I am considering purchasing a first house and they are all too far away to casually travel to. I can't afford anything that won't need repairs. How do I get estimates on repairs if I am nowhere near the houses? Any other advice for getting houses that are far away would be useful too.
2007-11-29 03:34:13 · 3 answers · asked by cica-koshka 2 in Business & Finance ➔ Renting & Real Estate
Location doesn't affect my income, but I am on a budget, that is why i want to move somewhere cheap. Apartments are too expensive, have annoying pet rules, and do not allow you to stay under a year unless you pay even more. I am also checking different cities so it wouldn't make sense to move to one in an apartment.
2007-11-29 08:23:39 · update #1
My suggestion would be to at least try to visit the area once to find a real estate agent you feel comfortable with. Then that agent can visit homes for you, either taking pictures or video and sending them to you. Additionally, your agent can help arrange repair estimates for you. On my house purchase, the seller’s agent handled everything from getting estimates to seeing that the repairs were completed and arranging a follow-up visit from the local code inspector.
You should also discuss with your agent your concern over repairs. You’ll be hard pressed to find a house that needs none (in fact, I’m not certain that exists), and it won’t take long after you move in for something to break. It could be big or small, but repairs are a fact of life for homeowners.
2007-11-29 03:48:38 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
You need to engage the services of a competent buyer agent for your needs. A good buyer agent will be glad to drop by prospective properties with a digital camera and send you pictures of properties in which you are interested, as well as advising on condition of the property. Additionally, a buyer agent in the area in which you wish to purchase probably will assist in getting repair estimates from contractors which are known to be reasonable and reputable.
Furthermore, a buyer agent won't cost you anything, since his/her fees will be paid by the seller in most cases. (A property not listed by a real estate agency would be the exception to that.)
2007-11-29 11:50:52 · answer #2 · answered by acermill 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
what's the point of buying a house so far away - are you going to keep the same job and long commute? If you are changing jobs and locations, then you should do that first and then stay there a year before you buy so the mortgage company doesn't shoot you down because you just changed jobs
2007-11-29 14:22:16 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