Current Events > General homebuying tips? (mortgage is secured, now I just need red flags)

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TaylorHeinicke 01/25/23 5:22:14 PM #1:	We're at the point where we're starting to go look at houses. What are some general rules of thumb in terms of making sure I'm not going to be stuck in a death trap ~~for my bank account~~ with repairs and huge foundational issues? Does stuff like that have to be disclosed? I do have mentally allocated amounts for if we need general fixups like carpet, walls, roof, appliances, etc though, but moreso just worried about HUGE things like the whole foundation or whatever. Would obviously be getting an inspector when the time comes of course as well. Are there certain years to avoid? Styles? Building material? --- St. Louis Battlehawks (1-1) <cite>TaylorHeinicke posted [p:971093111] in General ho... [t:80324409]...</cite> <quote>We're at the point where we're starting to go look at houses. What are some general rules of thumb in terms of making sure I'm not going to be stuck in a death trap for my bank account with repairs and huge foundational issues? Does stuff like that have to be disclosed? I do have mentally allocated amounts for if we need general fixups like carpet, walls, roof, appliances, etc though, but moreso just worried about HUGE things like the whole foundation or whatever.Would obviously be getting an inspector when the time comes of course as well.Are there certain years to avoid? Styles? Building material?</quote> ... Copied to Clipboard!
Sasquatchimo 01/25/23 5:28:52 PM #2:	No. Foundational issues do not have to be disclosed. That is why you hire an inspector. Unfortunately just a scant 6 months ago, people were so crazy that they bought homes with the seller saying "waive the inspector and I'll sell to you!", hopefully that stretch of stupidity is over. Just be warned, inspectors aren't 100% competent people. They will miss things, they can be fooled. You must ask questions or point things out that look suspect. So you should thoroughly inspect a home yourself, take notes, and then bring things up to the inspector. Buy a moisture meter. Although the inspector will have his own, you'll want to do your own moisture readings on bathroom floors. And be wary of redflags of what looks like DIY hack-jobs throughout the homes. Well, as far as what to avoid really depends on what your endgame is. There are houses out there still with asbestos. So anything before the 80s and HAS NOT been renovated has a high chance for asbestos. This will only be a problem if you plan to reno yourself. If you are going to hire a contractor, then they will deal with it. And it should be noted, all home builders who churn out homes will cut corners or make mistakes. That is simply unavoidable. And you have to make your peace with the knowledge that deep inside your home, there have been shortcuts made. --- Common sense is no longer common today. <cite>Sasquatchimo posted [p:971093248] in General ho... [t:80324409]...</cite> <quote>No. Foundational issues do not have to be disclosed. That is why you hire an inspector. Unfortunately just a scant 6 months ago, people were so crazy that they bought homes with the seller saying "waive the inspector and I'll sell to you!", hopefully that stretch of stupidity is over.Just be warned, inspectors aren't 100% competent people. They will miss things, they can be fooled. You must ask questions or point things out that look suspect. So you should thoroughly inspect a home yourself, take notes, and then bring things up to the inspector. Buy a moisture meter. Although the inspector will have his own, you'll want to do your own moisture readings on bathroom floors. And be wary of redflags of what looks like DIY hack-jobs throughout the homes. Well, as far as what to avoid really depends on what your endgame is. There are houses out there still with asbestos. So anything before the 80s and HAS NOT been renovated has a high chance for asbestos. This will only be a problem if you plan to reno yourself. If you are going to hire a contractor, then they will deal with it.And it should be noted, all home builders who churn out homes will cut corners or make mistakes. That is simply unavoidable. And you have to make your peace with the knowledge that deep inside your home, there have been shortcuts made.</quote> ... Copied to Clipboard!
MC_BatCommander 01/25/23 5:29:40 PM #3:	Get an inspection. It's expensive but worth it and inspectors sometimes have a warranty on if they miss anything serious. Don't assume you have to find a house right away, this encourages you to settle on the wrong one. The process can take a long time and a few deals might fall through, try not to get discouraged and settle. --- The Legend is True! <cite>MC_BatCommander posted [p:971093269] in General ho... [t:80324409]...</cite> <quote>Get an inspection. It's expensive but worth it and inspectors sometimes have a warranty on if they miss anything serious. Don't assume you have to find a house right away, this encourages you to settle on the wrong one. The process can take a long time and a few deals might fall through, try not to get discouraged and settle.</quote> ... Copied to Clipboard!
RlP 01/25/23 5:32:46 PM #4:	You didnt mention it so, get an Agent to help you navigate through the process of buying. --- Go and watch Ef ~ A tale of memories now! <cite>RlP posted [p:971093331] in General ho... [t:80324409]...</cite> <quote>You didnt mention it so, get an Agent to help you navigate through the process of buying. </quote> ... Copied to Clipboard!
