For the first-time home buyer, getting a mortgage sounds a little intimidating and confusing. Here are a few tips that may help you get a mortgage for less hassle and lower costs.

Determine how much you can afford based on your income and long-term debts. From here, figure out the maximum monthly payment you’re sure you can make. Buying too much can bury you chest-deep in debt, so make sure that your monthly payments are set at a comfortable amount. You can figure out this amount by using online mortgage calculators.

Make a budget and be aware of where your money goes. Find out how much you pay for your utilities, because buying a larger home means you’ll have to shell out more cash for utilities. Can you pay your bills on time while making payments for the mortgage? Is the home you want to buy in need of repairs or upgrades? Factor in these things while making your budget.

You’ll need to show documents before you can secure a mortgage, so gather things like tax returns, proof of current salary, assets, debts, etc.

Be aware about mortgage types and rates. The more you know about the types of loans available and the current rates, the more the negotiations will swing in your favor.

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Overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) can take advantage of SSS’s Direct Housing Loan Facility that aims to provide low-cost housing for your family in the Philippines. If you’re younger than 65 years old, a certified OFW, and an active SSS member with at least 12 months continuous contributions, you may be qualified to receive a housing loan. Loanable amounts for socialized housing is Php 300,000; for low-cost housing you can get a loan from Php 500,000 to Php 1,000,000. All loans can be paid in multiples of five for a maximum of thirty years, so long as it doesn’t exceed the building’s economic life. Interests rates are 9% for Php 300,000 loans, 13% for Php 500,000 and 14% for Php 1,000,000.

For details and more information, visit the SSS website or the SSS building at East Avenue, Diliman, Quezon City.

All the boxes are packed and the big day has arrived. Moving day can be a pretty hectic 24 hours, but there are things you can do to make the move less stressful.

Supervise the movers as they load your furniture and your boxes into the van. Have a list of how many items of pieces of furniture and check each item as they are loaded. Before leaving, inspect every single room, including the bathroom, to make sure you didn’t leave anything important behind.

Move all valuables like jewelry, legal documents, and small antiques with you. Don’t leave them with the moving company.

If you labeled all your boxes correctly, unpacking should be a more organized job. Unpack items according to room, starting with the kitchen so you don’t have to scramble through boxes for your pots and pans before dinner. If you have kids, have them get their boxes and unpack their things themselves. This way, they can organize their bedrooms as they want and lessen your workload. Have your toolbox at hand so you can reassemble furniture or appliances.