Home Buying in Fort Worth, Texas
April 15th, 2010With all the homes for sale at present in the Fort Worth real estate market, it is distressing to make a choice at all, let alone the right one. Houses consist of much more than a, nice kitchen, and ’separate’ bathrooms. There are different things you need to recognize about a household before you buy one. All homes, new and old will eventually need maintenance. Some of the less apparent of these include; 1. An inspection of the land- Some ground can have funny things in it ~ such as toxic gasses, or a lot of clay subjecting the septic tank to back up flooding; is the property a flood plain, does the land use well water and is that quality good, and are there any encroachments or violations you need to know about. 2. An inspection of the home itself- Most houses for sale have been cleaned, painted, and made to shine. Most finance contracts involve a home inspection before closing. If this home has a septic tank, be positive it was properly inspected. That means the inspector took the lid off, and looked inside. If it is not half empty, it needs to be emptied out, and made ready for another 20 years. A dysfunctional septic tank is sometimes the reason for the home sale in the first place. 3. Find the current value of the home- Appraisals follow State and Federal guidelines, but ask about permits. Permits and warranties validate any improvements, and can ensure that these improvements were not just the homeowner’s way of covering a pre-existing condition. 4. Check out the subdivision- Be sure you talk with the HOA first, and ask them to explain the primary ideas about moving in their community. Nobody reads the handbook, so ask the association to explain to you the main ideas so you will understand what you are moving into. 5. Legal issues- Title checks will let you know if there are any tax liens, foreclosures, lawsuits, outstanding HOA fees, divorce proceedings or legal notices that have been filed. Getting these resolved before closing is vital to building a happy home. 6. Neighborhood news- Chances are you already like the neighborhood, and that is why you are looking there in the first place. If you have children, look into the schools, playgrounds, and libraries. If you use public transportation, explore the condition of it. Make sure you will be happy with the local shopping. No home is without challenges, but resolving a few of these unknowns beforehand will make a big difference to getting off on the right foot in Fort Worth, Texas.