What to consider when buying a house?

Question

I would just like a basic list of things to consider when thinking about buying a house. My boyfriend and I and his 4 year old daughter need a bigger place..we're currently living in a sardine can. Where do we start with this whole 'buying a house' thing? My head is spinning just thinking about it. We're looking in Hartford county, CT.

Answer 1

Go talk to a mortgage banker. Make sure you are completely comfortable with the guy, if you don't like him don't use him. Make sure he doesn't work for Countrywide as they are useless.

Work out a budget with your banker as to what you can comfortably afford to spend per month. Have your credit pulled and get yourself pre-approved for a dollar amount. This will often lock in an interest rate and give you an idea as to just how much house you can afford comfortably. You don't want to overstretch and you should try to put at least 5% down.

Once you have a budget worked out you know roughly what your mortgage is going to be, the expected down payment, and a rough limit on how much house you should look for.

Then get with a realtor from a reputable company and start looking. Find a nice quiet location, not too far from amenities. Make sure you scout out the area once you find the home that's right for you. You do not want to live in or near a dump. If you are new to buying a home, you might want to consider a new home so you don't have to worry about too much going wrong. Buying from a reputable builder gets you certain legal rights and warranties that you may not have with an older home.

When my wife and I bought our first home in the US we purchased one in a new development as they were making the development. By the time they had finished the whole project a year later our property had gone up by 25% (which is awesome in East Tennessee) and we were able to re-fi with an amazing low rate mortgage.

Buy a nice house in a nice location and you should not go too far wrong. Always figure out the financing first or you are just wasting your time.

Finally, once you are in the process of buying a home DO NOT finance ANYTHING, open or close any credit accounts, do not buy anything on credit. Wait until you have closed on your home. Even applying for credit can reduce your credit score which may revoke your approval or up your interest rate.

Also visit the home you picked multiple times of the day and night on several different days. You want to know that it is a nice place to live before you sign on the dotted line.

Answer 2

First, determine your budget - how much can you afford to spend and how big a down payment can you make. Talk with a mortgage broker to get help with this. You will also have the opportunity to get pre-approved for the loan. This makes you a more attractive buyer and allows you to move more quickly when you find a property.

Next, determine where you want to live. This is based on the cost of homes in a given area for sure, while it also depends on quality of schools, and other lifestyle questions like distance to work, shopping and etc. Given that you will be raising a daughter in the house that starts pre-school this year or next, the educational system is important. Tax levels are also a key consideration. Tax rates vary from community to community and represent a significant yearly outlay.

Once you have these two considerations, then choose a Realtor to help you find a property that meets your needs and desires. Realtors specialize in given areas, so choose one with a good track record for the area you want to live in. The seller pays the Realtor fee, not the buyer, so take advantage of the services of a Realtor.

Answer 3

The best and most important thing for you to do is get a good real estate agent in your area. As a buyer, you don't have to pay commission to work with an agent. There are SO MANY things to consider when buying a home, so why not have someone who does this for a living help you?

I have a company, it's family owned and operated, and we put people like you in touch with good, experienced real estate agents in your desired area. I'd love to help you. There is no obligation, but you could at least get the ball rolling. Also, if you do end up purchasing a home through a realtor we recommend, we can give you $500 back at closing.

Go to www.GetMeAnAgent.com, fill out the form, and we'll find you a Great agent! That's the best thing for you to do!

Answer 4

The very first thing you should do is see about a mortgage. This can be done through your bank, or a separate mortgage councellor. Once you speak with them, you will know how much money you can even spend on a house.

Once through this process, my suggestion would be to talk to a realtor. Because you are BUYING a house (I am assuming here that you are renting at the moment) the realtor won't cost you a thing. The person who is selling the house you buy will pay your realtor a "finder's fee" so-to-speak.

Realtors are very educated in the things you should look for in a home. Check out websites like www.mls.ca to know how to choose the right realtor for you. If you don't like one, you can then find another. Once you are familiar with a realtor, you will find that they have so much knowledge on buying a house and will be able to help you.. step.. by step!

Good luck!

