Are you in the market to buy a new home? Well, the first thing you need to do is RESEARCH! Take out your phone, laptop, or any electronic device and do a quick search on the house that you’re interested in purchasing. But of course, it can be a toughie to know exactly what you’re looking for – so instead of using your head to think of everything, use Myra’s SCALP to help you out!

Myra’s SCALP? What is that? Well, it’s a cheat code that I came up with so that it’s easy for you to remember the types of factors you’ll need to consider when buying a home! SCALP stands for…

• S: SIZE
• C: COMMUNITY
• A: AMENITIES
• L: LOCATION
• P: PRICE

Now that you’ve debunked the code, let’s carry on to see why these factors are so important and the little important things to keep in mind…

Size

Size matters in everything. (Ahem, ahem…) So remember to take into consideration how many people will be living under one roof with you! Will you be living alone like the independent soul you are, or are you a newly married couple looking for a home that would be perfect just for the two of you. But remember, not only should you weigh what you need right now, but for your future you as well. Some things you should consider are :

• Number of bedrooms –  How many people are living there?
• Number of bathrooms –  Would you like a separate toilet in every room or are you comfortable sharing it with others? 
• Kitchen space –  How big of a kitchen do you need? Would you need both a wet and dry kitchen? 
• Living space – Do you need a big dining room for family meals? Or perhaps a large living room or lounge area for your family to gather? Do you entertain a lot of guests?
• Outdoor space -  Do you need a garden for your kids or pets to run around? Or a balcony in your condo for you to have your own little garden? Or even a terrace for you to sit and sip a cup of tea.

Community

The community where your home is built in will play a huge factor in your lifestyle! If you’re looking to raise a family, you’ll want to look for a place that is guarded and safe for your children. Perhaps you’ll even want an outdoor space like a public playground for weekend picnics! If you’re someone who’s not planning to settle down, then finding a home in the heart of the city would be something that you’d like. Remember, the community that surrounds where your home is built in will play a factor in the future appreciation of your home. So do keep that in mind when you’re out house shopping and dig a little deeper into the area that you’re buying.

Amenities

Easy access to amenities are one of the main things you would be on the lookout for! Is everything within walking (or cycling) distance, or would you need to drive a bit to reach the nearest ATM? If you’re reliant on public transport, remember to put that on your Need List! However, some of the most important amenities to have around will be, schools, banks, grocers, restaurants, clinics, police stations, and a fire station. 

Location

Now, here’s where you’ll decide where you want your personal sanctuary to be. If your new home is far away from your family, will you be alright with that? Don’t forget about your office too! It’s a place that you’ll be visiting everyday and will need to drive to and fro. It’s important to keep in mind the various places that you’ll want and need to go often so that you’ll save time and energy in the long run. As we all know, getting stuck in those Malaysian rush hour jams isn’t pleasant at all. 

Another important aspect when you’re looking at the location of your future home is to keep an eye out for any future developments. Growth in the area is something that you definitely want because it will bring in more amenities and shops that you’ll love, and with that- the price of your home will appreciate greatly if there are more occupants and amenities in the area! 

Price

Now the most important of them all, the price of your house! This is the biggest consideration you need to take into account. You might love that pretty house, but that pretty house won’t be kind on your pocket if its price tag is something you’ll find hard to commit to. Remember, this relationship with the banks and the loan isn’t going to be something you can get out of with just a break up text. You’ll be legally tied and there are consequences if you do not uphold what you’ve committed. 

So if you’re unsure of what you can actually afford, use Myra’s Golden Rule to get an idea for the amount of monthly repayment that you can afford. And once you’ve done that, you can also check out Myra’s Super Calculator to discover your financial standing and loan eligibility!

And that’s Myra’s SCALP! Don’t forget that all of these factors come hand-in-hand to make sure that the house you’re buying is something that will meet the needs of present and future you in the many years to come.  Buying a home isn’t easy and Myra knows that. It’s going to dig deep into your bank account and will be the biggest purchase you’ll ever make. That’s why Myra’s SCALP is here to help. And now that you know what exactly you need to keep an eye out for, it’s time to get searching for the home of your dreams. If you happen to need some more guidance on the next steps, just ask Myra a question and we’ll be happy to help!

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