Lets all use this thread as a place to share advice and tips with those who are on their way to buying their first homes. Anything that we could do to offer them help to make it easier and, a better experience for them would be awesome. Even if it is just a trick to stay current on your credit report or, a way to get a better interest rate. These are things they need to know.
I don't know how much academic information I can give this topic, but I have gone through the purchasing of a home and feel like I have the idea of what happens to you down now. Essentially I would suggest that you be as picky as you want and understand that there are things you won't get in a house. I think you have to have a good home inspection and you have the right to ask questions. I would visit the home at all hours of the day and pay attention to how the sun hits the house and the lawn. Remember in the winter depending on which way your house is facing you could be the last house on the block to have your snow melt. Feel free to test the HVAC systems and make sure the shower drains without getting your carpet wet. Scrutinize the sealant on yours tubs. Do whatever you want, but make sure you're aware of everything about the house and you'll feel good at the end of the process.
The most important part for me would be the Home Inspection. Make sure the inspector checks everything and checks it well! No one wants to pour more and more money into a new purchase! Once you have the home inspected if you choose to go through with the purchase knowing the damages then that is fine, just don't like surprises!
Thank you so much for taking the time to share your information on this topic for those of us who are new to this or, buying a house for the first time. I will take it all to heart believe me and, I am sure the others who read this will as well. Lets keep it going and, share all we can. This will be a great place for everyone to come to get all the information they need to begin buying their first house.
This would be my #1 pick as well. We had it done when moving here, and the owner took care of the things the inspection person said needed to be done (things like railing for the stairs, etc.) But for some reason, the inspection person didn't catch a rather horrid drainage problem that only showed up when laundry was done... and of course I couldn't be doing laundry before the closing. A contractor (after closing... grrrrr!) estimated 5 or 6k to have it "dug up" and fixed, but luckily it ended up costing just a fraction of that.
Agree about spending a few bucks for an inspection. And make sure the closing process goes through a reputable attorney who dots every "i" and crosses every "t" on the title work, closing, filing, etc.
Contract an Agent Since I am an agent, I trust in procuring a buyers agent first. Be that as it may you don't need to on the off chance that you like to go to open houses and look through a gobbledegook of homes on the web. For the most part, an agent will spare you time. An agent can send you postings specifically from MLS that fit your parameters, and you won't waste time taking a gander at dynamic short unexpected postings that are under contract. Agents frequently know of new postings heading up that are not yet available. You can squander the agent's gas and not your when you tour homes. A few agents will see homes for you. An agent can by and large spot overpriced postings and exhort you likewise.
Some tips from when I bought my place. 1., never look too interested in the house or else the price will never come down, you'll lose your negotiation margin. 2., don't buy any furniture until you're settled in lol, some things just look bigger than they are...
I'd like to add an "unless" to your number one. Unless it's absolutely positively the home of your dreams that you've waited for all your life like mine was. Someone else dropped in to look at the house while we were there looking, and they were very interested, too... agent told us what he'd offer so we did that and then agonized for hours that we'd lose it because of someone's advice who could care less if it was my dream home or not. We called back that same afternoon and instructed the agent to offer the asking price. He did, we got it immediately, got a few thousand knocked off for a fast sale, and were soon living here. Sometimes the anxiety of wondering if someone's going to steal your dream from under you just isn't worth it. (I should add that the asking price was lower than we were willing to pay for a home anyhow, so it wasn't a loss of any kind.)
My advice would be to make sure you do a good search and inspection of the place. Because if the property is not up to part you can end up losing a lot of money.
