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How To Spot A Good Buy
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, particularly when it comes to buying a home. Features that attract one home-buyer may repel another. However, the one feature of interest to every home-buyer is price. Getting the most home for your money is paramount. The real problem is figuring out whether that fixer-upper on one street is a better buy than the home in next-to-new condition two blocks away. That's why knowing what to look for before you buy can save you time, energy and money down the line. The first step is figuring out what kind of house you need. A good buy is only a good buy if it meets your current and future living requirements. Before shopping for a home, decide how much space you and your family require. How many bedrooms, bathrooms? Is a family room necessary? Do you need a layout that will accommodate a lot of entertaining? Do you prefer a spacious or compact work space in the kitchen? If you have small children, can the house easily be childproofed? Evaluate the front and back yards. Is there enough space to accommodate your children? Do you want a park-like or garden setting? Do you enjoy yard work and gardening, or do you want a low-maintenance yard? Take into consideration the cost of extensive landscaping and upkeep. Next, determine how much work is required to make the house you are considering livable. Make an honest assessment of your fix-it abilities. How much work are you willing to do or pay someone else to do? Do you have basic decorating, carpentry and plumbing skills? If you plan to learn as you go, make sure you have accurately determined what you are getting into. Ask an experienced friend, family member or your real estate agent for their opinion, and be sure to consider how much remodeling inconvenience the rest of the family can handle. Unless you are ready and able to tackle a major remodel, look for a house or condominium that needs only cosmetic improvements. These include painting, wallpapering and replacing items like flooring, window treatments, bathroom and kitchen fixtures, light fixtures, cabinet and interior door hardware and appliances. Remember that even these simple changes can be costly if you have to make many of them. Beware of improvements that seem easy enough at first glance buy may turn into major headaches and require a lot of money once you've moved in. Remodeled kitchens and bathrooms, changes to the floor plan, room additions and redesigned landscaping are examples of seemingly minor changes that can easily eat away the money you thought you saved by selecting a so-called "bargain priced" home. Of course, you may be perfectly willing to spend whatever money is needed to customize the house to match your tastes and needs. Make sure major systems in the house are in good working condition. The furnace, air-conditioning and plumbing should be up to date, since repairs can be costly. Your agent can arrange to have a professional inspector determine whether the electrical wiring and any room additions are to code. Local utilities often offer free or low-cost inspections to tell you if the house is energy-efficient. Look for a house with universally popular selling points. If you're impressed, the next buyer down the line is bound to be, too. For example, a roomy, modern east-to-clean kitchen is the best selling point a home can have. A house with only one bathroom is less desirable than a house with two or more. Many buyers expect at least three bedrooms, with a master bedroom that offers a feeling of privacy. Lots of storage space and closets, especially walk-in closets, will be a real selling point. Family rooms or "great rooms" also are desirable. On closer examination, a house that looks like a bargain may lack some of these key features. Don't forget the old adage: location, location, location. Unless you're looking for a fixer-upper, the house should be in a condition that is comparable to other homes in the neighborhood. Avoid buying the biggest or fanciest home on the block. Consider the amount of traffic or noise. Homes located in a quiet area away from a busy street will command a higher price. Make sure the schools in your district have a reputation for quality education and safety. Nearby supermarkets, gas stations, restaurants and theaters also will make a location more desirable. Good community facilities also add appeal; pools, athletic fields, community centers, libraries and hospitals all add to a neighborhood's value and desirability. Transportation needs also should be considered. Is local public transit available? How long are typical commutes to places of current and potential employment? Are there several alternate route? How close is a major airport? All of these can affect a home's pricing. Consider the cost of living in a home. It's important to consider not only purchase price but the monthly cost of living in a home. Estimate your utility and maintenance costs. For example, will the house need to be painted on a regular basis and will you need to spend money maintaining a swimming pool? Ask your agent about the property tax rate and whether increases are anticipated. Will you have to pay special assessments for a homeowner's association? Consider the point in the life cycle of major household systems, such as the furnace, air conditioning, roof and kitchen appliances. You can find a bargain! Your first step should be to seek out a knowledgeable real estate agent with experience in the market areas where you wish to purchase a home. Your agent can help you locate those properties that truly are "bargains" and help find the home that most closely matches your desires and needs. About The Author W. Troy Swezey is the author of "HOW TO SPOT A GOOD BUY." As a Realtor at Century 21 Paul & Associates, he has helped many individuals with their real estate needs. Visit his web site to download his free e-book, "Real Estate Secrets Exposed." http://www.TroyIsMyRealtor.com or mail to: TroyC21@usa.net
