Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
1. Buy at a price below what your lender says you an afford (don't overextend)
2. It's sort of cliche, but location is very important (you can knock down the house and rebuild it if need be, but you can change the location) - don't buy on busy road, next to a commercial area, near railroad tracks/highway, if you can.
3. Look for a house with bad curb appeal, but good bones, i.e., in need of cosmetic repair. It is amazing how much of a discount you can get for a house that has bad paint colors and shag carpeting.
4. Find a good home inspector.
never buy anything but a concrete slab if you know how to tile.
always use a property manager
do not buy mold homes
think small 1 bdrm urban with no garage.
never buy anything w/o a clear intention of paying it off
never buy w/o termite and plumbing & electrical inspection
When realtors don't like a inspector, or try and divert you away from one, chances are that is the guy you will want to use. Always worked for me.
The odds of any competent real estate agent not seeing the great big honking flaws in some houses and suggesting appropriate price adjustments is just about nil.
The vast majority of good inspectors help buyers understand that every home, new or existing, has a huge range of potential areas for future maintenance / repairs and they do so in a professional manner without undue drama.
A small minority of 'inspectors' annoyingly rely on DRAMATIC OVER STATEMENT of the potential costs associated with home. Such inspectors do a disservice to their clients, buyers who want an HONEST assessment of the condition of the home they have under contract, when they create unnecessary fears and doubt.
Any real estate agent that warns their client that the inspector they may be considering is known for putting on a big show over the most minor of issues is much more likely to also be capable of saying which inspectors do a thorough job, in a timely manner and communicate in way that can be trusted.
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
Extremely UNLIKELY!!!