legendary_zell 01/25/23 5:34:20 PM #5:	Make sure to research your inspector, make sure they have excellent reviews, they're licensed and experienced. Make sure you specifically, explicitly ask the owner about ANY issues with big ticket items like heating and cooling, roofing, plumbing, mold, and foundation etc. Try to be there yourself for the inspection, ask questions, point stuff out, then read the report in DETAIL. Ask your inspector when they expect to have each big ticket item fail. If you have enough leverage ask for repairs of big ticket items, NOT a concession on the purchase price. Then make sure each repair is documented and completed by a highly reputable contractor. Check to see if insurance claims have ever been filed for any big ticket issues. Check for evidence of pests or environmental factors likely to attract pests. Check to see if the house is in a flood prone area or an area likely to become flood prone as climate change accelerates. Go for newer houses if you can or ones with recent and high quality renovations to major systems (not cheapo quick flips that'll cost you more to fix). I bought a house last year and did most of this, and learned some of this through negative experience. --- I gotta be righteous, I gotta be me, I gotta be conscious, I gotta be free, I gotta be able, I gotta attack, I gotta be stable, I gotta be black. <cite>legendary_zell posted [p:971093364] in General ho... [t:80324409]...</cite> <quote>Make sure to research your inspector, make sure they have excellent reviews, they're licensed and experienced. Make sure you specifically, explicitly ask the owner about ANY issues with big ticket items like heating and cooling, roofing, plumbing, mold, and foundation etc. Try to be there yourself for the inspection, ask questions, point stuff out, then read the report in DETAIL. Ask your inspector when they expect to have each big ticket item fail. If you have enough leverage ask for repairs of big ticket items, NOT a concession on the purchase price. Then make sure each repair is documented and completed by a highly reputable contractor. Check to see if insurance claims have ever been filed for any big ticket issues. Check for evidence of pests or environmental factors likely to attract pests. Check to see if the house is in a flood prone area or an area likely to become flood prone as climate change accelerates. Go for newer houses if you can or ones with recent and high quality renovations to major systems (not cheapo quick flips that'll cost you more to fix). I bought a house last year and did most of this, and learned some of this through negative experience. </quote> ... Copied to Clipboard!
HudGard 01/25/23 5:36:08 PM #6:	Random but personal anecdotal tip: The inspector will make sure the AC turns on but might not verify the air it blows is actually getting cooled. --- You haven't set a signature for the message boards yet <cite>HudGard posted [p:971093405] in General ho... [t:80324409]...</cite> <quote>Random but personal anecdotal tip: The inspector will make sure the AC turns on but might not verify the air it blows is actually getting cooled.</quote> ... Copied to Clipboard!
Xerun 01/25/23 5:43:44 PM #7:	A important one I never really see is to check water pressure/flow from taps and especially the shower. always go check the house again during times you would normally be there but cant inspect. Like during work hours on a weekday or peak hour etc --- Currently Playing: God of War Ragnarok <cite>Xerun posted [p:971093595] in General ho... [t:80324409]...</cite> <quote>A important one I never really see is to check water pressure/flow from taps and especially the shower. always go check the house again during times you would normally be there but cant inspect. Like during work hours on a weekday or peak hour etc </quote> ... Copied to Clipboard!
Sasquatchimo 01/25/23 5:45:07 PM #8:	Also, you don't have to acquiesce to whatever your agent recommends. Let's say the agent has an inspector he always uses, but you want to go with your own inspector you found and has good ratings. Go with your own inspector. The agent works for you, no the other way around. And don't go with new agents who haven't dealt with every scenario. I have worked with about half a dozen agents and my last agent unfortunately didn't deal with all scenarios and gave me a big headache because he never presented me with certain options because he never dealt with said options before. I did a sell and buy (do not ever go through selling your old home and buying a new home at the same time if you can avoid it at all costs, that is double stress) and it wasn't until after we signed contracts that he mentions I could stay in my original house I sell for a week and pay the new owner rent until I move into the new home which was a constant point of stress that I conveyed during the entire process (how to handle moving because 2 closing dates will never perfectly line up, do we need to put everything in storage and stay at a hotel, etc) but he never mentioned it until AFTER. We ended up drawing up new contracts to accommodate for this but he could've saved me a whole bunch of stress if he informed me of this early on in the process. --- Common sense is no longer common today. <cite>Sasquatchimo posted [p:971093628] in General ho... [t:80324409]...</cite> <quote>Also, you don't have to acquiesce to whatever your agent recommends. Let's say the agent has an inspector he always uses, but you want to go with your own inspector you found and has good ratings. Go with your own inspector. The agent works for you, no the other way around. And don't go with new agents who haven't dealt with every scenario. I have worked with about half a dozen agents and my last agent unfortunately didn't deal with all scenarios and gave me a big headache because he never presented me with certain options because he never dealt with said options before.I did a sell and buy (do not ever go through selling your old home and buying a new home at the same time if you can avoid it at all costs, that is double stress) and it wasn't until after we signed contracts that he mentions I could stay in my original house I sell for a week and pay the new owner rent until I move into the new home which was a constant point of stress that I conveyed during the entire process (how to handle moving because 2 closing dates will never perfectly line up, do we need to put everything in storage and stay at a hotel, etc) but he never mentioned it until AFTER. We ended up drawing up new contracts to accommodate for this but he could've saved me a whole bunch of stress if he informed me of this early on in the process. </quote> ... Copied to Clipboard!
Yadoken 01/25/23 5:48:09 PM #9:	If you find a home you want, try if you can see how it is driving out onto the main roads or onto freeways during peak hours. I found a new construction home that was sheer nightmare trying to get on the main road during the morning and 5-6pm rush hours, so I skipped that home. Generally if its a nicer city/neighborhood, traffic is a bitch. If it is a shittier neighborhood, traffic is usually much easier. So you got to find a sweetspot. --- Fear of looking in the mirror and seeing who you REALLY are is sadly what makes most people extremely terrible. <cite>Yadoken posted [p:971093683] in General ho... [t:80324409]...</cite> <quote>If you find a home you want, try if you can see how it is driving out onto the main roads or onto freeways during peak hours. I found a new construction home that was sheer nightmare trying to get on the main road during the morning and 5-6pm rush hours, so I skipped that home.Generally if its a nicer city/neighborhood, traffic is a bitch. If it is a shittier neighborhood, traffic is usually much easier. So you got to find a sweetspot.</quote> ... Copied to Clipboard!