MORE RESOURCES: L.A.’s Real Estate Upfronts Reveal Penthouse A at Rosewood Residences Beverly Hills Hollywood Reporter Real estate mogul cautions about avoidable mistake when buying a home, explains how to avoid 'drowning' Fox Business Coloradans negotiating lower fees for real estate agents with new law on horizon Colorado Public Radio Massachusetts real estate transactions for Hampden, Hampshire and Franklin counties May 19, 2024 edition MassLive.com Routt County real estate sales at $17.6M for May 9-15 Steamboat Pilot & Today Rudy Giuliani Slashes Price on His New York City Apartment to $5.7M Realtor.com News Real estate transfers: May 17, 2024 RiverheadLOCAL London Real Estate Is About to Get the ‘Selling Sunset’ Treatment Hollywood Reporter Mid-May Greenwich Real Estate Market Report Greenwich Sentinel Real Estate Newsletter Articles this Week: Housing Starts Increased to 1.360 million Annual Rate in April Calculated Risk Dodge County Real Estate Transfers Fremont Tribune The Michael Houck Real Estate Guide for May 19 Oil City News MCB Real Estate Revives Long-Awaited Viva White Oak Mixed-Use Project Source of the Spring Washington state ahead of the game as lawsuit rewrites real estate commission rules - Puget Sound Business Journal The Business Journals Yes, there are other coastal Delaware towns besides Rehoboth Washington Blade Dutchess County, NY real estate 2024: What's on the market for $579K Poughkeepsie Journal Baltimore real estate: 4 waterfront condos for sale The Baltimore Banner Home Prices Hit Record Highs in April 2024: Trends & Forecast Norada Real Estate Investments STAR resource center Department of Taxation and Finance Real Estate Briefs: Lakeside homes, news condos, and more news Rough Draft Atlanta REAL ESTATE | UPDATE | Johnson Bus selling lot for new West Bend Fire Department No. 1 washingtoncountyinsider.com VIDEO | REAL ESTATE | Construction finally underway for Taco John's in West Bend, WI washingtoncountyinsider.com Revolution in real estate: How the NAR settlement is changing the game Eden Prairie Local News James Quinn's Data Center Advisory Expertise at JLL Drives Innovative Real Estate Solutions for Global Corporations Markets Insider Oceanport's Denholtz recognized by commercial real estate organization themonmouthjournaleastern.com Westmoreland County Real Estate Transfers | Real Estate | latrobebulletinnews.com latrobebulletinnews.com OT Real Estate Spotlight of the Week: 2115 Sheridan Place The Owensboro Times Innovative Leaders Vanderstraaten and Rohrman Inducted into North Texas Commercial Real Estate Hall of Fame ... dallasinnovates.com Here are recent property transfers up to $1.28 million St. Albans Messenger Real Estate Mogul Grant Cardone Closes Largest All-Cash Multifamily Deal In South Florida This Year Yahoo Finance Billy Joel spends over $10M for sprawling East Hampton pad with horse farm, neighbors other A-listers New York Post Robert Willett may be targeting female Realtors in Northeast Ohio Akron Beacon Journal My Co-op Neighbor Never Pays His Maintenance on Time. Can We Make Him? The New York Times China Says It Will Start Buying Apartments as Housing Slump Worsens The New York Times Navigating Northern Virginia Real Estate: An Insight Into Rhonda Campbell's Bespoke Approach Grit Daily Refined Real Estate: Unique Leschi home with lake views lists for $1,395,000 seattlerefined.com Number of homes for sale in Metro Atlanta increased significantly, real estate brokerage says – WABE WABE 90.1 FM Real Estate Transactions for May 18-19 | News, Sports, Jobs Nashua Telegraph What's real estate wellness? Fortune Ellison sues real estate broker Chad Banken over alleged schemes involving contracts for deed Star Tribune Billionaire Frank McCourt raises his hand to buy TikTok Business Insider Connecticut real estate law changed after MV Realty investigation Eyewitness News 3 Connecticut real estate law changed after MV Realty investigation Eyewitness News 3 KKR Real Estate Finance Trust Inc. (NYSE:KREF) Given Average Recommendation of “Moderate Buy” by Analysts Defense World Sean Bloom Investments Announces $2B Real Estate Project in Las Vegas InvestorsObserver Do starter homes still exist? Here's what NJ realtors said NorthJersey.com Edgefront Real Estate Investment Trust (TSE:NXR) Forecasted to Earn FY2024 Earnings of $0.73 Per Share Defense World Berkshire County Real Estate Transactions for April 29-May 3 Berkshire Eagle First Capital Real Estate Investment Trust (TSE:FCR.UN) Share Price Crosses Above Two Hundred Day Moving ... Defense World Bienville Realty: Commercial real estate Fox 10 News Letter: Clarifying changes to real estate industry Morgan Hill Times EG Real Estate: 18 Opens This Weekend – East Greenwich News East Greenwich News Local couple buys Pat Burrell's former Center City penthouse for 38% under original asking price Philadelphia Business Journal Home listings are on the rise in southern Colorado, while other indicators show a slowing real estate market Colorado Public Radio Did Fort Worth’s real estate market really ‘bottom out’? | Fort Fort Worth Star-Telegram Southern fast-food chain Cook Out buys Tampa real estate Tampa Bay Business Journal New Rules for North Texas Real Estate Agents Creates Uncertainty Dallas Observer Artis Real Estate Investment Trust (OTCMKTS:ARESF) Sees Significant Growth in Short Interest Defense World Busch relative settles squabble with Clayton investors over real estate trust St. Louis Post-Dispatch |
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