It's true that "hindsight is 20/20". Did I move to quickly? Did I do enough research? Here are a few tips to consider before you buy that can help you avoid the "feeling" that maybe you have made a mistake.
Test the Neighborhood
Take several trips to the neighborhood during different times of the day and
night. Check out the noise level, the traffic patterns and the schools that
your children would be attending. How is the shopping? Are there stores, restaurants,
movie theaters, parks, cultural activities and so on nearby? Test the commute
to and from work. If needed, will public transportation be readily available?
The Floor Plan of the Home
The home may have gorgeous landscaping and park like setting but be sure to
pay close attention the floor plan since most of your time will be spent indoors.
Walk through the house several times to get the flow of the house. Are there
enough and convenient bedrooms and bathrooms? how's the laundry room? is there
space for your workbench, sewing or computer room? Make sure the room sizes
meet your lifestyle.
Contingencies
Draw up a protection contract. A financing contingency allows the buyer to
get out of the contract if they cannot get a mortgage and should contain the
terms of the mortgage for which you will be applying, the type of loan, interest
rate and points. An inspection contingency that allows a professional inspector
to give the house a stamp of approval. A title contingency stating that the
home has clear title before completing the sale.
Taking these few steps may ease the home buying process.