legendary_zell 01/25/23 5:53:36 PM #10:	Sasquatchimo posted... Also, you don't have to acquiesce to whatever your agent recommends. Let's say the agent has an inspector he always uses, but you want to go with your own inspector you found and has good ratings. Go with your own inspector. The agent works for you, no the other way around. And don't go with new agents who haven't dealt with every scenario. I have worked with about half a dozen agents and my last agent unfortunately didn't deal with all scenarios and gave me a big headache because he never presented me with certain options because he never dealt with said options before. I did a sell and buy (do not ever go through selling your old home and buying a new home at the same time if you can avoid it at all costs, that is double stress) and it wasn't until after we signed contracts that he mentions I could stay in my original house I sell for a week and pay the new owner rent until I move into the new home which was a constant point of stress that I conveyed during the entire process (how to handle moving because 2 closing dates will never perfectly line up, do we need to put everything in storage and stay at a hotel, etc) but he never mentioned it until AFTER. We ended up drawing up new contracts to accommodate for this but he could've saved me a whole bunch of stress if he informed me of this early on in the process. All of this is great advice. I did the buying and selling at the same time out of necessity, and it did add a huge amount of stress. But since we picked a good agent, she told us about every option for where we could be until we closed on the new house, and it wouldn't have been possible without that. --- I gotta be righteous, I gotta be me, I gotta be conscious, I gotta be free, I gotta be able, I gotta attack, I gotta be stable, I gotta be black. <cite>legendary_zell posted [p:971093801] in General ho... [t:80324409]...</cite> <quote>Sasquatchimo posted... </cite><quote>Also, you don't have to acquiesce to whatever your agent recommends. Let's say the agent has an inspector he always uses, but you want to go with your own inspector you found and has good ratings. Go with your own inspector. The agent works for you, no the other way around. And don't go with new agents who haven't dealt with every scenario. I have worked with about half a dozen agents and my last agent unfortunately didn't deal with all scenarios and gave me a big headache because he never presented me with certain options because he never dealt with said options before.I did a sell and buy (do not ever go through selling your old home and buying a new home at the same time if you can avoid it at all costs, that is double stress) and it wasn't until after we signed contracts that he mentions I could stay in my original house I sell for a week and pay the new owner rent until I move into the new home which was a constant point of stress that I conveyed during the entire process (how to handle moving because 2 closing dates will never perfectly line up, do we need to put everything in storage and stay at a hotel, etc) but he never mentioned it until AFTER. We ended up drawing up new contracts to accommodate for this but he could've saved me a whole bunch of stress if he informed me of this early on in the process.</quote>All of this is great advice. I did the buying and selling at the same time out of necessity, and it did add a huge amount of stress. But since we picked a good agent, she told us about every option for where we could be until we closed on the new house, and it wouldn't have been possible without that. </quote> ... Copied to Clipboard!
Zanglerfish 01/25/23 5:55:28 PM #11:	In case anyone has said it already: Do not forgo an inspection and get your own. DO NOT get the sellers or selling agents recommendation. Always find an independent third party. (In fact get the names of their recommendations and patently avoid them) --- Not a Banglerfish, not a Danglerfish, and definitely not a Wanglerfish. The one and only Zanglerfish. <cite>Zanglerfish posted [p:971093840] in General ho... [t:80324409]...</cite> <quote>In case anyone has said it already: Do not forgo an inspection and get your own. DO NOT get the sellers or selling agents recommendation. Always find an independent third party. (In fact get the names of their recommendations and patently avoid them) </quote> ... Copied to Clipboard!
TaylorHeinicke 01/25/23 6:29:35 PM #12:	this is all good stuff. keep it comin my parents said the same thing about not going with whoever my agent recommends. Sasquatchimo posted... anything before the 80s and HAS NOT been renovated has a high chance for asbestos would they have to disclose if there is/was asbestos? or if they had it all removed, would they disclose that? or can they just operate from feigned ignorance if they've just never gone looking for it they technically can say with plausible deniability they didnt know they had it HudGard posted... Random but personal anecdotal tip: The inspector will make sure the AC turns on but might not verify the air it blows is actually getting cooled. Xerun posted... A important one I never really see is to check water pressure/flow from taps and especially the shower. huge points here. AC needs to blow cold and i dont want one of those bitch ass showers where it feels like a light drizzle --- St. Louis Battlehawks (1-1) <cite>TaylorHeinicke posted [p:971094610] in General ho... [t:80324409]...</cite> <quote>this is all good stuff. keep it cominmy parents said the same thing about not going with whoever my agent recommends.Sasquatchimo posted... </cite><quote>anything before the 80s and HAS NOT been renovated has a high chance for asbestos</quote>would they have to disclose if there is/was asbestos? or if they had it all removed, would they disclose that? or can they just operate from feigned ignorance if they've just never gone looking for it they technically can say with plausible deniability they didnt know they had itHudGard posted... </cite><quote>Random but personal anecdotal tip: The inspector will make sure the AC turns on but might not verify the air it blows is actually getting cooled.</quote>Xerun posted... </cite><quote>A important one I never really see is to check water pressure/flow from taps and especially the shower.</quote>huge points here. AC needs to blow cold and i dont want one of those bitch ass showers where it feels like a light drizzle</quote> ... Copied to Clipboard!
Questionmarktarius 01/25/23 6:34:09 PM #13:	Do not buy a house in a HOA. <cite>Questionmarktarius posted [p:971094701] in General ho... [t:80324409]...</cite> <quote>Do not buy a house in a HOA.</quote> ... Copied to Clipboard!
Tyranthraxus 01/25/23 6:35:03 PM #14:	Here's what I learned from buying my first house. DO NOT BUY STUCCO That's all. Have a nice day. --- It says right here in Matthew 16:4 "Jesus doth not need a giant Mecha." https://i.imgur.com/dQgC4kv.jpg <cite>Tyranthraxus posted [p:971094722] in General ho... [t:80324409]...</cite> <quote>Here's what I learned from buying my first house. DO NOT BUY STUCCO That's all. Have a nice day.</quote> ... Copied to Clipboard!
