Next steps for that first purchase

So you've found your lender, your Realtor, and a few houses to look at.  What's important when you're viewing homes?  That depends on your personality, and a few other factors.  You'll know when you walk in the door if it's the wrong home, but there may be several "right" ones to choose from.

You've probably already narrowed your search down to a general area.  To decide if a specific neighborhood in that area is safe, you can approach it in several ways.  Come by on a weekend or evening about 7pm.  Many neighbors will be out in their yards, and you can stop and ask their opinions.  You can ask the local police about crime rates on certain streets.  You can even ask the pizza delivery person - they know the area as well as the police do, in most instances.

Once you've ruled out any undesirable areas, it's time to look specifically at the houses.  Your Realtor will be able to tell you what price range each home is worth.  If it's priced near the top of it's range, it should be move in ready - clean, newer carpets, fresh paint, very little money to be spent.  If it's priced near the bottom of it's range, there's room to spend a few dollars customizing it to your liking.  Please don't pay top dollar for a home, then spend thousands more changing it to fit your tastes.  If you do, don't be upset with me when you want to sell in three years and it hasn't appreciated enough to cover what you spent. :)

Besides price, condition is important.  Ask for the sellers' disclosure and find out how old the expensive parts of the home are - roof, hvac, water heater, etc.  You don't want to be surprised by needing to replace these the following year.  Have the small maintenance items been kept up?  That's usually a good indication of whether the large items have been, too.  Pay attention to property lines, whether the yard is fenced (if it matters), and the condition of the neighboring homes.  If your home is beautiful, but noone else keeps theirs up, your property will not be as easy to sell as if they did.

On a more personal note, pay attention to the spaces in the home.  Is there room for a desk or office space, if you need it?  If you're tall, are the shower heads high enough for you to be comfortable?  If shoes or clothes are important, is there enough closet space?  Is there an outside storage space for your lawn and garden equipment?  Think about what you need to be comfortable and happy, and make sure it's there or can be added at a reasonable price.

Finding the house is really your toughest part.  Once you find the right house, your team that's already in place will guide you to the closing table.  If you have questions, please don't hesitate to ask me!