Economy
What are the Things to Keep in Mind when Buying a House?
It’s critical to be well-informed when making major financial decisions, and a few are more significant than buying a house.
Before you acquire any property, take the time to educate yourself on what you’re getting yourself into. The following home-buying ideas will assist you in getting started with your home ownership journey.
The processes involved in purchasing a home are straightforward and worth your time and effort and you can get more info on homes for sale in Miami Florida.
While looking into the factors to consider when purchasing a home, the process can get overwhelming. After all, there are numerous factors to consider before commencing to purchase your dream home.
Having set priorities will help you navigate the process without missing crucial aspects that are important to you and your family.
Your realtor will want to know about your priority list as well. Understanding which qualities are most important can assist you in eliminating residences that will not work for you and comparing those that will.
Here are 7 Things You Must Know Before Purchasing A Home
- Location
Location is one of the most critical aspects of any piece of real estate. Pay great attention to the neighbourhood where you intend to purchase your home. You’ll want to make sure that your home is close to your workplace, and it may also be helpful to consult resources like the Pennsylvania Probate Guide – 2025 Edition to ensure you’re fully informed about local regulations and estate considerations.
Some people want to be tucked away from busy streets, while others prefer to have more access to main city roads.
Homebuyers with children or those considering starting a family should look into the local schools. For many homeowners, school quality can make or break their decision. Examine the public and private alternatives, as well as information on entrance and registration. Knowing the important information ahead of time is usually a smart idea.
Buyers are looking for a location that is convenient to their favourite places (work, school, shopping, recreation centre, place of worship, friends and family). Check traffic flow and look for easy access to important roadways.
- Look past the paint
It’s not uncommon for your dream house to include that one area that you’ve already imagined remodelling. It’s vital to note that while a coat of paint or some wallpaper can alleviate cosmetic issues, making modifications to kitchens and bathrooms can be costly.
People often concentrate on the cost of cabinets, appliances, and counters, but they overlook the expense of labour, which may easily double or triple the cost. That’s not to say you shouldn’t buy a house that needs a lot of work, but you should consider those costs when considering whether you can afford it.
- You should know what you desire
Are you looking for a house or an apartment? This is one of the first challenges that many first-time house purchasers will face. In fact, many customers may consider both options because they can’t decide.
You should be aware of the advantages and disadvantages of living in an apartment versus a house in order to make informed selections. More consumers will be disappointed when choosing an apartment because they are unaware of the consequences of how restrictive they might be or how quickly fees can alter. Of course, the appeal is typically for buyers who do not have time to maintain their homes.
After the thrill of purchasing a property wears off, you’ll have to live there for years. Make certain you’re looking for a home that fits your wants and lifestyle. More space isn’t necessarily a good thing. Lawns require maintenance. It may turn out that being close to the things you enjoy is more significant than you know.
Understand that you are not only purchasing a home, but also a location. Many buyers overlook the importance of learning how to choose a neighbourhood they would enjoy when purchasing a property. First-time buyers frequently place too much emphasis on the home and not enough on the area.
- Make use of a reputable real estate agent
We all know that real estate brokers, like north iowa realtors, get a percentage of the home’s sale price, which makes some purchasers wary of using one since they fear it will raise the overall cost. Keep in mind that the commission is paid by the seller, not the customer.
A listing agent (the agent representing the seller) does not safeguard your interests and would simply pocket both sides of the commission if you were to buy a home. That means you aren’t saving any money. A knowledgeable broker working for you like PwanMax can defend your interests and guide you through the whole buying process, from price negotiations to home inspections.
- Know how much a property is worth before you buy it
If you want to avoid overpaying for your home, you’ll need to work with a real estate agent like PwanMax that knows the local market.
Other expenditures such as appraisals and inspections, in addition to the purchase price, might mount up quickly if you don’t grasp the home’s value.
If you ask about adjusting the price afterwards, sellers and banks may not be accommodating.
- Number of bedrooms
Each family will have a preference on the number of bedrooms they require. Most individuals want at least two, and the number grows if there are children.
Some families prefer that their children share bedrooms, while others prefer that they each have their own bedroom to suit various bedtimes and study habits. It’s ideal to have a distinct guest room if you have regular visitors for an extended period of time.
An additional bedroom is frequently used as an office, den, playroom for children, or fitness area. Many hobbies necessitate working space and supply storage, and an extra bedroom is ideal for this. Consider your lifestyle and what will make it better.
- The house’s age
This is irrelevant if you are just interested in a new building. You may see homes from multiple decades if you are willing to look at all residences in your price range that fulfil your fundamental needs.
Older homes might have a unique charm, but they may require more maintenance and renovations. Ascertain that you have the time, motivation, and financial resources to enjoy managing these initiatives.
Building codes evolve over time, and it’s helpful to have a rudimentary awareness of some of the more significant variations when inspecting properties built under different laws.
Your realtor may have this information or know where to look for it. You may already be aware of how homes were built at the time if you’re seeking a specific vintage and design.
Summary
While you’re ready to become a homeowner, it’s critical to identify the most crucial factors to consider when purchasing a property. As previously mentioned, there are various aspects to consider, including personal preparation, local market conditions, and ensure you understand the key components of the house purchasing process. You may ensure that you have awareness and mindfulness as you enter the domain of homeownership by carefully considering some of these concerns.
Economy
NRS Bets on e-Invoicing to Boost Tax Compliance, Transparency
By Adedapo Adesanya
The Nigeria Revenue Service (NRS) says the rollout of electronic invoicing (e-invoicing) will strengthen tax compliance, curb revenue leakages and improve transparency in tax administration as it moves to fully digitise the country’s tax system.