Answer 5

I was going to suggest you delaying your plan, but sounds like you really need a place. Then, make sure you get a good deal. The market favors buyers now.


In most area of the U.S., housing price stopped going up as inventory continues to build up. It is normal to see a correction as a boom that lasted for several years.

If you are investing new money in to real estate, this may not be a good time as the potential return on investment is small compare to the high risk of lower home price.

If you are doing a side way move, meaning you are selling one to buy another one, then it is acceptable.

Nothing is absolute, but housing market is very likely undergoing a correction and this is only the beginning. Some say this would be a soft landing (0 to 10%). Some say a big crashing is coming (10 to 20%).

http://money.cnn.com/2006/08/24/news/economy/newhomes/index.htm
http://money.cnn.com/2006/08/23/news/economy/homesales/index.htm

Answer 6

Hello -

Let me begin with a few things you need to know - It pays to understand how sellers operate and how you can best negotiate with them. Why? By being prepared, you’ll know what to look for and what to questions to ask.

If you ask the right questions and prepare yourself, you’ll be able to slash thousands of dollars off the price of your new home. A study was recently conducted by industry insiders to learn why some home buyers are able to get the home of their dreams, while still talking the seller down by thousands. 3 “keys to success” have been identified. In this report, you’ll learn what these three keys are and how you can use them to get YOUR price when buying a home.

You can access this Free at -

http://www.freerealestatesecretssoutherncalifornia.com/three_rules.aspx

A new report has just been distributed detailing the 5 most common and costly buyer traps. In this report, you will be educated on how to spot these traps so you can avoid the following situations:

- Buying a home that doesn’t fit your needs
- Paying too much for your new home
- Missing out on your dream homeYou'll also learn how you can receive a FREE Home Buyer's Coaching Session® and Guarantee the Lowest Rate on your next mortgage.Don't wait, Request your FREE Report Now. http://www.freerealestatesecretssoutherncalifornia.com/buyer_traps.aspx

If you have ever shopped for the lowest rate on a home loan, you know how frustrating and time-consuming the process can be.

- The “Dark Secret” many lenders don’t want you to know
- How to avoid getting scammed
- How you can guarantee the lowest bottom-line cost or make $100 in the process.

Every lender in town claims they have the lowest rates. But with thousands of lenders to choose from, who should you believe? In this report, you’ll learn the secret of how to spot the best deals. http://www.freerealestatesecretssoutherncalifornia.com/lowest_rates.aspx

I hope all of that helps. Please let me know if you have any further questions.

Best Regards,
Darren

Answer 7

Good "bones". Something with a good roof, decent wiring and plumbing and sturdy. PRICE, get something that you can afford, and try if you can, to get a fixed interest rate for 30 years. When we bought our home, everyone was pushing for us to get 5 year ARM loans (these are a fixed low rate for 5 years then it is adjustable after the 5 years is up). Lots of people got one of these loans and now they can't afford their ever increasing house payment. You will look at lots of houses, but you will know when you find the right one!

Answer 8

First things first: get a good real estate agent. I'd go to http://www.realestateforsaleinconnecticut.com
It's really easy to navigate and is full of info about realtors with links to their personal websites, so you can do a little research before you contact anyone.

Check out the "featured" agents first. I've worked with them and can vouch that they are experts in the industry. If none of them cover your area, the others in the directory are lovely as well. Good luck!

Answer 9

Most important thing is to find out what you can afford - by which I mean what sort of loan you can qualify for that you can make the payments on. Add in whatever down payment you have, and refuse to look at properties which cannot be gotten for that amount. Fire your agent if they suggest it. Then go find a good buyer's agent in your area.

Answer 10

It sure can be overwhelming to buy a house. since there is a child involved, you will want to check out the schools in the neighborhood. also, check to see if there are any sex offenders nearby ( http://www.familywatchdog.us/ ). Check with the local town hall to make sure there aren't any building plans or annexations, etc. nearby that would make your new house less desirable (they keep trying to start a quarry just down from my house). Most importantly, have an inspector check out the property before you buy it.