In exploring "Questions About Buying A Home," the initial considerations include establishing a housing budget within 25% of monthly income, optimizing a 5–10% down payment, and understanding the nuances of closing costs.
These financial insights, strategic planning for moving costs, and mindful choices in furnishing and decorating lay a solid foundation for informed and responsible home buying.
So, in this part, let us continue discussing the questions to ask about buying a home.
Questions About Buying A Home [Part 2]
- Are Natural Disasters Common In This Area?
If you've never lived in a hurricane-prone area, you've probably never had to defend yourself. Ask if your new home is prone to tornadoes, floods, wildfires, earthquakes, or ice storms. Then, make sure your house insurance covers local natural disasters. You may require extra coverage if not.
- Does The Home Have Any Problems?
It’s hard to answer this problem independently; you need a house inspection before buying. Your seller must report known issues, although they may leave something out.
A good home inspection will explain the safety and performance of the roof, foundation, HVAC, and plumbing systems safety and performance. If there are red flags, you can pass or negotiate a cheaper price and solve the issues yourself.
- How Long Has The Roof Been There?
Asphalt roofs last 20 years, according to most experts. So, ask this critical roof inquiry before buying a house: How old has the roof been there?
Replacement of an aging roof might cost over $12,000. A sudden replacement might ruin your budget.
- What Is The Current Condition Of The Appliances?
Imagine getting into your new home and discovering all the appliances are broken. You can avoid such a surprise if you know certain essential appliances are dying before buying the house. The vendor may also offer a good deal.
Ask about the lifespan of all house items and when the old or worn-out items will be replaced. This includes the HVAC, water heater, washer, dryer, fridge, stove, and dishwasher.
- What Does Purchasing Include?
Since different states have varying regulations regarding what must be included in a property purchase, you must find out what is included with the house you purchase. Don't automatically assume you're buying every light fixture, appliance, and window covering when submitting an offer. If so, you can become unhappy when the refrigerator is gone, and there's a large empty area in the kitchen.
- What Is The Selling Price Of Similar Homes?
You should know what nearby similar houses are in the market. This will help you know if the home you seek is reasonably priced. You can get the answer from your real estate agent since they will be intimately familiar with the types of homes currently for sale in the neighborhood where you are looking to buy. And just so you know the technical terms, this is a competitive market analysis (CMA).
- Why Is The Home Being Sold?
Find out why the seller is selling their home. Knowing their motivation in selling their property might help you negotiate.
For instance, sellers leaving because of a new job may be more likely to negotiate a price to sell it faster. Probing them can also help you learn more about the quality of the house.
It's a red flag if the seller can't clearly state their reason for moving or selling their home, such as looking for a bigger house or wanting to live close to their families.
- How Long Has The Home Been Listed For Sale?
Usually, when a home has been listed on sale for a longer time, it means that there might be an issue.
When a home is listed on the market for a long time, it might mean that there's an issue. Usually, it's because the asking price is too high, its location, or the home's layout.
In March 2023, U.S. residences averaged 54 days on the market. now, this number might be different depending on the location and season. Ask your real estate agent about house sales speed in your market—every market is different.
Conclusion
These are just some of the most important questions that you might ask regarding the homebuying process. There might be more as you go along the way. The key is asking as many questions as you can to your real estate agent and/or the seller before closing the deal.
Do you have more questions about selling or buying a home? If yes, feel free to drop them in the comments or call us at 317-316-8224 we can assist you!