Homebuyer’s 101 – Stage 4

Stage 4 — Finding a Home to Purchase

Finally, we arrive at the meat-and-potatoes of the home buying process. After all, you can’t become a brand new homeowner without a home to own!

Finding Your Ideal Home for Sale

Once you have gone through all the steps we’ve covered so far, you’d figure finding the actual place you are going to buy should be the easy part.

Not so fast!

Once you start thinking about purchasing a home, it’s not uncommon for those “For Sale” signs to become ubiquitous! Every block you drive through – especially neighborhoods you’d love to live in -seems to usually have more than a couple.

Yet, a lot goes into locating available properties that match both, what you want, and what you can afford!

Exploring neighborhoods that you are interested in and doing online searches are a great place to start. If you have so far followed this guide, you’ll also have an agent sending you options that match your criteria regularly.

While browsing all these sources, it’s important to keep in mind you aren’t just buying a building, but a property that will impact your lifestyle.

As such, here are some aspects to consider beyond just the house itself:

Neighborhood: Think about the things you’d like to have easy access to. For example, if an active nightlife is essential for you, finding spots near your city’s downtown might be necessary. If, on the other hand, you are looking for a quieter environment, a lovely garden, and a more spacious house, suburbs are the place to look.
The Commute: Time is a valuable commodity, and what you might save for a better price, you might end up paying dearly down the road. Consider your commute to work and other regular destinations when you consider potential homes.
Schools: If you have kids, this one’s a no-brainer. But even if you don’t, it’s a good thing to keep in mind. Buying a home is a long term commitment, and even if kids aren’t in the works right now, they might be a few years down the line. On top of that, good school districts add to the value of your home, which can make easier to sell if you decide to move in the future.

ProTip – House Viewings

The moment you find a house that piques your interest, your agent can schedule a time for you to visit it. This usually happens without the seller or other buyers present. If you don’t have an agent, you can contact the seller’s agent yourself and schedule a visit yourself.

Building Your Ideal Home?

Not many people even consider this but depending on your budget and the market you might want to explore the possibility.

Both, buying and building come with their advantages and challenges, so the choice usually resides in what’s best for you!

Advantages of Buying
your Home
- Tends to be cheaper.
- It is faster. Building a home is a time-consuming process which can significantly delay your moving time-table.
Advantages of Building
your Home
- You get to pick exactly what you are looking for from the ground up.
- Everything comes brand new, which nullifies the risk of inheriting a house’s previous owner’s problems.

House Viewings 101 – What to Look for?

Once you decided to make an offer on a place, your home inspector will make a thorough review of the place. That said, there are a number of potential red flags you want to keep your eyes open for:

Plumbing or electrical issues: It’s a good practice to check all the light switches and electrical outlets. Check for leaky toilets and faucets. And always check for evidence of water damage on walls and ceilings.
Old appliances: Such as gas furnaces and chimneys. If these items haven’t been maintained and are on the older side, you might need to service, repair, or replace them after the purchase.
Radon and other potential health hazards: Things like radon presence, lead paints, and carbon monoxide can be a grave danger if caught unaware. Ask the seller if the house has been tested and how long ago was it. If it hasn’t been, you can have them done as part of the inspection.
Defective gutters: When possible, check if the home’s gutters are full or not working. When that happens, it is easy for rainwater to pool by a house’s foundation —a costly problem to fix later on.
Tree Location: Huge trees can be a hazard for some houses. During your viewing, it is recommended to check the tree positioning and assess the likelihood of them falling on the house during storms or strong winds.

Do’s and Don’ts of House Viewing Etiquette

To Recap up this section here’s a quick list of the most important do’s and don’ts during a home viewing: