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What Should You Consider When Buying A Home

Jul 15, 2019
Do you want to buy a home? Whether you are looking for a house so you can live in or rent out, you need to know what to look out for. Most people are often busy looking at appliances and room layouts that they forget the most crucial aspects of a house. While appliances and room layouts are essential, here are the elements home buyers should have at the top of their list.

The Warning Signs

First, always be wary of any seller who has strong smells in the house. Those freshly baked cookies and scented candles could be masking out the real odor. Your real estate agent knows this trick and will help you identify a seller who is masking out an odor from one who is not.

Once the odor is out of the way, check to see if the house has poor tiling. This is marked by uneven tiles which mostly indicate a DIY job or a poorly flipped job. The downside is the home might end up costing more if you need to make these repairs in the long run.

When buying a home, you want to be sure the foundation is strong. The tell-tale sign is the walls. Any huge cracks indicate a foundation problem. A slight crack may mean the house is settling in, which will not be a problem.

Before you buy a home, check if the owner might have neglected routine maintenance such as light-bulbs, long-grass, faded paint, and leaking faucets. Neglect in some area shows the owner is likely to have neglected other important maintenance aspects of the house.

Windows are the soul and aesthetic of a house and will tell you if you need to worry or not. Give the windows a push to ensure they slide easy and place your finger on the corners to make sure heat is not being lost. A cold breeze on your finger and a hard time opening the windows means that they need replacement or the house has a foundation issue. This is not likely with new homes for sale but is common with older homes.

What Are Your Desires

When you want to buy a home, you may already have in mind the kind of home you want. However, there are a few critical aspects you need to look at. First, determine if the real estate for sale you are looking at is a home you would want to grow old in. Whether it is a new home for sale in Houston TX or an older home, being clear on whether you want to grow old in it or not will help you determine if you need stairs. If you have a family members with mobility issues, stairs may not be a good idea for you.

Will you have an empty nest in the next decade or will you add to your family? This question will help you determine the number of bedrooms and bathrooms you need before you buy a home. Having more bedrooms may be a good idea if you want a home office, a gym, or hobby room.

Where bathrooms are located is essential, especially if you host frequently. But more importantly, is the storage you need. Storage starts from the garage. If you have more than one car, you may want to consider a garage that will fit both cars or a carport that will suffice the same. A tool shed would also be an excellent addition as would be larger closet and kitchen storage.

If you have toddlers, you might want to sleep closer to them, but if you have teens in the house, being further away from their stereo is may be a good idea. You also need to consider how much noise will get into your home if the house is located near a busy street or school.

Buying a home is a significant decision, and you need to make all the right considerations before you write a check. Ticking all the right boxes will make your investment worth it. About 84% of people who have invested in real estate will reinvest, and to be part of this group, you need to make the right decision the first time.
By Kay Harris 10 Jun, 2021
Buying a home for the first time can be stressful, overwhelming, and exhausting all at the same time! There’s so much to take in as a first time home buyer, so we’ve compiled some trade secrets for you to help you out in your journey. Keep Your Money Where It Is In the months before applying for a mortgage, you’ll want to keep your money right where it is. Lending companies want to make sure you have a reliable income, so moving your money around, applying for additional credit, and buying large ticket items can be red flags. You don’t want to take any chances when it comes to your credit profile! Go With the Flow There’s no perfect time to purchase a home, so try not to anticipate the real estate market to determine when to start looking. Real estate markets fluctuate constantly, and if you wait it out for the “perfect time,” you may never find the best home for you. Stalk the Neighborhood Sure, you can change things around your new home. But you’re unable to change your neighbors! If you find a property you really like, make an effort to visit the neighborhood morning, noon, and night to see what is going on. You’ll get a better picture of if the area is a busy neighborhood, if your neighbors are constantly out and about, or if you will be living in a relatively quiet place. Don’t Forget the Hidden Costs When creating your budget, don’t just focus on your monthly mortgage payment! Buying a home and maintaining it can be incredibly costly to those who are not prepared. Make sure to budget in closing costs, inspection fees, home insurance, regular maintenance such as mowing the lawn and cleaning out gutters, and utilities. As a general rule, it is always better to stay modest when creating a budget as you most likely will need some wiggle room with these unforeseen expenses. When it comes to Houston real estate, Kay Harris is the real estate professional you can turn to. If you are looking to buy a home in the Houston area, give us a call today and we’ll get the process started.
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