You're having a new home built and your agent suggests having your own, independent home inspection completed pre-drywall.

What?

A pre-drywall inspection occurs after the entire frame has been built, the roof is on and the windows are installed, but before the sheet rock is installed. This allows your home inspector access to make sure the beams, posts, studs, and other structural components are installed properly, to check things like the wiring, plumbing, window...

Here we are yet again. The National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) is set to expire in two weeks unless Congress passes legislation to extend the program yet again.

So what would happen if the NFIP lapses?

While existing policy holders would retain coverage if the program is not reauthorized, no new policies could be written. During past lapses in coverage, borrowers were not able to obtain flood insurance to close, renew or increase loans secured by property located...

Before buying a condo, there are a number of questions I would ask regarding Rules & Regulations, Bylaws and voting rights, BUDGETS, Budget Reserves for big ticket maintenance (a very important factor), routine maintenance, the Board (try to get & read several months worth of meeting minutes) and whether there are any current or pending lawsuits against the condo association (if there are current lawsuits, it may limit your financing options).

The financials of a condo association...

The survey. Buyers often indicate they would rather use the seller's "old" survey or, if paying cash, skip getting a survey to save some money.

Here's why I consider that a huge mistake. A survey shows you where the property lines are, the easements tied to the property (such as utility and HOA), where the building set back lines are per municipal code, if the property is located within a designated flood zone and one of the most important items, if there are encroachments....

Technology has definitely changed our lives, including the showing of homes for sale.

Buyers (and agents) must now take into consideration that, because of high tech home monitoring / surveillance equipment sellers may have installed in their homes, ANYTHING you say or do on that home showing has the potential to be seen/watched by the home sellers and used against you in future negotiations.

For the reasons above, I now advise buyers to keep their comments while inside...