Yadoken 01/25/23 6:37:47 PM #15:	TaylorHeinicke posted... would they have to disclose if there is/was asbestos? or if they had it all removed, would they disclose that? or can they just operate from feigned ignorance if they've just never gone looking for it they technically can say with plausible deniability they didnt know they had it Depends on which state you live in. It isn't a federal law, but certain states require it. Whenever you look at a home that is 20+ years or older, see if they re-roofed recently. Most likely that would be a major listed selling point (new roof!). Otherwise, you will have to keep in mind that you may need to re-roof a home that is 20 years or older. Most tract homes have 15-25 year roofs. But more on the lower end of the spectrum, so closer to 15. For reference and depending on where you live, a new 35+ year roof on a 2000sq ft 1 story footprint will be around 22k more or less. And pay attention to HOA (home owners association) dues. These add up, and INCREASE over the years. If at all possible try to find a home built in its own lot with no HOA. If you have no choice and they all have HOAs, go for something that is fairly acceptable like 30-50 dollars a month. --- Fear of looking in the mirror and seeing who you REALLY are is sadly what makes most people extremely terrible. <cite>Yadoken posted [p:971094772] in General ho... [t:80324409]...</cite> <quote>TaylorHeinicke posted... </cite><quote>would they have to disclose if there is/was asbestos? or if they had it all removed, would they disclose that? or can they just operate from feigned ignorance if they've just never gone looking for it they technically can say with plausible deniability they didnt know they had it</quote>Depends on which state you live in. It isn't a federal law, but certain states require it.Whenever you look at a home that is 20+ years or older, see if they re-roofed recently. Most likely that would be a major listed selling point (new roof!). Otherwise, you will have to keep in mind that you may need to re-roof a home that is 20 years or older. Most tract homes have 15-25 year roofs. But more on the lower end of the spectrum, so closer to 15. For reference and depending on where you live, a new 35+ year roof on a 2000sq ft 1 story footprint will be around 22k more or less.And pay attention to HOA (home owners association) dues. These add up, and INCREASE over the years. If at all possible try to find a home built in its own lot with no HOA. If you have no choice and they all have HOAs, go for something that is fairly acceptable like 30-50 dollars a month.</quote> ... Copied to Clipboard!
Zanglerfish 01/25/23 6:38:44 PM #16:	Popcorn ceilings are an instant dealbreaker. --- Not a Banglerfish, not a Danglerfish, and definitely not a Wanglerfish. The one and only Zanglerfish. <cite>Zanglerfish posted [p:971094785] in General ho... [t:80324409]...</cite> <quote>Popcorn ceilings are an instant dealbreaker. </quote> ... Copied to Clipboard!
the_pika 01/25/23 6:39:33 PM #17:	TaylorHeinicke posted... We're at the point where we're starting to go look at houses. What are some general rules of thumb in terms of making sure I'm not going to be stuck in a death trap ~~for my bank account~~ with repairs and huge foundational issues? Does stuff like that have to be disclosed? I do have mentally allocated amounts for if we need general fixups like carpet, walls, roof, appliances, etc though, but moreso just worried about HUGE things like the whole foundation or whatever. Would obviously be getting an inspector when the time comes of course as well. Are there certain years to avoid? Styles? Building material? look for mold, get an inspector. Termites too <cite>the_pika posted [p:971094803] in General ho... [t:80324409]...</cite> <quote>TaylorHeinicke posted... </cite><quote>We're at the point where we're starting to go look at houses. What are some general rules of thumb in terms of making sure I'm not going to be stuck in a death trap for my bank account with repairs and huge foundational issues? Does stuff like that have to be disclosed? I do have mentally allocated amounts for if we need general fixups like carpet, walls, roof, appliances, etc though, but moreso just worried about HUGE things like the whole foundation or whatever.Would obviously be getting an inspector when the time comes of course as well.Are there certain years to avoid? Styles? Building material?</quote>look for mold, get an inspector. Termites too </quote> ... Copied to Clipboard!
TaylorHeinicke 01/25/23 6:48:56 PM #18:	Yadoken posted... Depends on which state you live in. It isn't a federal law, but certain states require it. Minnesota/Wisconsin/Iowa area. Yadoken posted... Whenever you look at a home that is 20+ years or older, see if they re-roofed recently. Most likely that would be a major listed selling point (new roof!). Otherwise, you will have to keep in mind that you may need to re-roof a home that is 20 years or older. Most tract homes have 15-25 year roofs. But more on the lower end of the spectrum, so closer to 15. For reference and depending on where you live, a new 35+ year roof on a 2000sq ft 1 story footprint will be around 22k more or less. Been on the lookout for this for sure. Seen a few with new roofs. Definitely moves them up the list. Yadoken posted... And pay attention to HOA (home owners association) dues. These add up, and INCREASE over the years. If at all possible try to find a home built in its own lot with no HOA. If you have no choice and they all have HOAs, go for something that is fairly acceptable like 30-50 dollars a month. The areas I'm looking seem to have them few and far between which is great. I will say though, I'm currently renting a townhome and even though I'm not directly paying for the HOA, this one does actually remove all snow and does lawncare, so I would absolutely pay for one if it meant not having to do that noise myself. Zanglerfish posted... Popcorn ceilings are an instant dealbreaker. Lol my mom said the same thing. Why is that? Just style or do they shed? I have one in the bathroom of my rental and I've never really paid it any mind until it was pointed out. the_pika posted... look for mold, get an inspector. Termites too Most definitely. --- St. Louis Battlehawks (1-1) <cite>TaylorHeinicke posted [p:971095005] in General ho... [t:80324409]...</cite> <quote>Yadoken posted... </cite><quote>Depends on which state you live in. It isn't a federal law, but certain states require it.</quote>Minnesota/Wisconsin/Iowa area.Yadoken posted... </cite><quote>Whenever you look at a home that is 20+ years or older, see if they re-roofed recently. Most likely that would be a major listed selling point (new roof!). Otherwise, you will have to keep in mind that you may need to re-roof a home that is 20 years or older. Most tract homes have 15-25 year roofs. But more on the lower end of the spectrum, so closer to 15. For reference and depending on where you live, a new 35+ year roof on a 2000sq ft 1 story footprint will be around 22k more or less.</quote>Been on the lookout for this for sure. Seen a few with new roofs. Definitely moves them up the list.Yadoken posted... </cite><quote>And pay attention to HOA (home owners association) dues. These add up, and INCREASE over the years. If at all possible try to find a home built in its own lot with no HOA. If you have no choice and they all have HOAs, go for something that is fairly acceptable like 30-50 dollars a month.</quote>The areas I'm looking seem to have them few and far between which is great. I will say though, I'm currently renting a townhome and even though I'm not directly paying for the HOA, this one does actually remove all snow and does lawncare, so I would absolutely pay for one if it meant not having to do that noise myself.Zanglerfish posted... </cite><quote>Popcorn ceilings are an instant dealbreaker.</quote>Lol my mom said the same thing. Why is that? Just style or do they shed? I have one in the bathroom of my rental and I've never really paid it any mind until it was pointed out.the_pika posted... </cite><quote>look for mold, get an inspector. Termites too</quote>Most definitely.</quote> ... Copied to Clipboard!
Tyranthraxus 01/25/23 6:52:31 PM #19:	the_pika posted... look for mold, get an inspector. Termites too Mold and termites are potentially manageable depends on how much damage is already there. If there's bedbugs however you need to nope the fuck out. Actually here's a list of fauna you should consider an instant deal breaker: Bedbugs (obvious) German cockroaches (American ones are ok) Poisonous spiders (brown recluse most common. If house is around a lot of vegetation also check for black widows outside Bears. Not a joke. Don't buy a house if there's been a bear sighting within a mile. Bees. Not necessarily harmful but they're considered endangered so getting rid of them is very costly as you can't kill them. List of Flora you need to avoid: Kudzu. Just don't. Don't think you can win a fight against Kudzu. You can't. Poison ivy & poison oak Boxelder trees Pine trees on private property. It's okay if they're on community turf or just outside your house, but if they're in your yard you're fucked. Anything you're allergic to --- It says right here in Matthew 16:4 "Jesus doth not need a giant Mecha." https://i.imgur.com/dQgC4kv.jpg <cite>Tyranthraxus posted [p:971095101] in General ho... [t:80324409]...</cite> <quote>the_pika posted... </cite><quote>look for mold, get an inspector. Termites too</quote>Mold and termites are potentially manageable depends on how much damage is already there. If there's bedbugs however you need to nope the fuck out. Actually here's a list of fauna you should consider an instant deal breaker: Bedbugs (obvious)German cockroaches (American ones are ok)Poisonous spiders (brown recluse most common. If house is around a lot of vegetation also check for black widows outside Bears. Not a joke. Don't buy a house if there's been a bear sighting within a mile. Bees. Not necessarily harmful but they're considered endangered so getting rid of them is very costly as you can't kill them. List of Flora you need to avoid: Kudzu. Just don't. Don't think you can win a fight against Kudzu. You can't. Poison ivy & poison oak Boxelder trees Pine trees on private property. It's okay if they're on community turf or just outside your house, but if they're in your yard you're fucked. Anything you're allergic to </quote> ... Copied to Clipboard!
KiwiTerraRizing 01/25/23 6:54:46 PM #20:	Good inspector will catch most things but pay $200 and have the main sewer line scoped. --- Trucking Legend Don Schneider! <cite>KiwiTerraRizing posted [p:971095159] in General ho... [t:80324409]...</cite> <quote>Good inspector will catch most things but pay $200 and have the main sewer line scoped. </quote> ... Copied to Clipboard!
Yadoken 01/25/23 6:58:07 PM #21:	Popcorn ceiling is just extremely dated style more or less. And you cannot paint it. So you will always have a white ceiling. If you plan to remodel, its going to be a real pain scraping it all off. Otherwise, if you treat it as a first home with no remodeling and you are ok with it, its no big deal. I learned that depending on the market you really don't have to do much to sell a home (unless its a disaster) so in the future if you plan to sell a house that has popcorn ceiling, it will still sell regardless. --- Fear of looking in the mirror and seeing who you REALLY are is sadly what makes most people extremely terrible. <cite>Yadoken posted [p:971095255] in General ho... [t:80324409]...</cite> <quote>Popcorn ceiling is just extremely dated style more or less. And you cannot paint it. So you will always have a white ceiling. If you plan to remodel, its going to be a real pain scraping it all off. Otherwise, if you treat it as a first home with no remodeling and you are ok with it, its no big deal. I learned that depending on the market you really don't have to do much to sell a home (unless its a disaster) so in the future if you plan to sell a house that has popcorn ceiling, it will still sell regardless.</quote> ... Copied to Clipboard!
Zanglerfish 01/25/23 7:07:54 PM #22:	Yadoken posted... Popcorn ceiling is just extremely dated style more or less. And you cannot paint it. So you will always have a white ceiling. If you plan to remodel, its going to be a real pain scraping it all off. Otherwise, if you treat it as a first home with no remodeling and you are ok with it, its no big deal. I learned that depending on the market you really don't have to do much to sell a home (unless its a disaster) so in the future if you plan to sell a house that has popcorn ceiling, it will still sell regardless. Im getting rid of all of it as soon as I can... I hate that shit so bad. --- Not a Banglerfish, not a Danglerfish, and definitely not a Wanglerfish. The one and only Zanglerfish. <cite>Zanglerfish posted [p:971095467] in General ho... [t:80324409]...</cite> <quote>Yadoken posted... </cite><quote>Popcorn ceiling is just extremely dated style more or less. And you cannot paint it. So you will always have a white ceiling. If you plan to remodel, its going to be a real pain scraping it all off. Otherwise, if you treat it as a first home with no remodeling and you are ok with it, its no big deal. I learned that depending on the market you really don't have to do much to sell a home (unless its a disaster) so in the future if you plan to sell a house that has popcorn ceiling, it will still sell regardless.</quote>Im getting rid of all of it as soon as I can... I hate that shit so bad. </quote> ... Copied to Clipboard!
