Determine the budget, deadlines, your expectations regarding the future apartment — and only then start looking for a suitable option.

Let's start from the beginning:

1. Determine the budget

It is important to know how much money you are willing and able to spend on buying an apartment and then start looking at apartments in your city.

If the amount is small, then you should focus on small apartments under construction or on the secondary market. When you're on a budget, you don't have a lot of options to choose a space, location and/or floor because there aren't many budget offers and if there are, they sell quickly.

2. If you can't afford it on your own, get a mortgage

If your own funds are not enough, but you have a stable income and want to buy your own corner - an apartment, take a mortgage.

Another advantage of a mortgage is that the bank checks the legal cleanliness of the apartment. If the construction company is hiding something, the bank will definitely discover this fact.

The smallest down payment you can expect is between 10% - 30% of the property value. Before taking out a mortgage, consider the fact that the lower the down payment and the shorter the mortgage term, the more you will have to pay each month.

3. If you are ready to wait - choose a building under construction

As a rule, buying an apartment in a building under construction is cheaper and more convenient. Most companies have internal installments and a payment schedule tailored to you until construction is complete. Also, in addition to the low price, you plan the interior partitions of the apartment yourself and plan the renovation based on your capabilities and needs. It is also important that this is a new house with modern communications, elevators and layout.

What you should know when buying an apartment in a building under construction is that the renovation from scratch will cost you about one fifth of the entire apartment.

4. If you want to move to a new apartment soon - choose second-hand apartments

The main advantage of second-hand apartments is that the house is already ready for living. You can clearly see what you are buying, know your neighbors and the neighborhood.

As for the minuses - first of all, these are outdated communications in old buildings. But the main thing is the legal history, which you cannot check without a specialist, so be sure to contact a lawyer with experience in the field of real estate or a real estate agency.

5. Study the offers and choose a reliable company

In order to know the prices and offers, study the ads for sale of housing in the areas that interest you. Pay attention to whether there is work going on at the construction sites that you come across on your way to work or in the neighborhood.

You can also contact a real estate agency or developer. In this case, choose companies with a good reputation. Read the contract and ask any questions.