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Before making a new home purchase, it is important to know as many details about home buying that you can. This is so you can be sure that you made the right decision. The information that you are going to learn in the following article can be the difference between having a pleasant or miserable home purchasing experience.

When you think of buying a new home you should always have a home inspection done. This way you know ahead of time if there are any problems with the home so that you don't end up buying something that will end up costing you tons of money to get fixed and up to code.

When you are shopping for a new home, determine what features are non-negotiable to you and communicate this to your real estate agent. By doing this you can avoid looking at houses that you have no intention of buying, because they do not have check it out need or want.

Look at your families needs when considering the floor plans of potential new homes. If you have elderly relatives living with you, a 2-story house may not be the best choice. Likewise, privacy concerns may send you towards a home with bedrooms on separate floors for different members of the family. Think about how your life will flow when making a decision.

When considering purchasing real estate located on or near a body of water, do your homework and check with the county zoning office to see if the property is in a zoned flood plain. Flood insurance can add a great expense to your home-buying budget and may not make that home on the river or the one within walking distance to the beach the best deal for your money as well as difficult to sell when you are ready to move.

If you find a home that you like make sure that it is near all of the amenities that you might need. You do not want to live in the perfect house and have to drive an excessively long way in order to get to a pharmacy, grocery store, or any other convenience place.

When dealing with a lender to finance a home purchase, make sure everything they have told you is written down in your contract before you sign it. In most cases, verbal contracts are worthless. Remember, if it's not on the paper, it doesn't count. Unscrupulous lenders may even switch out rates between what they tell you and what appears on the contract.




<img src="http://www.factsmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/Buying-selling-real-estate.jpg" />

Whether you are buying or selling a house, it's a good idea to start things off with a fair offer. Asking too high a price when you are selling, or making too low an offer when you are buying, is a good way to poison the negotiation. Find out what comparable homes have sold for and start from there.

If you are a driver, make sure that you always pay close attention to the parking situation when you are looking for a new place. Make sure to ask questions about whether a parking permit would be required to have if your plan is to park on the street.

Buying a house can be a great investment in the long-haul. Houses appreciate five percent, as a general rule. It will be a little less some years, and a little more some years. This figure can also vary depending on the region and neighborhood where you buy the house.

Unsuspecting buyers should always make sure to check for illegal additions and disparities. Because cities focus on current owners, the buyer will have to suffer the consequences of bringing the property to code. Adding new rooms, converting garages, and remodeling kitchens are few ways that can haunt a buyer. If you have a good agent and inspector, they should be able to catch these problems.

When looking for a home to purchase, there are important questions you need to ask yourself to ensure that you buy one which satisfies your specific needs. One thing which you need to determine is if the house will meet your lifestyle. If you like to prepare gourmet meals, then you will most likely want to find a home with a large and well-designed kitchen.

When purchasing a home, put down at least twenty percent of the house's selling price as your down payment. If you put down any less than that, you will usually be required to purchase private mortgage insurance (PMI). This fee is around half of a percent, which would be about $1000 a year on a $200,000 house.

When considering how much of a home you can afford, be sure to look at estimates of how much utilities cost for the home. Keep in mind that the larger the home, the more the bills will be. This could greatly affect how much you can afford monthly and will keep you more on budget.

There are so many great deals out there on real estate right now. If you follow the advice in this article you will be well on your way to owning a home of your own. It's just a matter of taking charge of your future and using the knowledge that is out there.