Most buyers' first consideration, after neighborhoods are chosen, is the number of bedrooms. As you begin to view homes, keep the following purchase and resale considerations in mind:

• Weigh your needs, budget and personal tastes in deciding whether you want a home that's a newly constructed home, an older home or a home that requires some work.
• One-bedroom apartments / flats are more difficult to resell than two-bedroom ones.
• Two-bedroom/one-bath single houses generally have less appeal than houses with three or more bedrooms, and therefore less appreciation potential.
• Homes that are well-maintained, attractive and charming view-from-the-street appearance are the easiest to resell.
• When resale is a possibility, don't buy the most expensive house on the street, or anything that is unusual or unique. The best investment potential is traditionally found in a less expensive, more moderately sized home. Taking Notes when house hunting is important because viewing several houses at a time can be confusing.

What the key areas that one should use to assess mortgage products from various financiers?

Key aspects in assessing mortgage products are:

• Flexibility: Does the mortgage allow you to fast track payments/ early redemption? Would you be able to extend the loan term if need be?
• Financing percentages: How much would you be required to raise, versus how much will be financed?
• Loan term: Loan term has an impact on flexibility: Does the loan term allow for one to start with the longest term possible depending on their age and ability to meet monthly repayments? What are the implications of paying off within a shorter time than initial loan term?
• Requirements: What do I need to start the process? Interest: What is the rate and at what cost? - This also has an impact on flexibility.
• Added value: What ancillary services do I stand to benefit by choosing one financier against another? E.g. property guides, mortgage advice.
• Mortgage solutions: What is financed? - Purchase of built unit, off plan, refinancing, construction, plot purchase, multiple residential units (apartments, estate)