Budget for a house is 20k-30k. Is there such a home for me?

[guy2073]

The best way to learn how to fix a house is by doing it. Look for a house with good mechanical systems and a decent roof, the rest is just cosmetics.

[Moby Hick]

Originally Posted by guy2073

The best way to learn how to fix a house is by doing it. Look for a house with good mechanical systems and a decent roof, the rest is just cosmetics.

Technically, there's a type of make-up called "foundation", so I guess you're right. But it doesn't hurt to look at the part of the house that is in contact with the ground at least as closely as you look at the roof.

[MountainDewGuy]

I strongly recommend using a GOOD home inspector. My inspector knew that something wasn't right with the sewer line in a house I was going to buy, and further tests revealed a big issue. The owner didn't want to negotiate, so I walked away and saved myself from that hefty expense. I used that same inspector again and was able to get the seller to pay for a new roof before buying my current home. The seller did not get the home inspected when they bought the house (only 2 years before), so it came back to bite them when they sold it.

PM me if you want that inspector's info.

[ny789987]

Originally Posted by MountainDewGuy

I strongly recommend using a GOOD home inspector. My inspector knew that something wasn't right with the sewer line in a house I was going to buy, and further tests revealed a big issue. The owner didn't want to negotiate, so I walked away and saved myself from that hefty expense. I used that same inspector again and was able to get the seller to pay for a new roof before buying my current home. The seller did not get the home inspected when they bought the house (only 2 years before), so it came back to bite them when they sold it.

PM me if you want that inspector's info.

You mean the roof was so bad that the seller was going to ultimately have to replace it anyway? That is the other side of the coin when it comes to bad buyers and inspectors: unrealistic expectations. Don't think that by offering $30,000 for a 100 yr old house that the seller is obligated to provide you with a top to bottom flawless brand new house. If the roof is serviceable and its depreciation is reflected in its offering price, you aren't getting a new one. I have dealt with some of these unrealistic buyers when selling my homes over the years and instead of negotiating with them, I simply turn down their requests knowing that they will be out their inspection fees. Buying a house is not easy. You have to know what is important and worth fighting for and when to give in.

[ferraris]

Expecting the seller to do anything in that price range is a long shot.

[MountainDewGuy]

Originally Posted by ny789987

You mean the roof was so bad that the seller was going to ultimately have to replace it anyway? That is the other side of the coin when it comes to bad buyers and inspectors: unrealistic expectations. Don't think that by offering $30,000 for a 100 yr old house that the seller is obligated to provide you with a top to bottom flawless brand new house. If the roof is serviceable and its depreciation is reflected in its offering price, you aren't getting a new one. I have dealt with some of these unrealistic buyers when selling my homes over the years and instead of negotiating with them, I simply turn down their requests knowing that they will be out their inspection fees. Buying a house is not easy. You have to know what is important and worth fighting for and when to give in.

You call it 'unrealistic expectations', I call it 'due diligence'. My expectations were perfectly in line with reality, because the sellers agreed to the new roof, and were not aware that it needed replaced, since they never got it inspected when they purchased the home. And while I may be out the inspector's fee if I walk away, you are going to need to disclose that roof or sewer line issue to potential buyers.

As far as a home valued at $30,000, I would still recommend the inspection from a qualified individual. Someone who can give you a rundown of the problems. In this case, not to negotiate for a lower price, but to make sure there isn't one super big problem and also to help prioritize your list of fixes once you move in.