TaylorHeinicke 01/25/23 10:17:26 PM #23:	Love it all. Keep em coming --- St. Louis Battlehawks (1-1) <cite>TaylorHeinicke posted [p:971099410] in General ho... [t:80324409]...</cite> <quote>Love it all. Keep em coming</quote> ... Copied to Clipboard!
Ivany2008 01/25/23 10:33:56 PM #24:	I'm going to give you some real tips as I bought my first house several years ago. First, when you go in for YOUR first look at the house, make sure its during the day time and the entire house is brightly lit. I made the mistake of looking at my home during the night time and didn't realize that the patio was literally laying on rocks, not knocked into the ground like its supposed to be. Second, take a couple days after you first view the home to view the home a second time. You may see something you initially missed. Check every nook and cranny before you even call an inspector, ask if you can test the water pressure, electrical, and test the washer/dryer if you can. All of this is to try and lower the price of the home from the asking price. You may be able to get the home for a slightly cheaper cost if it involved some damages that you have to fix, even if the damage is minor and you can fix it yourself without calling a specialist. This also gives you time to think it over. If you really want to buy this home or is it an impulse purchase. Third, make sure the inspector is a reputable person from a reputable company. Be there when the inspector is at the home inspecting the property. Fourth, if there is any damage to the property get a reputable company to fix the problem if there is something you cannot fix yourself. I flooded the kitchen in my own home through complete fault of my own, the flooring/cabinet company came in, replaced the lower cabinets and floor through insurance (would have cost me 10 grand), and when the dishwasher installation was finished, the maintenance guy didn't tighten one of the pipes, so my dishwasher flooded my kitchen again... they replaced the entire thing free of charge because it was their screw up. Fifth, don't be afraid to ask questions. This is your money we are talking about. Find out about the previous home owners, what kind of people they were. Find out about your future neighbors, the area your going to be living in. Anything to save you money. Sixth, pay attention to leaks. Heat, Water, and Sound leakage. I have a tub/shower combo that doesn't keep heat well. I wish I had gotten them to add that to the repairs when I first bought the house. It works fine, but if I fill up the tub, it doesn't stay hot for long. Seventh, go to the dollar store or your areas equivalent. They sell general things for cheap that you can use for the first year while you rebuild your capital. Eighth, don't be afraid to maximize your mortgage payment plan. Even if you have the money to pay off the house in 15 years, go for 25 years. Every few years if you have the option, get a financial assessment on your home compared to homes selling in the immediate area. You may be able to get some form of credit which you can apply to your home to help pay off the home itself. Graham Stephan has a great video on his channel (which I'm too lazy to look up again). Ninth, don't be afraid of DIYing a lot of things. Cheap charcoal grill can be made out of a Terracotta Pot and a bakers grate. Just be mindful where you place it. There are a lot of other things I've learned over the years, and I'm still learning. My next home hopefully is going to be a tiny home, if I can, and built from scratch. <cite>Ivany2008 posted [p:971099740] in General ho... [t:80324409]...</cite> <quote>I'm going to give you some real tips as I bought my first house several years ago. First, when you go in for YOUR first look at the house, make sure its during the day time and the entire house is brightly lit. I made the mistake of looking at my home during the night time and didn't realize that the patio was literally laying on rocks, not knocked into the ground like its supposed to be.Second, take a couple days after you first view the home to view the home a second time. You may see something you initially missed. Check every nook and cranny before you even call an inspector, ask if you can test the water pressure, electrical, and test the washer/dryer if you can. All of this is to try and lower the price of the home from the asking price. You may be able to get the home for a slightly cheaper cost if it involved some damages that you have to fix, even if the damage is minor and you can fix it yourself without calling a specialist. This also gives you time to think it over. If you really want to buy this home or is it an impulse purchase.Third, make sure the inspector is a reputable person from a reputable company. Be there when the inspector is at the home inspecting the property.Fourth, if there is any damage to the property get a reputable company to fix the problem if there is something you cannot fix yourself. I flooded the kitchen in my own home through complete fault of my own, the flooring/cabinet company came in, replaced the lower cabinets and floor through insurance (would have cost me 10 grand), and when the dishwasher installation was finished, the maintenance guy didn't tighten one of the pipes, so my dishwasher flooded my kitchen again... they replaced the entire thing free of charge because it was their screw up.Fifth, don't be afraid to ask questions. This is your money we are talking about. Find out about the previous home owners, what kind of people they were. Find out about your future neighbors, the area your going to be living in. Anything to save you money.Sixth, pay attention to leaks. Heat, Water, and Sound leakage. I have a tub/shower combo that doesn't keep heat well. I wish I had gotten them to add that to the repairs when I first bought the house. It works fine, but if I fill up the tub, it doesn't stay hot for long.Seventh, go to the dollar store or your areas equivalent. They sell general things for cheap that you can use for the first year while you rebuild your capital.Eighth, don't be afraid to maximize your mortgage payment plan. Even if you have the money to pay off the house in 15 years, go for 25 years. Every few years if you have the option, get a financial assessment on your home compared to homes selling in the immediate area. You may be able to get some form of credit which you can apply to your home to help pay off the home itself. Graham Stephan has a great video on his channel (which I'm too lazy to look up again).Ninth, don't be afraid of DIYing a lot of things. Cheap charcoal grill can be made out of a Terracotta Pot and a bakers grate. Just be mindful where you place it.There are a lot of other things I've learned over the years, and I'm still learning. My next home hopefully is going to be a tiny home, if I can, and built from scratch.</quote> ... Copied to Clipboard!
