Before you start hunting for that dream West End property figure out how big a property you can afford. Otherwise you will end up frustrated and disappointed when you find the perfect flat or apartment only to discover that you cannot afford it.

Get the financial information you need, now. For example, find out how large a mortgage you can comfortably handle, how big a down payment you can make, and how large a repayment you can afford. You can quickly and easily get the answers to these and other financial questions by contacting us.

• Should you rent or buy?
  
• How much can you afford?
  
• How much income do you need to qualify?
  
• Cost of living
  
• Current interest rates.

When you are buying your new flat or apartment, besides your deposit and surveyor's fees you will also need money for certain other costs that may include:

• Mortgage Arrangement fee
  
• Solicitor's fees
  
• Local authority and other search fees.
  
  

Deciding What You Want

Before you can start hunting for a property, you need a good idea of the kind of flat or apartment you want. While this may seem obvious, you would be surprised at how many new homebuyers only have the vaguest idea of the property they want.

In deciding on the flat or apartment you want, you should first:

• Determine what's out there - If you're a first time home buyer or buying a property in the West End, you need to know what is out there. That means familiarizing yourself with the styles of available flats or apartments in the area, typical features, prices ranges and differences between different areas for convenience and amenities.
  
• For properties in the West End , you can save time by contacting LDG your local West End estate agents or you can drive around appealing areas looking for other estate agency sales boards. Either way, you'll soon be able to compare the prices and features of similar style properties in different areas or different property styles in the same area of the West End.
  
• If you are a first time buyer in the West End, you can start reading the news and classified property advertisements in the local newspapers or you can simply do your house hunting online by using our convenient search facility.
  
• Prepare A Wish List - Here's your chance to create, at least on paper, the property in the West End you want, with a list of the priority features you absolutely need, those that you'd like if they were available and those that you definitely don't want.
  
• With your wish list in hand, you can target your property search and save many wasted hours of looking at flats or apartments that don't come close to what you want.
  
  

Choosing an Area

How many times have you heard someone say that the three keys to buying a home are "location, location and location"? Probably more than once. While there's more to buying a property than just a good location, the area you choose can play a big role in a property's price and appeal.

What Is the Right area For You?

The exact answer to this question will vary from person to person, since we all have our own particular tastes and needs. But there are certain factors that most people consider to be important when selecting an area, which may help you target your search, such as:

• Quality of schools
  
• Property values
  
• Traffic levels
  
• Crime rates
  
• Cultural activities (museums, concerts, theatres, etc.)
  
• Access to public transportation
  
• Proximity to shopping facilities
  
• Availability of parks & recreation areas
  
• Average income level
  
• Population density
  
• Planned construction

When you have narrowed your search to one or two areas, you are ready to start looking at flats or apartments in those communities. Using your Wish List, begin reviewing homes on the market and identifying those that offer the features which you absolutely need to have in a home.

Resale Factors

Since one day you may want to sell your property you're thinking of now buying, you should give some thought to the property's potential resale value and consider the following:

• Decide whether you want a newly constructed property, an older property or a property that requires some work, or a "modernisation project",
  
• Property with three or more bedrooms and two or more baths have more appeal and appreciation potential than a two-bedroom/one-bath property,
  
• Well-maintained, attractive flats or apartments are the easiest to resell,
  
• As a rule, don't buy the most expensive property on the street,
  
• From an investment standpoint, it's better to buy a less expensive, moderately sized property in a great area, than the most expensive or largest property in an average area.