Do these things before you buy a house
Avoid making a disastrous mistake! There are lots of reasons to buy a certain home, but often times, there are just as many reasons WHY YOU SHOULD NOT BUY THAT HOME. Of course, some of the most important considerations have to do with the physical condition of the property. Too often, however, prospective homeowners over look some key considerations that can be the defining point between you living in bliss and living a nightmare.
Make sure you consider the following before you buy.
The commute: Often in excitement of owning our own home, we can get sucked into buying in a place that requires a traffic congested commute. Unless you have an option for some flexibility and/or are able to work from home, you should definitely test out the commute.
Parking: If you are considering buying in a densely populated or business zone area, make sure you visit the site at different times of the day and both during the week and weekends. Sometimes a quiet area on the weekend can turn into a parking zoo during the week if local businesses share the parking space.
HOA restrictions: One place where you should definitely read the fine print is your Homeowners Association rules and restrictions. Find the HOA that fits your personality and lifestyle. If you love living in an area were everything is uniform and always manicured to perfection, you may prefer a stricter association so you don’t have to stress over that weird garden art on your neighbor’s front lawn. Alternatively, if you want more freedom and a care-free living environment, make sure you don’t end up living in an HOA that won’t even let you put the plant of your choice in your own balcony.
Inspections on high priced amenities or other items. Some examples include a pool, solar paneling or specialized outlet for your electric vehicle. Make sure these items and other add-on’s from previous owners are up to code to avoid costly retrofits.
