| Questions To Answer Before Buying A House |
| Articles - Mortgage |
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You were just surfing the net and you saw a picture of this unbelievable house, the perfect house. You know it's the house you want to buy and live in forever. Slow down. Just because the house looks good on the web, doesn't mean it's your dream house. There are a lot of questions to ask and things to consider before taking on the responsibility of a home.
You were just surfing the net and you saw a picture of this unbelievable house, the perfect house. You know it's the house you want to buy and live in forever. Slow down. Just because the house looks good on the web, doesn't mean it's your dream house. There are a lot of questions to ask and things to consider before taking on the responsibility of a home. If you are buying a home for the first time you should take the time to learn something about real estate. Make sure you understand the terms of real estate contracts and mortgages. Don't buy a home that costs more than you can afford to spend. Make sure the house doesn't need expensive repairs. Consider the neighborhood. Are the other homes well kept? Look into crime statics for the area. Keep in mind that homes in upscale neighborhoods come with upscale price tags. Make sure the house is in good repair, or that the seller will do necessary repairs before the sale. Make sure you lender will provide a mortgage. If the home need repairs and the seller is not willing to complete the repairs, you may still be able to buy the home. Try to use repair issues to leverage for a lower price. The mortgage company may require an escrow for major repairs, so if you can't put up the money you may be unable to get a mortgage. The most important areas of the house to check are the basement and the roof. Look for evidence of leaks or flooding. Mold can be a serious and expensive problem. Many homes are sold with the kitchen appliances. Look at the appliances. How old are they? Are they energy efficient? Will you have to replace some or all of them in the near future? Look at the countertops and cabinets. Do they need repairs or replacement? Does the house have city water or well water? How old is the well and the well pump? Look under the sink for leaks. Is the house city sewage or septic? How old is the septic system? In the bathroom, are there bath cabinets? Well maintained bath cabinets should be an asset not a collapsing liability. Look at the plumbing; turn on the tap and flush the toilet. If it works fine, there won't any problem. To be sure, bring along a plumber to inspect the plumbing in all areas - kitchen, bath, garage, and at the backyard. Visit the attic should to check it for water stains and the durability of the structure. Does the attic have ventilation and insulation? After you have done the rounds of the interiors, check out the exterior. Are the doors and windows secured? How many entrances are there? Does the house have a fire escape? After the interiors and the exteriors, check out the neighborhood. Do some research about the crime rate in the area. Is your house vulnerable to break-ins? Is the next neighbor a mile away? Are the houses crammed into a little neighborhood? After visiting the house on a nice sunny day, visit it on a rainy day to see how it fares. If there's no problem, then make a deal according to the mortgage you can afford. DISCLAIMER: This article is provided as information only and is not to be taken as financial advice. If you are looking for more advice about Okemos mortgage, you should check out this site which has great info about refinance Lansing. |