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At Bankrate we strive to help you make smarter financial decisions. While we adhere to strict editorial integrity, this post may contain references to products from our partners. Here's an explanation for how we make money. Bankrate logo The Bankrate promise
Founded in 1976, Bankrate has a long track record of helping people make smart financial choices. We’ve maintained this reputation for over four decades by demystifying the financial decision-making process and giving people confidence in which actions to take next. Bankrate follows a strict , so you can trust that we’re putting your interests first. All of our content is authored by and edited by , who ensure everything we publish is objective, accurate and trustworthy. Buying or selling a home is one of the biggest financial decisions an individual will ever make. Our real estate reporters and editors focus on educating consumers about this life-changing transaction and how to navigate the complex and ever-changing housing market. From finding an agent to closing and beyond, our goal is to help you feel confident that you're making the best, and smartest, real estate deal possible. Bankrate logo Editorial integrity
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You have money questions. Bankrate has answers. Our experts have been helping you master your money for over four decades. We continually strive to provide consumers with the expert advice and tools needed to succeed throughout life’s financial journey. Bankrate follows a strict , so you can trust that our content is honest and accurate. Our award-winning editors and reporters create honest and accurate content to help you make the right financial decisions. The content created by our editorial staff is objective, factual, and not influenced by our advertisers. We’re transparent about how we are able to bring quality content, competitive rates, and useful tools to you by explaining how we make money. Bankrate.com is an independent, advertising-supported publisher and comparison service. We are compensated in exchange for placement of sponsored products and, services, or by you clicking on certain links posted on our site. Therefore, this compensation may impact how, where and in what order products appear within listing categories. Other factors, such as our own proprietary website rules and whether a product is offered in your area or at your self-selected credit score range can also impact how and where products appear on this site. While we strive to provide a wide range offers, Bankrate does not include information about every financial or credit product or service. Before making an offer on a house, you want to be absolutely sure that it’s “the one.” But with so many options out there, and so much competition, how do you find your perfect match? Finding the right home involves research, so you’ll need to ask the right questions. That way you know you’re making a competitive offer on a home that you can afford — and one that meets your long-term needs. To weed out the duds from the diamonds, here are 15 crucial questions to ask when buying a house. 1 What s my total budget
Don’t waste your time looking at houses without first understanding . There are additional costs to consider beyond just the sales price, such as property taxes, homeowners insurance, ongoing maintenance and any renovations you want to do. “With all the other added expense that comes with homeownership, like repairs and homeowner’s association fees, you may not see the financial benefits for several years,” says Wendy Mays, a Realtor with Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices California Properties in Chula Vista, California. If you want your offer to be accepted, you must show the seller you have the financial means to buy their house. This means getting . “Not only does preapproval give the buyer an idea of what they can afford, but it also gives the Realtor assurance that they’re showing a qualified buyer a home,” says Joey Sampaga, a Realtor with Keller Williams Legacy One in Phoenix. “It shows you’re not wasting the seller’s time.” 2 Is the home in a flood zone or prone to other natural disasters
Be aware. Homes that are located in a federally designated, high-risk flood zone require . (You can find out whether a property is in a high-risk flood zone using .) 3 Why is the seller leaving
Understanding why the seller is moving — whether it’s due to downsizing, a job relocation or as a result of a major life event — might help you get a better deal on the property. A good buyer’s agent will try to find out this information for you and gauge how flexible (or not) the seller might be during negotiations. A motivated seller who needs to move quickly or whose home has been on the market a while is more likely to work with you than someone who isn’t in a rush to move. 4 What s included in the sale
Anything that’s considered a fixture is typically included when purchasing a house — think cabinets, faucets and window blinds. However, there could be items that you think are included but actually aren’t. This depends on your state’s laws. The listing description should spell out anything the seller is not including, but that’s not always the case. So make sure to ask in your offer what is (and isn’t) included with the home. Do you really want that washer and dryer, or that stainless-steel refrigerator? Confirm whether the seller is willing to throw these items into the deal. 5 Were there any additions or major renovations
In some cases, property records and listing descriptions don’t always match up. For example, a home might be advertised as having four bedrooms, but one of those rooms may be a non-conforming addition that doesn’t follow local building codes. Find out what major repairs or renovations the seller has done since owning the home. It’s also smart to request the original manufacturer warranties on any appliances or systems that have been replaced. Knowing a home’s improvement history can help you better gauge its condition and understand the seller’s asking price. 6 How old is the roof
