What to ask when buying a house??

[newtodis]

Alright....total first time home buyer here! DH had his previous house prior to knowing me/dating me. We've since sold that house and moved 1,000 miles away from cold and snow to sun and sand! We've been here about a year and a half and are really ready to jump on buying a house. I am incredibly picky (we previously looked at houses in MI before we knew we were moving and have looked and even put offers in here in SC) so I know this isn't going to be an overnight thing.

Here's the house I found that, from the description, I've fallen for. It's a bit further out from the "city" than I'd like to be but it's also much closer to Savannah which could be nice when we need to go there (honestly, right now about once a quarter...not very often at all!). We spend most of our time right here where we work or at the beach on the weekends if we're not hanging out at home.

Here's the floor plan:
http://www.southernoaksatnewriversi...e/single-family-homes/two-story-plans/29.html

Here's the listing - it's the Lakewood B (bottom center):
http://www.southernoaksatnewriversi...-specials/single-family-builder-specials.html

Here's what I love: stainless appliances, huge playroom, about 500 sf bigger than what we're renting for about $80 more/month, 2 car garage (we have a 1 car right now), both boys will have their own room and we'll truly have a "spare" room, right next to the pool so we can just walk over any time.

Here's what I don't love: location - like I said, it's not terrible but not ideal either - we would make it work, not excited about the noise from the pool, not excited to be at the back of the town houses, not excited about packing and moving in general.

So, we're going to look at this house on Saturday.....what do I need to ask?? Our plan is to put everything in my name if it will work with DH being the co-signer as I haven't purchased a house before to qualify for the tax credit.

We would also need to get out of our current lease, which ends in February. When we were thinking about buying before, our landlord was finewith that so long as one of us (her or us) could find someone else to rent our house. We have the option to purchase in our lease and we would have a year ago had the price been reasonable. We're planning on asking for a purchase price once more since we now have two empty houses on our street as opposed to the one last year but we're not overly hopeful that they'll have a realistic number...

I so appreciate any and all suggestions! We've put offers in on houses previously but they've been short sale or foreclosure and were "beat" by people who were able to pay cash as opposed to our financing. We'd like to ideally hold off on actually "closing" on the house (assuming we like it when we look at it) as long as we can to give everyone time to find another tennant as well as pack (I've already been cleaning for a garage sale we're going to have soon). I moved from MI to SC within three weeks and will not move like that again if I can avoid it at all.

TIA!

 

[Mom2Nick]

I know you didn't ask - but to be honest as a mom - I would never buy a house where the entire back was a bedroom. That IMO limits access to the back yard and also makes it harder to let the children out and still keep an eye on them.

Is this something that is built already? I would ask if you could move the master upstairs and use the downstairs as the bonus/family room.

 

[newtodis]

I know you didn't ask - but to be honest as a mom - I would never buy a house where the entire back was a bedroom. That IMO limits access to the back yard and also makes it harder to let the children out and still keep an eye on them.

Is this something that is built already? I would ask if you could move the master upstairs and use the downstairs as the bonus/family room.

That's good thinking! We don't let our kids out to play alone anyways (I'm a little too over protective). Our current house has a lagoon in the back and we have three alligators in our development so they're never in the back alone EVER. DS5 does occassionaly ride bikes on our cul de sac with his friends but that's as brave as I've gotten. I also want to see the yard - we would have to fence it (just for my sanity) and would like to get a swing set or something in the next couple of years for the boys to play on so we'll need to make sure there's room for that.

I called today and asked if I could come look at the house so I'm assuming it's already been built. If it hasn't that would be great too since it would give us time to finish out our lease more and could make changes.

Thanks for the advice!

 

[Mom2Nick]

That's good thinking! We don't let our kids out to play alone anyways (I'm a little too over protective). Our current house has a lagoon in the back and we have three alligators in our development so they're never in the back alone EVER. DS5 does occassionaly ride bikes on our cul de sac with his friends but that's as brave as I've gotten. I also want to see the yard - we would have to fence it (just for my sanity) and would like to get a swing set or something in the next couple of years for the boys to play on so we'll need to make sure there's room for that.

I called today and asked if I could come look at the house so I'm assuming it's already been built. If it hasn't that would be great too since it would give us time to finish out our lease more and could make changes.

Thanks for the advice!

