Noisy Neighbors to Nosy Neighbors. Home Buying

[Heat Sinker]

Biting the Bullet and in mid process of buying a home. perplexed opinions on it. Walking away from a nice apartment to a more upbeat neighborhood.
Any 'If I only knew then' tips for first time home owner?

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[NahumCC]

Get ready to be frustrated by how much money you end up spending up front before you even get into the house. Insurance premium has to be paid in full (ran me about 1k), house inspection fee, earnest money as you enter into contract, downpayment on house (can avoid if you are eligible for VA loan) which is traditionally 20%.

All I remember feeling was it was one more thing after another that kept draining my resources while I was living in one of those crappy week long rate motels without my family and couldn't understand why I couldn't transition from I'll buy and we've agreed to the price and this absurd 30 day wait period which didn't work well for me being military.

However every state is different so you might have it easier in some respects and other who knows.

[jasonojordan]

Ask as many questions as possible. Make sure you research yourself a good inspector. Shop different lenders don't always just go with the one your realtor recommends. Do extensive crime checking online of the area. Check into any possible referendums with schools in the area as these can effect your property taxes alot.

[Tcoat]

No matter how organized you are be prepared for a minimum of 3 months of muttering "where the hell is the XXX?"

If you have anything noisier than stock exhaust go and introduce yourself to your neighbors and apologize for the noise up front. Odds are they will say something like "Oh it is OK it won't bother us" which makes it much harder fro some people to come back later and complain. Do not just hope it will not bother them and ignore it or they will just stew about it until they blow up. At least this works in Canada not so sure about Texas.

[JimR]

A quality, well-documented inspection is key. Structural faults, sketchy wiring, and bad plumbing are the big hitters to un-screw-up. Roof and lot drainage are also worth considering.

Also, make sure like the floor plan. My small kitchen was okay during my bachelor days, but my wife hates it. Fabulous hipster magazines kitchens are, like, so hot right now. Cramped or not enough bathrooms also wear you down.

Low-maintenance landscaping is also nice. A weedy, poorly maintained lawn full of overdone plantings and crap-dumping trees means long weekends ahead.

Ancient HVAC, shingles, showers, etc., are fixable, but lean on the price.

[jasonojordan]

Also make sure when you buy that unless you plan to keep this house as your last house make sure you get something you can build some equity into quickly so when you do decide to sell 3yrs 10yrs down the road you can come out right side up regardless what the market does.

[Heat Sinker]

Originally Posted by NahumCC

Get ready to be frustrated by how much money you end up spending up front before you even get into the house. Insurance premium has to be paid in full (ran me about 1k), house inspection fee, earnest money as you enter into contract, downpayment on house (can avoid if you are eligible for VA loan) which is traditionally 20%.

Yeah the initial upfront money is quickly rising and I have a couple more trips which I am sure only means more $$.


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[Heat Sinker]

Originally Posted by jasonojordan

Ask as many questions as possible. Make sure you research yourself a good inspector. Shop different lenders don't always just go with the one your realtor recommends. Do extensive crime checking online of the area. Check into any possible referendums with schools in the area as these can effect your property taxes alot.

Awesome didn't even occure to check the crime statistics. I am guessing you are referring to additional taxes added for new schools or remodeled?

Originally Posted by Tcoat

No matter how organized you are be prepared for a minimum of 3 months of muttering "where the hell is the XXX?"

If you have anything noisier than stock exhaust go and introduce yourself to your neighbors and apologize for the noise up front. Odds are they will say something like "Oh it is OK it won't bother us" which makes it much harder fro some people to come back later and complain. Do not just hope it will not bother them and ignore it or they will just stew about it until they blow up. At least this works in Canada not so sure about Texas.

Lol I do that now! I cant find things I just set down. No one plays hide your keys from yourself better than I can.

Well everything I own is loud. Diesel truck (stock), the bike(loud exhaust for highway), the car(not ricer loud. Just deepen tone) Guess i will need to do some neighborhood BBQ.


