increasing rent prices or noisy neighbors. If you feel like painting or undertaking any other projects, you can do so without fear. We commend you on taking all the steps to become a homeowner. Now, here are a few tips to make your first year as enjoyable as possible.

Expect to Spend More Money

When you buy a house, you must budget for much more than just your mortgage. Consider the following: property taxes, utilities, HOA fees, insurance, moving expenses, warranties, and more. When you plan on these expenses, they won't be so shocking to the system.

Curtail Spending Every Way You Can

Now that you own a home, you need to plan for possible emergencies. Financially speaking, the most important thing you can do is start a rainy-day fund. Hold off on any other big purchases — such as cars and appliances — for as long as possible. You've just bought a house; for many, this is a huge investment. You don't want any new complications in your financial picture. Allow yourself to adjust to the new normal.

Put the Brakes on Most of Your Renovating

Put down the remote control and stop watching the home improvement shows! Chances are that you have made some financial sacrifices to buy a home. When it comes to fixing up the place, take your time and don't rush into any huge projects. Start with one small change and then slowly implement the rest. Whether you're amped up to start on the bathrooms or the kitchen, renovations can absolutely improve the value of your home. However, they can also be very costly. Be discriminating when deciding what to do. After all, if all goes well, you will live in this home for a decent amount of time. You have all the time you need to make it look exactly the way you want.

There's a reason why buying a home plays such a huge part in achieving the American Dream. Becoming a homeowner is incredibly rewarding and will make you feel proud. Hopefully, the aforementioned tips will help you to stay in this positive space and avoid any unpleasant challenges. And if you have yet to purchase your dream home, take a close look at ours! We build for the modern world, with energy efficiency as one of our top priorities.