You don't let them out to play now - but you have to think about the future They are not always going to be this little.

If it has a backyard then it will go to waste with this layout. You won't be able to have a deck/patio/Lanai/porch to enjoy plus where will you grill? Maybe it has no backyard and a great side yard - but if it has a backyard this layout will be really tough.


Not trying to nitpick but this is what screamed at me as soon as I saw the layout.

 

[Pakey]

The biggest thing that would concern me is that you stated there are 2 empty houses on the street where you currently live; what happens if you buy this new home and your current home stays vacant? You will be making a new house payment plus continuining to pay out the balance on your lease.

Have you been preapproved for a home loan? Different lenders have different rates so the builder/owner on the home you are interested in will probably have a specific lender they work with and will want you to go with them but that might not be the best financing you can get. Make sure to do your own research.

How are the houses in the new area moving? Are there a lot of vacant homes (from the ad you posted, it appears they have plenty of inventory). You should make sure you are buying in an area that is desirable because you don't want to be stuck with a house you can't sell a year/two from now.

Also, the lender may not be okay with the asset going in just your name unless you can qualify for the loan on your own. Especially in this economy, lenders have gotten very stringent in their requirements and why would the lender want that risk?

 

[DMickey28]

First, I am insanely jealous that this house is $192K. I wish we could live there ... we are also looking for our first house and we are looking in range closer to $300K for a older home with less than 2000 sq. ft.

Next ... how old is your one year old? Are you done having kids? Is this house built yet? I would also ask if the bonus room and master bed can be swapped. We have ruled out houses that have Masters on the first floor. We just don't like the thought of the kids upstairs alone when they are so young. Older kids is different. The PP brought up a good point about the backyard and playing in it.

Also, without the bonus room on the first floor you are really limited to 'play' space on the ground floor and I am assuming the 1 year old can't go up stairs to play alone yet. My 2.4 year old can't! That would bother me, not having a room downstairs that the toys can be in and not be in the middle of the family living space. Again, another arguement for the bonus room downstairs instead of up.

Otherwise I like it. I don't personally LOVE the layout, I don't care for front doors that open right into the living space. I also don't like laundry in the kitchen.

Still, supremely jealous that you can buy that kind of property for that price!!

 

[The Mystery Machine]

There are many things I don't like about your layout but I am way pickier as I am in house #4. My kids are older so I am on the other end of the spectrum now.

I am very happy actually with the house we have now and so is DH, it is a story and a half as well.

No access to the backyard does stink for buyers. Big negative there. I am talking resale, that will bite you.

No office downstairs. That extra room is gold.

I have had 2 bonus rooms before and they are just toy junk collectors imo. Kids always end up in their rooms with friends anyway. Plus it is noisy. That is right next to the stairs. Yikes. I have had that and it sucks. Unless of course there is a wall there. Then I would say OK.

Just keep the stars out of your eyes for the bonus room. Bigger bedrooms are better in the long haul than a bonus room.

This house has bigger bedrooms and 2 bathrooms upstairs. One room has it's own bathroom and the other is a Jack n' Jill bathroom. It is great.

Laundry room is not great, that is a negative. You will hate that after awhile.

Fireplace is right where the TV should go. I can't stand that they do that. We have our TV in the corner. As it looks from the floorplan you will have to block out windows or get a fancy hanging plasma tv.

I don't know. The layout is kind of awkward for the family room.

Have those things in mind when you look at the house.

 

[golfgal]

The other thing that says no way to me would be no foyer, no mud room and your laundry room exposed to the rest of the house. There is NO place to put coats, backpacks, etc. when you come into the house from the garage, no front closet, no closet at all on the main floor to even keep your vacuum cleaner. Also, I like the main floor master but with a 1 year old I would have our room upstairs to be closer to the kids at night. Now that our kids are older it isn't a big deal but until they were all over 5 or so it was.

Looking at the closet situation-you have NO closet space outside of the bedrooms. Oh, and the power room opens right into the living room-not something you want to be looking at when you are sitting there with company.

The backyard thing is also a big turnoff. Like others have said, your kids will get to an age where they can play outside by themselves and you will want to keep an eye on them.

If I were looking at this house I wouldn't get past the first floor and said, nope, not buying. The price is GREAT though. I WISH we could get a house that new, that size for that price here.