If you’re planning your wedding and buying your first home at the same time, understand that although it’s certainly not easy, with a bit of planning and research, it can be done.
Ideally, you should start looking for your first home soon after you get engaged. And planning your wedding while you’re house hunting can help you make sure you’ll have enough money to afford everything. Giving yourself time to get it all done and getting help when you can go a long way to making all your dreams come true.
Homebuying
The first step in the process is finding a real estate agent. They can do a lot of the legwork for you in helping you find the right home for your needs and your budget. They are aware of market trends that can ensure you’re moving into an area where you’ll see your home’s value increase over time. They know what lenders will best fit your financial situation and can walk you through a lot of the complexities of the home-buying process. You don’t pay them a fee, that comes from the seller. And they are better equipped to negotiate a fair price for you.
Work on getting your finances in order so you can receive your mortgage pre-approval, letting you know how much you’ll qualify for. You can take out the mortgage together or just one of you. Pulling a credit report ahead of time can prevent some last-minute snafus.
Buying a house is a big decision. It's not just about the house itself, it's about the life you want to build in that house. You'll be spending so much time there, and you'll be making memories with your new spouse and possibly a future family. Make sure it's the right one for you! Make a list of the things that are important to each of you and where you’re willing to compromise.
You may wish to wait on a home purchase immediately either because you’re finishing school, paying off student loans, or aren’t certain where you’re ready to settle down. Renting a home or an apartment, in those instances, is a smart move and takes a lot of pressure off of you as newlyweds. And finding an apartment or home to rent is easier than house hunting, too. With online search tools, you can filter for the area, price, number of bedrooms, and types of amenities.
Moving
It’s a good idea to move into your new shared home before your wedding, giving you extra time to unpack and slowly settle in. And that way, after the honeymoon, all you have to do is relax and get ready to get back into the real world of work and responsibilities. Also, moving into a new home requires a lot of expenses, from either the down payment or security deposit to new furniture, utilities, and costs for the movers. Having that out of the way at least three months before the wedding day means a lot less worry as the big day approaches.
The Wedding
Discuss all the major things up front. The biggest of those will probably be the budget. If you’ve done the home-buying financials first, you’ll already know how much you’ll need for your home’s down payment. That will give you a clearer picture of just how much you want to budget for the wedding.
Decide on what duties each of you will take on separately and which are important for you to do together. If you hire a wedding planner, they can free up a lot of time for you as well as reduce your stress. They will have contacts with all the vendors you’ll need and can negotiate with them on your behalf. They can plan and organize your unforgettable day with all the experience of professionals who literally do that for a living.
There are several wedding planning apps for both Android and Apple, and they can seriously help you stay organized and on budget. A shared calendar is a great way to keep up with the tasks each of you is doing independently and those you’re working on together. You can share photos, schedules, reminders, and more with them.
Meant2Be Events is one of Arizona's premier event planning companies that create weddings and events that are tailored to their client’s unique tastes, styles and love stories. Contact them and let them make your day unforgettable.
One of the best ways to begin any new life adventure is by talking about it with your partner and making sure you have similar priorities in mind, from home buying to wedding planning. This is a great opportunity to see just how well you work together and discover what an amazing team you’ll be!
Guest Writer: Christopher Haymon