Off The MRKT

Your guide to New York real estate and more

Off The MRKT - Where New York's, Real Estate, Life Style, and Culture Converge

  • Real Estate
    • New York
    • Hamptons
    • Connecticut
    • Florida
    • Submit Your Open House
  • Food & Wine
    • Wine and Spirits
    • Where To Drink and Eat
  • Events
    • Events Gallery
    • Submit an event
    • Calendar Listings
  • The Look
    • Travel
    • Health and Beauty
    • Fashion
    • Lifestyle Guide
  • About
Screenshot of Your Guide To Buying Your First Home In 2021 - Google Docs.jpg

Your Guide To Buying Your First Home In 2021

February 12, 2021 by Jeremy Lindy

If you are in the real estate market in 2021, you are in for an interesting time. Buying your first home is stressful enough, but with the added pressure of coronavirus weighing on your mind, you might be tempted to feel totally anxious about the whole thing.

Well, first thing’s first: you don’t need to be anxious. Although these are turbulent times, you can still find affordable homes and make this big step in your life this year. In this guide, you will find expert advice on buying your first home in 2021. 

Let’s get started!

1. Keeping Track Of The Housing Market

The housing market moves with the times, and right now the times are stormy in the economy. To make sure you are keeping track of the housing market, you should regularly read updates from reputable real estate sites. In addition, you should be contacting your real estate advisor on a regular basis for an honest read on the current situation. 

It’s difficult to say which way the housing markets will swing, and this of course depends on the location in which you are buying. With a predicted exodus from New York into the suburbs and surrounding states, you might be hard pressed to find low prices in these areas. Nevertheless, anything’s possible, so keep your ear to the kerb for the latest updates on the housing market. 

2. Figuring Out Your Mortgage Options

The mortgage you will be able to obtain will depend on a number of factors. These include:

  • Your income in the past few years, and what is projected to be over the next decade.

  • Your current home ownership status. (If you don’t have a home to sell, or have few assets, this will affect your mortgage application.)

  • The deposit you are able to place on the property.

  • Your credit score, which is affected by debt, among other factors.

If you are baffled by the mortgage application process, speak with your local realtor for a detailed breakdown of your options.

3. Preparing For Viewings

Lastly, it is crucial to prepare for a different viewing experience than you might expect. During the pandemic, house viewings have either been canceled, postponed, or in the case that they go ahead, they are conducted differently to usual.

Here’s what you should expect from a COVID-19 pandemic house viewing!

  • Wearing PPE. Masks, gloves, and/or face shields will be obligatory at any house viewing or open-house you attend. This is to ensure that if you are carrying COVID-19, or anyone else you come into contact with is, you are not contributing to the spread of the virus.

  • Fewer attendees. It is always good to bring an experienced friend or family member with you to a house viewing, but unfortunately, this may not always be possible during the pandemic. Prepare to come alone and to take lots of pictures and notes to relay to others later. 

Final Thoughts

If you are buying your first home in 2021, you should use this guide to get started in the process.

Featured
Outdoor Dining Guide for the Hamptons Summer
Jul 31, 2025
Outdoor Dining Guide for the Hamptons Summer
Jul 31, 2025
Jul 31, 2025
Screenshot of offthemrkt.com - Travelling Through NYC For Business.docx - Google Docs (2).jpg
Jul 30, 2025
The Best Ways of Traveling Through NYC for Business
Jul 30, 2025
Jul 30, 2025
land-for-sale-image1.jpg
Jul 30, 2025
Why You Should Consider Investing in a Plot of Land
Jul 30, 2025
Jul 30, 2025
Exploring the Hamptons: Beaches and Beyond in 2024
Jul 29, 2025
Exploring the Hamptons: Beaches and Beyond in 2024
Jul 29, 2025
Jul 29, 2025
NYCWFF 2025 Tickets On Sale: Festival Moves to the Seaport for a Star-Studded Culinary Celebration
Jul 29, 2025
NYCWFF 2025 Tickets On Sale: Festival Moves to the Seaport for a Star-Studded Culinary Celebration
Jul 29, 2025
Jul 29, 2025
unnamed (3).jpg
Jul 28, 2025
Inside the 12th Annual Luxury Luncheon with Jill Zarin and Ticket2Events in the Hamptons
Jul 28, 2025
Jul 28, 2025
_DSC4589_14193247.jpg
Jul 28, 2025
North Fork Steals Under $1.5M Amid Record-Breaking Market Surge
Jul 28, 2025
Jul 28, 2025
February 12, 2021 /Jeremy Lindy
  • Newer
  • Older
 
Off The MRKT Articles RSS

Follow Off The MRKT: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
Contact us: Jeremy@Offthemrkt.com                                                                                           

Advertise | Off The MRKT Internship Program | Byline | Bible

Want More?

Want more awesome content like this? Sign up and get our best articles delivered straight to your inbox!

Thank you!
Our favorite listing this week is 508 West 24th Street, Unit 5th Floor, home to NBA Player Carmelo Anthony. The ten-time NBA All-Star, has listed his New York City condo. The home is the largest unit in the Cary Tamarkin designed building at 508 W 24
251 East 51st Street, Unit 2M, listed on the market as a Compass "Coming Soon," is a recently renovated, perfect pied-a-terre (and ideal one bedroom for all the rest of us). What truly sets this pad apart from the rest is the dreamy outdoor
Our last #openhouse roundup will you be checking out this #parkslope home?

#nycrealestate #brooklynrealestate #milliondollarlistings #luxuryhomes #OffTheMRKT
DNA Development announced that closings have commenced at 350 West 71st Street, the successful Upper West Side luxury conversion that seamlessly combines two historic pre-war buildings into one stunning contemporary condominium with a classic fa&cced
Our favorite listing this week is located at One West End, the sculptural glass residential tower designed by Pelli Clarke Pelli within Riverside Center. At $19.5 million, 29B offers 5,302 square feet of interiors space, with four bedrooms, five and
Looking to live in one of the trendiest neighborhoods in Manhattan? SoHo offers some of the most luxurious prime New York Real Estate. Known for its largest collection of incredible architecture in the entire world, SoHo is the heart of the historic
Following the unveiling of Rose Hill, one of the new residential developments in Manhattan's NoMad neighborhood that represents a modern era of Gotham-esque architecture and design by award-winning New York-based design firm CetraRuddy, legendary dev
The ethereal master bath at @theXInyc West Tower Penthouse features a custom sandblasted verde caldia floor, a carved verde scuro tub, and bronze vanities with marble tops designed by #AD100 French interior architect @pierre.yovanovitch.

Situated in