Buy a house in a week, NEED HELP!!

[Arthur Tao]

We are planning to look for jobs after we find a house. We currently live in Los Angeles and we just wish to buy a house smoothly in the coming week. It really does not have to be in a week, it is not that urgent.

[RainyRainyDay]

Originally Posted by suzie02

Most people that buy like that are working with a relo company. You have 12 months to purchase without having to pay any costs or you loose it. If you rent first you have to pay for the second move. Also moving is a pain. In addition some of us relocate a lot and if you rent first then you are constantly moving.

I hear you. Actually, I was working with a relo company. However, mine was an international move and I had a move-back option if we didn't like it here. Although we fully expected to have to pay for a second move (from rental to own home) if we stayed, we still considered the rental option more prudent for our circumstances.

Mine was pretty much a one-time relocation, not a case of being on a frequently-transferred kind of career path. If you're expecting to be moved again within a few years, I can see how that would change the priorities.

[suzie02]

What kind of jobs? You have to make sure that your commute is not going to be a pain.

[kaday]

It is great you have narrowed it down some. I agree with the other posters about not renting if at all possible. In my spouse's company the general motto is "avoid temporary housing at all costs". It is really disruptive to a family to have to move twice for one relocation. We always start with school systems and greatschools.net is a great resource. Even if you don't have school ages kids you may someday and it is always good for resale. Then we look at commute. We narrow it down to only looking at homes that have all or most of the features we want. We did it in 5 days this time with me doing all the "heavy looking" and then my spouse (who had thrown out his back) looking at 5 or so I had liked. I even scouted down some neighbors who lived in a subdivision I liked and got some good info. I called some elementary schools and got feedback from parents. Either we get lucky every time or our game plan is very effective!

[suzie02]

Originally Posted by kaday

It is great you have narrowed it down some. I agree with the other posters about not renting if at all possible. In my spouse's company the general motto is "avoid temporary housing at all costs". It is really disruptive to a family to have to move twice for one relocation. We always start with school systems and greatschools.net is a great resource. Even if you don't have school ages kids you may someday and it is always good for resale. Then we look at commute. We narrow it down to only looking at homes that have all or most of the features we want. We did it in 5 days this time with me doing all the "heavy looking" and then my spouse (who had thrown out his back) looking at 5 or so I had liked. I even scouted down some neighbors who lived in a subdivision I liked and got some good info. I called some elementary schools and got feedback from parents. Either we get lucky every time or our game plan is very effective!

Do you have any advice for me I am moving to CA. I am looking near Stockton which is the number 2 city in the nation for foreclosures. How would you make sure you don't pay too much for a house? Since I do not want to hijack could you reply in a thread I started in the CA forum Moving to Lodi area

Thank you.

[scgraham]

Originally Posted by Arthur Tao

We are planning to look for jobs after we find a house. We currently live in Los Angeles and we just wish to buy a house smoothly in the coming week. It really does not have to be in a week, it is not that urgent.

Are you obtaining a loan? If so, have you considered the obstacles without having secured a job?