metro extralife PropertyToadvertise call(01)6375979 Getting it right first time round D Thursday, January 28, 2010 metrolifeextra 19 B esides some nursery- reared trees and certain SUV models, your house will more than likely be the biggest investment you ever make. Purchasing a new home can be a daunting process, so here is a brief step-by-step guide to buying that pile of bricks and mortar. Step 1 Secure a loan: No you dont pick the house first youll only annoy yourself. Theres no point in drafting a shopping list full of palaces, castles and mansions only to be subsequently depressed by your credit limit. Approach a bank or mortgage broker and secure a loan in principle; that way you will know what you can afford, and your list of options will be a more manageable, realistic one. Step 2 Choose wisely: Okay, now you can pick a home. Obviously, youll know by now that the buy and live here for a couple of years before selling up and moving on mantra doesnt really work any more. Buy somewhere you are comfortable with and want to live in for the foreseeable future. Castlethorn Construction advises writing down all the key attributes you require and ranking them in importance to you. For example: Is it in your price range? Is the location right for you and your family near work, transport, family or schools? Do you require a house, duplex home or apartment? How many bedrooms would you like? Would you like a detached, semi-detached or terrace property? What parking do you need? Would you like a garden/ patio/balcony space and what is the propertys orientation (south-facing is best)? What green space/parks/ playgrounds exist in or near the development? What do you know of the developers reputation/history. Step 3 Haggle: Once you have decided where you are going to buy, haggle! Its no secret that the market now belongs to the buyer. Remember: if you dont ask, you wont get. Most sellers expect this and many will have sewn a cushion into their asking price. Once you are happy with the price, you will need to place a booking deposit of a couple of thousand euro to secure the property. This booking deposit is fully refundable should you change your mind. Step 4 Beware of bidding wars: If your estate agent tells you another buyer has come in over the top of your bid, dont panic. Knee-jerk couter bids are a surefire way of breaking your budget. Just relax, assess whether to put in a higher bid, and remember that buyers outbidding each other is far less likely than it was three years ago. Step 5 Engage the services of a solicitor: Many people go on the recommendations of family or friends, but many developments will have a panel of solicitors who would have probably conveyed other sales in the development and will therefore be familiar with the contents of the contract for sale, says Anna Durkan of Durkan Residential. There are some set fees (such as land registry) but fees are negotiable and many are offering very good deals. Step 6 Contracts: Once you have appointed your solicitor, you will need to let the estate agent know, and they will, in turn, organise for the issuing of the contracts from the seller or developers solicitor. The standard return time is 21 days. See next Thursdays Metro Herald Property for loan approval, valuations, contracts and snags. First-time buyers guide: Our step-by-step guide will help steer you through the biggest purchase you will probably ever make by rOSS McDONAGH If city living is not for you, you may be interested in Holywell, just a short commute to Dublin city centre by train from Kilcoole, Dart from Greystones, or via the improved N11/M11 motorway. Close to the pretty seaside villages of Delgany and Greystones, a new phase of the highly successful development has come to the market and represents great value. With one-bed apartments from 195,000, three-bed terraced homes from 270,000, three-bed semi- detached homes from 289,000 and four-bed detached homes from 495,000, Holywell has something to offer everybody looking for that ideal place to settle down. The development is a traditional-style scheme with most of the homes boasting full brick front elevations and private front and rear gardens. The homes feature gas-fired central heating, luxurious fitted kitchens, custom- fitted wardrobes, en-suite and downstaiors wc. Whether you are a discerning first-time buyer or want to upgrade and move your family to a stylish new home, Holywell can offer it all. Tel: 1800 333 435. www.kingscroft.ie Holywell 1 bed apartment from 129,000 2 bed terraced house from 149,000 3 bed terraced house from 169,000 To find out more or to request a brochure visit www.kingscroft.ie or call the Sales Hotline on FreepHone: 1800 33 34 35 or contact our Sales Agents: Sherry FitzGerald New Homes - Tel: 01 6671888 T H E H A S T I N G S B a l b r i g g a n , C o . D u b l i n On-Site Sales Offices Open: Weekdays: 10am - 4pm | Weekends: 2pm - 5pm Contemporary homes with private gardens and easy access to Dublin city whilst also benefitting from the many amenities in the seaside town of Balbriggan. index.html2.html3.html4.html5.html6.html7.html8.html9.html10.html11.html12.html13.html14.html15.html16.html17.html18.html19.html20.html21.html22.html23.html24.html25.html26.html27.html