Tips on buying a house
 

We're buying a house! Okay - that's jumping the gun a bit. We've been pre-approved. We're to the point of getting a realtor and going to look.

I'd love some tips on looking on buying a home. (You know how once you've done something, there are all those little things that you get from the experience but no one ever seems to tell you beforehand.)

I know we should get a home inspection done before buying.

What else do I need to know?

We're looking in the low cost area of Perris, Hemet and surrounding communities which put us closer to my work. Staying clear of Moreno Valley.

I think you should buy this one

That is a wise move

The "Ferris Buehler's Day Off" house in Highland Park, Illinois was recently listed for $2.3 million. With a Ferrari, that could be fun.

Betty, go to as many open houses as you can stand. You'll get a really strong idea of the market. After that, contact a realtor to take you around.

When you see the realtor, have a list of non-negotiable deal breakers. Of course, the realtor will not take your list seriously. You say "no stairs" and you even have a good reason for that, let's say. Your realtor will try to "educate" you that you don't really mean it. Same thing with price range. You tell the realtor X is your limit and next thing you know, you're being shown a Y or two "just for fun". Stand your ground.

Edited to add: I'm sure this isn't you but on those HGTV shows about buying property so many react to the paint, carpet, and drapes. They say something like, "Those walls go better with my sofa than the ones in the other house." Paint, carpet, and drapes can easily be changed out.

Get LESS house than you are approved for (cost wise).

Don't even think of getting anything other than a fixed rate.

Realtors work for the seller not for you.

Don't just get a standard inspection. Get chimney inspection (assuming the place has a chimney) and sewer inspection. We actually fell out of escrow because a place we were buying misrepresented the sewer system.

It is a buyers market, more so in CA than elsewhere, I would presume. There are so few buyers out there that if you demonstrate even a small amount of patience you should get them to meet your offer rather than going back and forth with counter offers.

ha! That's just a bit out of our price range. ;)

So - open houses I can just show up for... but most listings I need to have the realtor make an appt. and stuff?

And it won't do any good for them to show me more then I'm approved for so that's no problem and I'm not afraid to tell them so. I'm not looking at houses "just for fun". :rolleyes:

It's hard to see a house and not compare the flooring and paint to others - but it bears repeating that that's not a good reason to buy this house over that one.

Thanks!

Great tip! I've written that down. One thing we really don't want are sewer problems! ew!:eek: