Things to keep in mind when buying a house
by Roger Smith
Here are just a list of things I have compiled that I have learned I need to keep in mind when buying a house. These are in no order and are by no means complete. I will continue to add to them and hope you will help me:
- price per square foot
- gas heat or electric
- size of lot
- location
- cul-de-sac or not
- on a busy street or not
- speed limit on street in front of your house
- distance your house is from your neighbors
- how your garage faces. Do you have to see your neighbor everytime you walk out your garage
- shrubs/trees between houses
- real wood floors or wood veneer
- number of stairs
- is there a heating/cooling unit per floor or does it use a damper system
- homeowners association cost
- city water or not
- septic system or not
- school districts
- noise from airplanes flying over
- how often do you get re-zoned for schools
- property taxes
- age of kids around, if you want kids the same age as yours
- types of jobs people have in the neighborhood
- proximity to shops
- proximity to parks
- wooded lot
- distance from work
- which way does the traffic flow when driving to and from work
- proximity to friends/family
- Age of the building and components such as the roof and HVAC systems
- Distance to a fire hydrant (will affect insurance rate)
- The socioeconomic demographic of adjacent neighborhoods
- Planned future road expansion
- Crime rate.
