What kind of questions do i need to ask when buying a home?

Question

How do i buy a home? How do i get a good deal with the requests that i make?

Answer 1

Get hooked up with a realtor you feel comfortable with. Get pre-qualified for a loan, so you will know how much you can spend. Make a list of the things you like in each house. Actually 2 lists--1 list for the things you have to have (large kitchen, basement,etc.) and 1 list for the things you would like to have (3 bathrooms, a patio, etc).
Then let the realtor know what you are looking for.
Keep in mind, you can write anything in a purchase agreement. So if you really like the sofa that is at the house, you can write the agreement that you will give them $XXXXXX for the house, contingent on the sofa being left there.

As for asking about the wiring, plumbing, ets. hire a home inspector. For termites, your mortgage company will require that inspection.

Answer 2

1. Don't rush into things. The first question to ask should be directed at yourself. What type of home do you want? How big should it be? What amenities do you want? Are you planning for a family in the next three to five years and will the home be able to accommodate a new bundle of joy? Make a definitive list and stick to it. If you stray from it, you could end up with a house that doesn't really fit you and suffer buyer's remorse.

2. The next question is what area do you want to live in? Pick a few. You may find the prices to be excessive or the selection not so hot, but make sure you exhaust those areas before moving on. Again, you want to avoid buyer's remorse.

3. Once you start looking at homes, a key question to ask is how long the house has been on the market. The amount of time will give you an idea of how flexible the owner is on price. If the house has been on the market for a month, the owner isn't going to be very flexible. If it has been on the market for six months, flexibility will definitely exist.

4. Has the house previously been in escrow, but fell out? If so, find out why? Was it a problem with the buyer getting financing or did the buyer find out there was something wrong with the home?

5. What kind of condition is the house in and how old is it? Remember that a seller has typically done everything reasonably possible to spruce up the home. If you can see wear and tear on the house, it may be a red flag. In such a situation, you need to get a home inspection to make sure there aren't problems in areas you can't see such as mold, rust and water leaks.

6. If you have children or are planning on it, you must investigate the school district. Are the schools good? Are there gangs or crime in the area?

7. In addition to the home price, you should ask whether there are any additional fees such association fees.

8. What are the property taxes and what will they be when you buy? Many people are shocked to find out how much they have to kick out in property taxes. Don't get surprised.

9. Zoning and easement issues are often overlooked when buying a home. If you are buying in a neighborhood with many homes, zoning is undoubtedly going to be for residential living. Easements, however, can be nasty surprises. Find out if there are any easements on the property. An easement gives a third party the right to use of part of the property. This can include giving the neighbor the right to do something or a utility company to place structures on your prospective property.

10. Noise is another big issue to consider. If you are serious about the property, make sure to drive buy on weekdays and weekends. If the property shares a wall with another residence, such as a duplex or condo, make sure you view it while the neighbors are home to get an idea of how loud it is.

11. In the euphoria of buying a property, practical issues can be missed. A big one is traffic. Specifically, what is the commute like between the house and your place of work? You don't want to buy the house only to find out it takes three hours to get to and from work each day.

Answer 3

Sounds like you are getting some great advice on the quality of the home, neighborhood and school system. I would also urge you to take a drive by the neighborhood at different times a day and just observe.
In addition I would pay close attention to the type of home loan that you are getting. There is a lot of creative financing going on right now due to the high cost of housing (although I am not sure where you are located). Many of these risky loans are designed to get you in to the home, and are not necessarily in your best interest. Many are adjustable, or interest only, which will at some point cause your mortgage to rise substantially. Sometimes this rise will then make your mortgage no longer affordable. There are also loans were you choose the payment, most people go for the minimum of course each month, and not electing to pay more actually adds the difference to the principal of your loan causing you to loose equity, in some cases then the home is mortgaged for more than it is worth. Please pay close attention to this, and utilize your local agencies (HUD) for information regarding types of loans(again I don't know where you are located). Good Luck!

Answer 4

Why do I want to buy? What can I afford (include regular maintenance and repairs) and live too? Where do I want to live and in what part of town? Are schools important? What do I want to be close to (or far from)? Are city and county taxes important and how much? Do I want a brand new home or not? Do I want a traditional house or a condominium?
Do I understand about home association dues and condominium fees?
How many bedrooms and bathrooms do I need? Do I want a yard (to mow)? Do I want a pool or just use of one?

Make sure you have a good relationship with an honest mortgage loan officer before you start looking. You need to understand the types of mortgages out there and which one is right for you. Make sure you understand and agree.

Answer 5

First .. get pre-approved , Then figure out the 5 most important things you are looking for in a home. Then 5 things that you can live without but you would like to have . Go to Realtor.com and search your criteria . Finding a good Realtor is the most difficult part . DO NOT sign any contracts with them when they are just showing the houses . Good luck ...

Two other sights to check out are zillow.com and neighborhoodscout.com

Answer 6

Be sure to find out about the school system and crime rate in the neighborhood. As far as the quality of the home, always get a home inspection before finalizing the deal. It is the best $300 you will ever spend.

Answer 7

Here are a few to get you started:
Any termites? Rodents? When was the roof replaced/re-shingled? Any leaks? Copper, PVC or galvanized pipes? Insulated? Phase 2 or 3 Switch box? How old is the furnace? A/C? Swamp cooler? For what sf are they rated? What is cost per square foot? What are the comps? Near stores/schools/freeway access? Crime rate?

Answer 8

word of this. I honestly have domestic dogs and that i'm advertising them and that i shop getting e-mails worded similer yet they provide a shipper to return and get the puppy. any way this appears like a scam. me, i even off deilvery on your door to make certain that the persons are real. did you google the persons adress on map quest. you're able to do a satilette view and that i variety interior the handle'es human beings provide me. and a few of them weren't got here upon and the satallite confirmed a vacent lot. if i've got been you i could call the airline that they plan on useing and ask them bearing directly to the expenditures. and tell the guy with the dogs which you are going to pay the airline direct for the delivery. and see what they say. i wager they say no or make some excuese.

Answer 9

Two things: if you are a first-time homebuyer, PLEASE inlist the help of an agent.

The second thing: after making an offer on a home and having the offer accepted, GET A HOME INSPECTION. I don't care if it's a new construction or 100 yrs. old, get an inspection and be at the house while it's being inspected.

Oh, and don't even start looking at houses for sale until you have your financing in line.

Answer 10

Get a home inspection by a certified home inspector. He/She will check for termits/bugs, foundation/structural problems, roof problems, plumbing and electrical problems and the like.

Also, work with a Realtor. He/She will make sure the home is in good repair before signing the final papers.