RlP 01/25/23 10:42:16 PM #25:	Ivany2008 posted... Even if you have the money to pay off the house in 15 years, go for 25 years. I would advise against that. Better to pay it off earlier as that will save you a lot of interest in the long run. And yes, you can "be smart" and instead of paying it earlier try to beat the interest rate by investing that money but that's unrealistic. If you are that good at investing then you wouldn't be worrying about a mortgage or new house. --- Go and watch Ef ~ A tale of memories now! <cite>RlP posted [p:971099925] in General ho... [t:80324409]...</cite> <quote>Ivany2008 posted... </cite><quote>Even if you have the money to pay off the house in 15 years, go for 25 years.</quote>I would advise against that. Better to pay it off earlier as that will save you a lot of interest in the long run. And yes, you can "be smart" and instead of paying it earlier try to beat the interest rate by investing that money but that's unrealistic. If you are that good at investing then you wouldn't be worrying about a mortgage or new house. </quote> ... Copied to Clipboard!
Will_VIIII 01/25/23 10:47:19 PM #26:	Everyone already gave great advice regarding inspectors and all that. All I'd add in addition is if you can do 20% down you'd avoid PMI. I did 10% which was okay with but I also bought the house when I was single. --- Advice from a dryer: Open the door to amazement. Don't shrink from your true calling. Accept life's wrinkles. Avoid overload. Reach into mystery! <cite>Will_VIIII posted [p:971100023] in General ho... [t:80324409]...</cite> <quote>Everyone already gave great advice regarding inspectors and all that. All I'd add in addition is if you can do 20% down you'd avoid PMI. I did 10% which was okay with but I also bought the house when I was single.</quote> ... Copied to Clipboard!
Will_VIIII 01/25/23 10:48:14 PM #27:	See if you can get an avenge of utility costs over the past year too. --- Advice from a dryer: Open the door to amazement. Don't shrink from your true calling. Accept life's wrinkles. Avoid overload. Reach into mystery! <cite>Will_VIIII posted [p:971100037] in General ho... [t:80324409]...</cite> <quote>See if you can get an avenge of utility costs over the past year too.</quote> ... Copied to Clipboard!
Ivany2008 01/26/23 9:44:25 AM #28:	RlP posted... I would advise against that. Better to pay it off earlier as that will save you a lot of interest in the long run. And yes, you can "be smart" and instead of paying it earlier try to beat the interest rate by investing that money but that's unrealistic. If you are that good at investing then you wouldn't be worrying about a mortgage or new house. I didn't say you couldn't pay it off early. What I said is you go for the longer payment plan. If you have a goal to pay 15k per year and the longer payment plan lets you pay 10k per year, you can still pay an additional 5k at the end of the year, it just lets you have extra money if something were to go wrong. If nothing goes wrong, your still paying the same amount, and as long as the market doesn't fluxuate, your still going to have your house paid off in 15 years, and if it does, your monthly bill is going to drop significantly, or stay the same. Take me for example, I'm home 4 months without work. I'm not allowed to work until March because of medical issues. Instead of paying 1500/m, I pay 1100/m, so that extra 1600 I have, is being used to pay for the extra gas I have to use to get to treatments, and the cost of my extra meds not covered by insurance. <cite>Ivany2008 posted [p:971106589] in General ho... [t:80324409]...</cite> <quote>RlP posted... </cite><quote>I would advise against that. Better to pay it off earlier as that will save you a lot of interest in the long run. And yes, you can "be smart" and instead of paying it earlier try to beat the interest rate by investing that money but that's unrealistic. If you are that good at investing then you wouldn't be worrying about a mortgage or new house.</quote>I didn't say you couldn't pay it off early. What I said is you go for the longer payment plan. If you have a goal to pay 15k per year and the longer payment plan lets you pay 10k per year, you can still pay an additional 5k at the end of the year, it just lets you have extra money if something were to go wrong. If nothing goes wrong, your still paying the same amount, and as long as the market doesn't fluxuate, your still going to have your house paid off in 15 years, and if it does, your monthly bill is going to drop significantly, or stay the same.Take me for example, I'm home 4 months without work. I'm not allowed to work until March because of medical issues. Instead of paying 1500/m, I pay 1100/m, so that extra 1600 I have, is being used to pay for the extra gas I have to use to get to treatments, and the cost of my extra meds not covered by insurance.</quote> ... Copied to Clipboard!
NeonTentacles 01/26/23 9:47:40 AM #29:	tag --- https://imgur.com/aMaI3hj https://imgur.com/7PsdJNc https://imgur.com/eK8vZVn https://imgur.com/u2HR4nG https://imgur.com/nQGM5cZ <cite>NeonTentacles posted [p:971106643] in General ho... [t:80324409]...</cite> <quote>tag</quote> ... Copied to Clipboard!
TaylorHeinicke 01/28/23 12:23:01 PM #30:	Going to see three houses today More tips --- St. Louis Battlehawks (1-1) <cite>TaylorHeinicke posted [p:971155769] in General ho... [t:80324409]...</cite> <quote>Going to see three houses todayMore tips</quote> ... Copied to Clipboard!
TaylorHeinicke 01/28/23 7:12:49 PM #31:	TaylorHeinicke posted... More tips --- St. Louis Battlehawks (1-1) <cite>TaylorHeinicke posted [p:971163971] in General ho... [t:80324409]...</cite> <quote>TaylorHeinicke posted... </cite><quote>More tips</quote></quote> ... Copied to Clipboard!
