To buy or not to buy? That is a serious question
Mood:  not sure
Okay so last night I came to the decision that it was time to buy a house. Don't get too excited just yet. It may or may not happen. As most of you know I have a huge fear of commitment as well as having severe buyers remorse. Reading through the Fannie Mae website for 1st time home buyers got me completely scared. I tried buying a home last year but when I would go to look at the homes, this sense of panic came over me. I think the fear comes from the fact that this is all foreign to me. I have never bought a home. What happens if I don't make a good deal? What if I get in way over my head? How much below the asking price should I offer? I know a good real estate agent is suppose to help you with these things but they work on commission right? So can they actually be trusted 100%? It would be in their best interest to get you to pay more for the home...they in the end would end up with more money. *sigh* The whole thing is VERY scary. There needs to be a 1st time home buyers hot line where I could call and say, "okay here's the deal...the agent thinks I should pay $125. Is this a good deal or can I go lower? Can I get the seller to pay closing costs and throw in the fridge?" Maybe the hot line could even help me with my commitment phobia. They could give me a pep talk every time I feel like backing out.

What has caused the recent home buying decision? MY RENT!!! When I first move to Raleigh I paid $599. Now they want me to pay $710 (it was $729 before I talked them down). At the rate they keep increasing the rent..this time next year I will be paying close to $800. That is way too much money to throw away on an apartment.

I would love to own a home in Wake Forest but I fear I wont be able to find a place I can afford. I have sent emails to a couple of mortgage agents to see just how much house I can afford. I also have to take into account that I have almost $0 in savings. When my car died 2 years ago I used what I had in savings to pay for the repairs and to purchase my new car and I never got back around to saving. There are things I know I am going to have to pay for upfront. Deposit, inspection fess, closing costs. Just don't know if I can come up with that kind of cash. We will see. I will wait to see what the mortgage brokers say.

Talking about this is starting to make me nervous again so I will stop. If anyone out there has advice on things you learned when you bought a house, please pass it on. I will need all the help and support I can get.