The Project Lead for the NRS e-Invoicing Project, Mr Mohammed Bawa, stated this at the DigiTax E-Invoicing Compliance Breakfast Session held in Lagos on Wednesday.
The event, organised by DigiTax, an NRS-accredited e-invoicing platform, formed part of efforts to support the agency’s ongoing education and sensitisation campaign on the e-invoicing mandate.
Mr Bawa said the initiative aligns with global trends in tax digitisation and is expected to help improve Nigeria’s tax-to-GDP ratio, which remains one of the lowest in Africa.
According to him, the system will provide the NRS with greater visibility into transactions across sectors, formalise activities within the informal economy and standardise invoice formats nationwide using globally recognised invoice schemas.
He added that e-invoicing would improve operational efficiency for both businesses and tax authorities while supporting the NRS’ transition from manual and electronic tax administration processes to a fully automated system-to-system interaction model.
Mr Bawa noted that the legal framework for implementation is backed by the Nigeria Tax Administration Act, which prescribes penalties for non-compliance.
He disclosed that the NRS has completed onboarding large taxpayers and is preparing to enforce compliance with defaulting entities.
According to him, medium taxpayers are expected to begin compliance in the third quarter of 2026, while onboarding of emerging taxpayers will commence in 2027, with full adoption targeted for all taxpayers by the end of 2028.
Mr Bawa urged taxpayers yet to be onboarded onto the platform to begin the process and work with accredited service providers to ensure compliance.
On his part, Country Director of DigiTax Nigeria, Mr Olumide Akinsola, urged businesses to look beyond their internal systems and assess the compliance status of suppliers and counterparties.
He warned that businesses whose suppliers fail to transmit invoices through the MBS platform risk losing eligibility to claim Value Added Tax (VAT) input credits on such transactions, describing the resulting supply chain exposure as a significant commercial risk that many organisations have yet to quantify.
Mr Akinsola also announced the launch of DigiTax’s white paper, The State of E-Invoicing Readiness in Nigeria, which examines compliance adoption trends and the readiness gap across different taxpayer segments.
He added that DigiTax operates in Nigeria, Kenya, Zambia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), noting that experience from those markets shows businesses that integrate early are better positioned to avoid disruptions when enforcement begins.
Economy
CAC to Delete Alariwo of Afrika, First Union PFA, Investopedia, Other Firms from Register
By Aduragbemi Omiyale
The names of about 100,000 companies registered by the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) are about to be deleted for inactivity, especially for failing to file their annual tax returns, Business Post reports.
This information was disclosed by the CAC via a notice signed by its management on Wednesday, July 15, 2026.
The list contains organisations like the Nigeria-Poland Chamber of Trade Invest Ltd, Alariwo of Afrika Ltd, Ovation Sports International, First Union Pension Fund Administrators, Investopedia Limited, Baptist High School Abuja Ltd, and Yobe Aluminium Manufacturing Industries Ltd, amongst others.
In the statement, the commission said its decision to strike off the names of the affected firms from the register aligns with the provisions of Section 692(3) (3) and (4) of the Companies and Allied Matters Act (CAMA), 2020.
However, the affected companies can still salvage the situation by filing all outstanding annual returns and regularising their records within 90 days.
“Please note that companies that fail to comply within the stipulated timeline shall be struck off the register without further notice,” it declared, expressing its continued commitment to providing prompt and efficient registration and regulatory services to the satisfaction of its valued customers.
Economy
Unlisted Securities Rise 1.75% on Renewed Interest
By Adedapo Adesanya
The NASD Over-the-Counter (OTC) Securities Exchange gained 1.75 per cent on Wednesday, July 15, pushing the NASD Security Index (NSI) up by 74.20 points to 4,316.51 points from 4,242.31 points, as the market capitalisation added N44.54 billion to finish at N2.590 trillion compared with the preceding session’s N2.546 trillion.
During the session, there was an 11.5 per cent rise in the value of transactions at midweek to N72.7 million from the preceding session’s N65.2 million, as there was a 3.7 per cent growth in the number of deals to 28 deals from the previous session’s 27 deals, while the volume of securities slumped by 64.5 per cent to 4.9 million units from 13.7 million units.
At the close of trades, Great Nigeria Insurance (GNI) Plc ended as the most active security by value on a year-to-date basis, with 3.4 billion units worth N8.4 billion, with the second spot occupied by Infrastructure Credit Guarantee (Infracredit) Plc after selling 2.3 billion units valued at N6.5 billion, and the third position was taken by Central Securities Clearing System (CSCS) Plc, which exchanged 74.3 million units for N5.3 billion.
GNI Plc also finished the trading day as the most traded stock by volume on a year-to-date basis, with a turnover of 3.4 billion units traded for N8.4 billion, followed by Infracredit Plc with 2.3 billion units transacted for N6.5 billion, and Resourcery Plc with 1.1 billion units sold for N415.7 million.
Business Post reports that the market breadth index was negative yesterday, as there were two price gainers and three price losers.
11 Plc added N22.36 to its value to close at N250.00 per share versus N227.64 per share, and CSCS Plc improved by N7.95 to N90.35 per unit from N82.40 per unit.
On the flip side, FrieslandCampina Wamco Nigeria Plc lost N1.37 to end at N150.00 per share versus N151.37 per share, UBN Property Plc depreciated by 6 Kobo to N1.75 per unit from N1.81 per unit, and Food Concepts Plc dropped 1 Kobo to close at N2.49 per share versus N2.50 per share.


