Top 10 Tips For Looking At Houses To Buy
When you are shopping for a home, looking at all the different houses can be great fun as you imagine the possibility. Still, there are some practical concerns you should keep in mind. Read on for the top 10 tips for looking at houses to buy.
- Consider the neighborhood: Location is one of the keys to property values. An up-and-coming neighborhood could result in your property values rising rapidly, but only if the neighborhood really does catch on. An established neighborhood will likely give you a predictable rise in property values, while a neighborhood with a reputation for being dangerous may may it hard for you to sell your home in the future.
- Take the school district into account: Even if you don’t have kids, this should be a factor. For many buyers, the school district in which the home is located is very important and if the neighborhood has good schools, that bodes well for property values.
- Make sure the home fits into your budget: If you stretch to buy a house you can’t quite afford, you might have problems finding the money to maintain the property. A financial setback could also be disastrous if you are barely making your payments in good times, potentially sending your home into foreclosure if you have a blip in your finances and can’t pay.
- See as many homes as you can: You want to get a real feel for the properties available in your price range to make sure you get the most for your money.
- Take advantage of online resources: Multiple listing services and online classifieds can help you view hundreds of homes quickly so it will be easy to narrow down the ones you want to see. You can also shop for mortgages online and compare rates.
- Be practical in making a buying decision: Since a home is a huge expense and an investment, you want to make sure you don’t overpay for a house- even if you love it. Likewise, you want to make sure the home doesn’t have problems that will cost you a lot of money to solve.
- Work with a realtor: Realtors are experts in the market. Take advantage of their experience and advice to guide you through the process of buying your home.
- Research property values: You can compare the price of similar homes that have sold to determine whether the one you are looking at is priced right.
- Look beyond curb appeal and appearance: Minor cosmetic defects such as ugly paint are easily correctable, while structural defects and the location of the home are not. Buying the worst home in the best neighborhood is thus often your best bet for getting a great house.
- Be weary of structural problems: If there are major problems with the house, taking on the headache may be more trouble than it is worth, both financially and emotionally. Have a home inspection before you buy to identify any problems and make sure you know how much it will cost you to deal with them.