Phoenix Urban Living News. Real Estate In Phoenix Arizona

What You Need To Know Before Buying A House

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.

Take the time to learn about real estate contracts and mortgage terms before you look at any homes. Figure monthly payments to determine how much you can spend on a home. Don’t even look at homes that cost more than your spending limit. Repairs are expensive so if the house needs work, figure that into your budget.

Look around the area and see if the neighbors have pride in their homes. If other homes in the neighborhood aren’t well maintained, it affects the value of the houses that are maintained. Fancy areas carry fancy price tags. If the house needs repairs see if the seller will complete them before the sale.

Needed home repairs can give a buyer a bargaining position on the price of the home. Check with your mortgage lender on their requirements. They may be unwilling to grant a mortgage on a home that needs repairs or they may require you to put the money for repairs in escrow. Make sure to check the basement and attic for evidence of flooding, leaks or other potential problems. Mold can be expensive to remove and unhealthy to live with.

In the kitchen, check how many appliances are there to estimate if your appliances can fit in without additional outlets; check the floor, is it level or does it shake? Inspect the floor for stain — can these be removed with the usual cleaning mop and cleansers? If the sink top is marble, examine if it needs to be re-polished. Inspect the plumbing. Are there leaks? How about the tap water? Does it run well or drips?

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.

Always take the time to look in the attic. Check to make sure that the attic is properly insulated. Look for any sign of roof leaks. Even roofs that look okay can have leaks. Attics need to be ventilated. Is there a fan? Windows? Other type of ventilation? Examine the windows and doors for fit and make sure the exterior maintenance is up to par.

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.