"I'm making a lot of grown up changes right now. But THIS is the hardest."

Right now, my life is the craziest it has ever been.

I’ve just gotten engaged, so at the moment my fiancé and I are trying to pick out a ring, set a date, and you know, organise an entire wedding. It’s not for the faint-hearted.

I’m also still getting settled into a hectic but amazing new job.

And on top of all that, we’re also in the process of buying our first home. And that, my friends, is where the real stress begins.

From what I hear, buying a home is always nerve-wracking. But if it’s your first time? The pressure is next level.
Suddenly, we have to make Real Grown-Up Decisions. Which means we’ve had to learn about Real Grown-Up Things – fast.

So here are the top five pieces of wisdom I’ve learnt along the way. You’re welcome.

1. How do you get one of those home loan thingies?

I have never been good with numbers – so I was a total novice when it came to the home loan. My first port of call was an online loan calculator, which is good for getting a (very, very) rough idea about what sort of financial shape you are in. But ultimately, you are going to have to speak to a mortgage broker or home loan specialist. It’s not the most fun way to spend an afternoon, but you need to talk with an expert to find out how much you can afford to borrow while still maintaining your lifestyle. And don’t just sign up to the first home loan you stumble across. It really pays to shop around and compare deals.

Check out these celebrity homes. (Post continues after gallery)

2. Should you buy old or new?

Obviously, there are many pros and cons here. Older homes are often a bit cheaper, but then again, they might need some work. Newer places are often pricier, but they will (hopefully) be in tip-top condition. There are less of them though, especially if you are looking to buy in the inner city, so it might be harder to find the right new home that ticks all the boxes. It’s also a little-known fact that some insurers offer a lower home insurance premium if your house is less than 10 years old, so it might be better in the long term to buy a shiny new place. You might also be eligible for the First Home Owner Grant, so do your research.

Were we doing the right thing or would this all be an expensive mistake?

3. How do you know if the place is in good nick?

I cannot stress enough the importance of thorough pest and building inspections. I know a lot of couples who have skipped these – and who could blame them? Paying for inspections and reports add up. But one of those couples I know who skipped the building inspection ended up moving into a building riddled with concrete cancer. Trust me. You don’t want this to happen to you.

4. How do you handle the emotional roller-coaster?

For my fiancé, we are planning to buy a dwelling made of bricks and mortar to live in. For me though, and for many women, it’s so much more than that. It’s a symbol of our life together. For that reason it is genuinely heartbreaking when you miss out on a place you have fallen in love with. But it really is important to set a price limit, and to walk away once it goes over. Because no matter how wonderful a place is, you won’t be able to enjoy it if you are completely crippled by debt and forced to eat nothing but two-minute noodles for years.

New home, new job and new teacup.

5. How do you buy insurance, anyway?

After going through the hassle of buying a new home, the final but very important task is to insure it. If disaster strikes, you don’t want to be financially ruined. That’s why you need to consider a few things before signing up. Have you had a professional valuation by a builder to make sure you understand your home’s replacement cost? Does your policy cover supplementary costs, such as temporary accommodation if there is a problem? Will your home be left unoccupied for a period of time? Do you want ‘total replacement’ or ‘sum-insured’ cover? Spending a bit of extra time working out exactly what’s out there and the type of cover you need can pay off big time in the long run.

At Youi, we know you are all different, living differently, in different homes with different styles and tastes. We ask more questions about you and your home and contents so that we can tailor make a home insurance policy just for you. It’s a smarter way of doing home insurance that could save you lots.

Why not make the switch today? Call 13 YOUI or got to youi.com.au