Let’s face it: Roofs are necessary, and expensive. If a home’s roof is at the end of its lifespan and you wind up having to replace it shortly after move-in, you’ll be shelling out thousands of dollars. Ouch. And if the roof has existing damage, the lender may require that it be repaired in order to approve your loan. If listing description doesn’t list the roof’s age, make sure to find out so you can later. 7 How old are the appliances and major systems
Again, understanding the anticipated lifespan of essential systems and appliances — like the air conditioner, furnace, water heater, washer, dryer and stove — can help you anticipate major repair or replacement expenses. If these items are already at the end of their lifespan, or near it, ask the seller to purchase a home warranty, which can help cover the replacement costs in certain instances. 8 How long has the house been on the market
The longer a house sits on the market, the more motivated the seller will likely be to make a deal. This means you might find flexibility to negotiate the price, contingencies, terms and credits for replacing outdated carpet or other noticeable issues. Many times, a home will languish on the market if it was priced too high at the onset, resulting in the need for multiple price reductions. A listing that shows multiple price cuts and has been sitting on the market too long may give buyers the impression that something is wrong with it. And that gives you a prime opportunity to negotiate a deal. 9 How much have homes sold for in the neighborhood
Understanding the current local market will help you determine whether a seller’s asking price is reasonable — or way too high. Your Realtor can pull the comparable listing data for similar homes that are currently on the market, and ones have sold in the last six months or so, as a basis for comparison. “If conditions support further negotiating, consider making a lower offer or even requesting concessions, like asking the seller to pay for some closing costs,” Mays says. 10 Are there any health or safety hazards
Issues like lead paint, radon, mold or other major hazards can be costly to address and can hold up your loan approval. Ask the seller to provide documentation if there have been past issues, and find out exactly what was done to resolve those problems. If you suspect hazardous problems — or a home inspector suggests additional testing — you might need to pay extra for those specialized services. 11 What s the history of past insurance claims
Get a copy of a Comprehensive Loss Underwriting Exchange, or , from the seller to see if there have been any homeowners insurance claims filed in the last seven years. This report can give you insight into what, if any, damage the home has sustained from a weather event or vandalism that a home inspection doesn’t catch or a seller fails to mention. 12 What are the neighbors like
Getting the true feel of a neighborhood can be difficult before moving in, but this aspect shouldn’t be overlooked. Ask the seller what the neighbors are like. Noisy or quiet? Friendly or more likely to keep to themselves? Is it a pet-friendly area, or are there few pets around? Don’t rely solely on the seller to reveal these details, though, or you might not get the full story. “Drive the neighborhood and stop and speak with neighbors,” Mays suggests. “Neighbors are an excellent way to get information about the community that a seller might not want to share.” 13 How is the neighborhood
You can always change a house and fix things you don’t like, but the is there to stay. It’s important that you like the environs you’ll be living in for the next 10, 20 or 30 years! Your Realtor can help you find out key information, such as community amenities, crime statistics, school ratings and how busy traffic is where you’ll be living. Thankfully, the internet is also a great resource where you can research schools, (if applicable), nearby parks and other amenities. And don’t forget to time your commute to work — a long one might be a deal breaker. 14 Are there any problems with the house
Sellers are required to provide a disclosure form listing any known defects. But what they don’t disclose — and you don’t know — can lead to major issues later. That’s why it’s critical to get a done by a professional home inspector as soon as a purchase agreement is signed. The inspection report outlines the home’s overall condition and can help you negotiate future concessions, such as repairs or seller-paid credits, before closing the deal. If a home has too many problems and you included an when you made an offer on the home, you’ll be able to back out of the deal without penalty and (in most cases) get your earnest deposit returned. 15 How much will I pay in closing costs
The down payment isn’t the only cash you’ll be forking over on closing day. You’ll also be responsible for , which typically include loan origination fees and third-party fees for title research, processing of paperwork, an appraisal and other administrative tasks. Expect to pay around 2 percent to 5 percent of the home’s purchase price in closing costs. (The amount can vary depending on your area.) The closing disclosure, which a lender is required to provide you three business days before closing, will spell out all your loan fees and how much cash you’ll need to close. “Once the closing documents are signed by both parties and the escrow company sends it to the lender, the lender will fund the loan,” Sampaga says. “Now you’re a homeowner.” Learn more
SHARE: Sarah Li Cain is an experienced content marketing writer specializing in FinTech, credit, loans, personal finance and banking. Her work has appeared in Fortune 500 companies, publications and startups such as Transferwise, Discover, Bankrate, Quicken Loans and KeyBank. Michele Petry is a senior editor for Bankrate, leading the site’s real estate content. Related Articles