Ivany2008 01/28/23 7:23:45 PM #32:	TaylorHeinicke posted... Going to see three houses today More tips Keep your options open. Don't impulse. Sleep on what you see. Be willing to give up some things in order to get other things. Be willing to travel a little outside your comfort zone if it means getting a better price. <cite>Ivany2008 posted [p:971164230] in General ho... [t:80324409]...</cite> <quote>TaylorHeinicke posted... </cite><quote>Going to see three houses todayMore tips</quote>Keep your options open. Don't impulse. Sleep on what you see. Be willing to give up some things in order to get other things. Be willing to travel a little outside your comfort zone if it means getting a better price.</quote> ... Copied to Clipboard!
TaylorHeinicke 01/28/23 10:18:24 PM #33:	Ivany2008 posted... Keep your options open. Don't impulse. Sleep on what you see. Be willing to give up some things in order to get other things. Be willing to travel a little outside your comfort zone if it means getting a better price. For sure. I'm doing my best to keep expectations in place and knowing I probably won't get 100% of everything we want. What are any tips on buying some of those new constructions? There's a new one going up for a great price. Do they like, not come with the appliances or furnace or anything like that? It looks too good to be true, wondering what the trap there is. --- St. Louis Battlehawks (1-1) <cite>TaylorHeinicke posted [p:971169115] in General ho... [t:80324409]...</cite> <quote>Ivany2008 posted... </cite><quote>Keep your options open. Don't impulse. Sleep on what you see. Be willing to give up some things in order to get other things. Be willing to travel a little outside your comfort zone if it means getting a better price.</quote>For sure. I'm doing my best to keep expectations in place and knowing I probably won't get 100% of everything we want. What are any tips on buying some of those new constructions? There's a new one going up for a great price. Do they like, not come with the appliances or furnace or anything like that? It looks too good to be true, wondering what the trap there is. </quote> ... Copied to Clipboard!
TaylorHeinicke 01/29/23 1:35:44 PM #34:	TaylorHeinicke posted... What are any tips on buying some of those new constructions? There's a new one going up for a great price. Do they like, not come with the appliances or furnace or anything like that? It looks too good to be true, wondering what the trap there is. This We seeing a new build today, what do we look for??? It's like, if it's brand new, what could possibly be wrong with it It does come with a 1yr builders warranty too --- St. Louis Battlehawks (1-1) <cite>TaylorHeinicke posted [p:971182425] in General ho... [t:80324409]...</cite> <quote>TaylorHeinicke posted... </cite><quote>What are any tips on buying some of those new constructions? There's a new one going up for a great price. Do they like, not come with the appliances or furnace or anything like that? It looks too good to be true, wondering what the trap there is.</quote>ThisWe seeing a new build today, what do we look for???It's like, if it's brand new, what could possibly be wrong with itIt does come with a 1yr builders warranty too</quote> ... Copied to Clipboard!
Jaguar34 01/29/23 1:53:53 PM #35:	Following. Aiming to get my mortgage by the end of February <cite>Jaguar34 posted [p:971182790] in General ho... [t:80324409]...</cite> <quote>Following. Aiming to get my mortgage by the end of February</quote> ... Copied to Clipboard!
TaylorHeinicke 01/29/23 11:15:16 PM #36:	ok so we saw the new construction but it was still about 2 months from being completed. we got to go inside which was kinda cool. seeing the house with no walls or fixtures or anything. just essentially the shell of the house. but it was right next to an apartment so that was definitely a minus we saw a phenomenal place listed at 300k. 4br/2ba, built in 2002, 2k sqft, new sump pump, back yard, big deck, quiet neighborhood... im legit calling my banker first thing tomorrow to get my shit together. my agent and i are going back tomorrow night to get a second pair of eyes on it (first viewing today was with just a random agent because my guy was out of town this weekend) we're stoked. and it's listed even a little higher than the estimated property values on those around the area so we might get in for cheaper than list 300k. which isnt a big deal, i was budgeted up to 350. we're stoked. which only means someone is going to accept an offer tomorrow, as is tradition --- St. Louis Battlehawks (1-1) <cite>TaylorHeinicke posted [p:971197510] in General ho... [t:80324409]...</cite> <quote>ok so we saw the new construction but it was still about 2 months from being completed. we got to go inside which was kinda cool. seeing the house with no walls or fixtures or anything. just essentially the shell of the house. but it was right next to an apartment so that was definitely a minuswe saw a phenomenal place listed at 300k. 4br/2ba, built in 2002, 2k sqft, new sump pump, back yard, big deck, quiet neighborhood... im legit calling my banker first thing tomorrow to get my shit together. my agent and i are going back tomorrow night to get a second pair of eyes on it (first viewing today was with just a random agent because my guy was out of town this weekend)we're stoked. and it's listed even a little higher than the estimated property values on those around the area so we might get in for cheaper than list 300k. which isnt a big deal, i was budgeted up to 350. we're stoked. which only means someone is going to accept an offer tomorrow, as is tradition</quote> ... Copied to Clipboard!
Tyranthraxus 01/29/23 11:17:01 PM #37:	Remember. Don't buy stucco --- It says right here in Matthew 16:4 "Jesus doth not need a giant Mecha." https://i.imgur.com/dQgC4kv.jpg <cite>Tyranthraxus posted [p:971197534] in General ho... [t:80324409]...</cite> <quote>Remember. Don't buy stucco</quote> ... Copied to Clipboard!
TaylorHeinicke 01/29/23 11:27:39 PM #38:	Tyranthraxus posted... Remember. Don't buy stucco none here! :thumbsup: --- St. Louis Battlehawks (1-1) <cite>TaylorHeinicke posted [p:971197715] in General ho... [t:80324409]...</cite> <quote>Tyranthraxus posted... </cite><quote>Remember. Don't buy stucco</quote>none here! :thumbsup:</quote> ... Copied to Clipboard!
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Current Events > General homebuying tips? (mortgage is secured, now I just need red flags) (+) Yeah! (+)

Current Events > General homebuying tips? (mortgage is secured, now I just need red flags)