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[Heat Sinker]

Originally Posted by JimR

A quality, well-documented inspection is key. Structural faults, sketchy wiring, and bad plumbing are the big hitters to un-screw-up. Roof and lot drainage are also worth considering.

Also, make sure like the floor plan. My small kitchen was okay during my bachelor days, but my wife hates it. Fabulous hipster magazines kitchens are, like, so hot right now. Cramped or not enough bathrooms also wear you down.

Low-maintenance landscaping is also nice. A weedy, poorly maintained lawn full of overdone plantings and crap-dumping trees means long weekends ahead.

Ancient HVAC, shingles, showers, etc., are fixable, but lean on the price.

I have the inspector out in a week to do his portion. But from what I have gathered majority of the big ticket items have been addressed withing the last 7 years (besides furnace and Fondation) the oldest being the roof. Though Fondation issues are not a big concern typically out here. I hope that goes for the house I'm looking at. I do prefer and open kitchen. Grew up in a closed off one and always seemed cooking was punishment as you were forced away from everyone.

Originally Posted by jasonojordan

Also make sure when you buy that unless you plan to keep this house as your last house make sure you get something you can build some equity into quickly so when you do decide to sell 3yrs 10yrs down the road you can come out right side up regardless what the market does.

That is probably the biggest challenge initially to have then numbers right. To ensure that happens.


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[jasonojordan]

Originally Posted by Heat Sinker

I have the inspector out in a week to do his portion. But from what I have gathered majority of the big ticket items have been addressed withing the last 7 years (besides furnace and Fondation) the oldest being the roof. Though Fondation issues are not a big concern typically out here. I hope that goes for the house I'm looking at. I do prefer and open kitchen. Grew up in a closed off one and always seemed cooking was punishment as you were forced away from everyone.


That is probably the biggest challenge initially to have then numbers right. To ensure that happens.


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Best way I have found to do this is when you buy a place. Buy a place that you can love for its core buy always have 1 or 2 areas that you can tolerate for the time being but will want to upgrade in the future. Ie very old kitchen appliances cupboards and counter tops. Dated bathrooms. So on.

[mdm]

Originally Posted by NahumCC

Get ready to be frustrated by how much money you end up spending up front before you even get into the house. Insurance premium has to be paid in full (ran me about 1k), house inspection fee, earnest money as you enter into contract, downpayment on house (can avoid if you are eligible for VA loan) which is traditionally 20%.

Really? Those were all expected for me. It was how much money and work you put later into house maintenance that wasn't exactly as expected. Labour costs a lot, and there are so many things that can and will deteriorate and require fixing.

Originally Posted by Tcoat

No matter how organized you are be prepared for a minimum of 3 months of muttering "where the hell is the XXX?"

I had to get a plumber come over to find on of the indoor valves for outdoor hose bibs.

[NahumCC]

Originally Posted by mdm

Really? Those were all expected for me. It was how much money and work you put later into house maintenance that wasn't exactly as expected. Labour costs a lot, and there are so many things that can and will deteriorate and require fixing.

Well when its your first house and you don't know yeah, it suprises you.

[Heat Sinker]

I actually went and worked for a plumber for 2 years. Just because I saw the cost to re plumb a house. 900-1400 bucks in material to re pipe a house.

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[NWFRS]

Getting into a good 'hood is just as important as getting into a good home.

Meet the niegbors before you commit-if they have three noisy little shitheads then you'll be putting up with them for the next eighteen years right along with their parents.

Take preventive rodent control measures.

If it's a used home, insist on getting the manuals for all the apliances-if it's new, budget for appliances, blinds, and fences upfront.

Know where the water and power shutoffs are.

Research flood zones and crime rates.

Be willing to walk away if something doesn't smell right, regardless of money invested.

Check the water for both pressure and taste.

Invest in a soaking tub.

Invest in a towel warmer.

Try and find a home with easy freeway acess and a hot water tank in the garage if you can help it.