Size and cost is obvious. What side of town it's on is obvious, but what do people forget to look into when they buy a house? I don't want to get a house and then get mad because I should have analyzed something first.
2007-07-17 07:44:30 · 20 answers · asked by Anonymous in Family & Relationships ➔ Weddings
You need to consider how much the property taxes are in the area and if you can afford them. I've seen lots of people find a wonderful house for a steal, only to realize the yearly property taxes were through the roof.
Another very important thing to consider is to have a house inspection done. It might cost like $400, but when you are making that kind of investment its worth it. A home inspector will ensure there are no problems with mould, with the foundation, the roof, the ducts and lots of other areas that aren't noticeable or easy to check for. Get this done before you sign any closing papers!
Good luck and I hope you find the perfect house to make your home.
2007-07-17 07:50:55 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
Are you working with an agent? If so she/he should beable to advise you although you should keep in mind that they work for the homeowner and you signed a disclosure which stated so. That said though the agent and the homeowner must disclose any and all information. For example the house is on a quiet, scenic block. This was one of the features you liked. After you purchase they start putting up apartment buildings... If the owner and/or agent had knowledge prior to the purchase and did not disclose it you have a right to sue them and the agency for not only a total refund but any and all legal expenses and hardship expenses.
If you are not working with an agent:
You should get a home inspection. This will determine if the house is sound. And if there is something wrong you can back out or re-negotiate the price. Make sure you state this in your contract.
You should determine the market value to be sure you are not over paying. You can do this yourself by looking into what other similar houses in the area have sold for within the last six months. If you buy a house for $500,000 in an area where every other house sold for $300,000 you will be stuck with it b/c you over paid.
Think about the area too. Are you planning on staying for a long while? Will your children attend school there? If so you want to make sure it's a decent school district. And keep in mind when you go to sell other people will be looking into the same things.
Make sure you know what the taxes are. You can do this yourself by calling that area tax office. Ask if there are any exemptions. What I mean is if the present owner has a VA exemption he is paying a couple few thousand dollars less than you will be paying.
Don't think for a second that if the taxes are high it must be a good school district, NO that is not the case. Good luck.
2007-07-17 08:35:28 · answer #2 · answered by celeste 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
the area, the beginning place (any cracks?), the roof (peeling or curled edges?), damp or mold, distinctly in the basement (does it scent dank?), condenscation around domicile windows or doorways, eaves troughs and pipes (in stable condition?), and primary visual attraction (does it look like that's been dealt with?). and don't ignore to study out the neighbours! There are 1000 greater issues yet i think of those are assorted the main extreme ones. stable success and and once you do decide for on a house get a house inspector!! that's the main extreme element so some distance as i'm in contact.
2016-09-30 05:00:42 · answer #3 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you have kids, look into the schools and do a neighborhood profile. Is this your first house? I am a realtor and in my experience, usually people make mistakes on what they think that they want. Your never going to get everything in a house that you want unless you go custom with a builder, but be carefull on what you sacrifice. Lots of time, people will be so eager that they end up with a house they are not truely happy with. Try not to look at material things...like what colour the walls are or how it is landscaped, those things can be changed. Look at things like how big the yard is and the view, and the floorplan. Are all the rooms going to be useful for your family, things like that. And dont rush! Good luck, and if you have any questions, im happy to help.
2007-07-17 07:51:30 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Overall the first question to ask yourself is what do you like and dislike about your current place? What are you willing to sacrifice on your list of wants/needs and what are things you must have in order to be happy with your purchase? Another consideration is are you willing to update a house if needed and what can you spend on such things?
Most importantly....remember you are purchasing a house and its LOCATION! If you don't like the location of the house, the way the sun rises and sets there, the surrounding houses or anything about the neighborhood or land it may be on...don't purchase! You can always make changes to a home over the years, but you are stuck with its location.
Remember to look at the homes around you. If the homes look nice but the cars people have parked outside their homes are dumpy...keep looking. Personal affects other than homes can determine how someone will care for their home over the long haul.
2007-07-17 07:56:17 · answer #5 · answered by I love my pug! 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You really can't find all the things that would be wrong with a house thats why it is so important to get home inspections our first house we looked at we love made an offer then when we had it inspected there was 22 PAGES of stuff we never even seen wrong thankfully we got out of that and found a new one same price that had been remodeled so you MUST get home inspection usually around $300- $500 but SO worth it! Good luck
2007-07-17 08:26:21 · answer #6 · answered by jenn p 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Ask if there has ever been water damage/leaks , structural damage, or termite damage. How old are the appliances that remain ( hot water heater, AC/Heating ) ? What are estimates of monthly utility bills? What repairs were made by the previous owner? Is there a neighborhood association ( that could or could not be a good thing!!) Any complaints about nearby neighbors?
2007-07-17 07:54:44 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
bring a trusted contractor with you so he can go through and let you know what would need to be replaced in a few years or what is not up to code. also, if you go into a house thinking itd be great once you redo a few things, make sure that you'll actually have the time and money to do the job quickly and 'right'. if, in reality, you're never gonna have the extra money or the time to get the jobs done, you'll be sitting in a house you hate being frustrated that you cant change it.
2007-07-17 07:53:39 · answer #8 · answered by jen 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
What kind of condition? How old is it? There are many factors into buying a house. Before puting all ur eggs in one basket go get a paid trained professional to asses the house u decide on. They are able to tell you anything and everything wrong with the house etc etc...
2007-07-17 07:48:11 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Make sure the structural integrity is good. Get an inspector and have him check the structure itself - too many people buy homes only to find out the foundation is falling apart or the roof is about to collapse.
2007-07-17 08:12:23 · answer #10 · answered by Galaxie Girl 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