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Tips for First Time Home Buyers

  • sportchampps
    Looking to buy our first house soon. Any Tips? What questions should I be asking. Right now were leaning towards building new with Westport Homes.
  • hang_loose
    Talk with the people that Westport Homes has built their houses...If they will give you a client list.
  • Belly35
    Location , loacation, location... style
  • dlazz
    Where are you looking to build?
  • slcoach
    Know what your property tax and home owner's insurance are going to be! I have a lot of people tell me "Our payment is only $850 per month, that is less than we pay in rent". Come to find out, their property taxes are $3,000 a year and insurance is $1,800 and now they are looking at an extra $400 a month that they forgot to factor in.
  • said_aouita
    Don't buy anywhere near water that may be considered a flood zone. FEMA likes to ram it up your ass when it comes to new flood zones and home owners disputing them.
  • justincredible
    If you buy, before you move all your crap in, clean the shit out of the house while it's empty. Don't wait until you've moved all your stuff in.
  • dlazz
    ccrunner609;1455169 wrote:If you are looking at buying, look at alot of houses.
    He's building. Pay attention.
  • Ironman92
    Escrow
  • justincredible
    dlazz;1455176 wrote:He's building. Pay attention.
    He says "leaning towards." That doesn't mean he's definitely building.
  • dlazz
    justincredible;1455213 wrote:He says "leaning towards." That doesn't mean he's definitely building.
    Yes it does.
  • like_that
    dlazz;1455220 wrote:Yes it does.
    And that is why justin said "if you buy."
  • sportchampps
    Right now thinking of building in Blacklick, Oh. My brother sells homeowners insurance and already told me I could get it for around $450 a year on a brand new house. Taxes are not to bad in the area.
  • WebFire
    dlazz;1455176 wrote:He's building. Pay attention.
    "Looking to buy our first house soon. Any Tips?"

    You suck at this.
  • dlazz
    sportchampps;1455226 wrote:Right now thinking of building in Blacklick, Oh. My brother sells homeowners insurance and already told me I could get it for around $450 a year on a brand new house. Taxes are not to bad in the area.
    Have you looked at any of the other home builders? M/I Homes and Dominion come to mind.
  • LJ
    sportchampps;1455226 wrote:Right now thinking of building in Blacklick, Oh. My brother sells homeowners insurance and already told me I could get it for around $450 a year on a brand new house. Taxes are not to bad in the area.
    I would definitely look at Dominion and M/I in that area. Typically have nicer neighborhoods. There is a really nice Dominion neighborhood a little further out between Pataskala and Blacklick named Cumberland Crossing

    http://www.dominionhomes.com/find-my-home/community-detail.asp?comID=11
  • said_aouita
    sportchampps;1455226 wrote:Right now thinking of building in Blacklick, Oh.
    Blacklick it teetering on becoming not that nice of an area. It's too close to the airport....imo.
  • LJ
    said_aouita;1455309 wrote:Blacklick it teetering on becoming not that nice of an area. It's too close to the airport....imo.
    Depends. To the East and the North it's pretty solid. Closer to Broad St and RNA it's not that great. Typically if you stay in Gahanna schools it's a nice area of Blacklick, if you are in Licking Heights its not so good. That's an easy way to determine how good your area is.
  • said_aouita
    LJ;1455315 wrote:Depends. To the East and the North it's pretty solid. Closer to Broad St and RNA it's not that great. Typically if you stay in Gahanna schools it's a nice area of Blacklick, if you are in Licking Heights its not so good. That's an easy way to determine how good your area is.
    Gotcha. My parents condo was right off of Broad, down near Meijer/Home Depot, etc....strip mall hell.
    Glad they finally sold it.
  • redrocket
    Good advise on making sure that you are not in any type of flood zone. Also if the property has not been surveyed, get one so you know what you are buying. Take the word of a surveyor and not a salesman.
  • OSH
    Just bought my first house. I am definitely not saying I'm an expert at it, but I almost got burnt a couple times on it.

    A couple things I'd check on have already been mentioned: taxes and zoning (flood zone mainly).

    I would also make sure you check on previous buying/sale prices. Maybe even check on the county value -- just as a reference. I don't know who you plan on buying from, whether a realtor or owner, but it's best to be somewhat knowledgeable when trying to negotiate. So have some sort of reference points to go on.

    Interest loan rates are going up for homes...so if you need one, better get going!
  • Oldman82
    Don't build or buy more house than you need.
  • RedRider1
    sportchampps;1455226 wrote:Right now thinking of building in Blacklick, Oh. My brother sells homeowners insurance and already told me I could get it for around $450 a year on a brand new house. Taxes are not to bad in the area.

    Wow. I'd take a good look at your coverages. Insurance in OH has gone up & up over the last 5 years. $6-700 annually for an above average risk with good credit would be what is consider a good deal.

    Depends on replacement cost of your home but $450 seems low. Don't bare bones it.
  • gerb131
    dlazz;1455229 wrote:Have you looked at any of the other home builders? M/I Homes and Dominion come to mind.
    I live in a dominion aka domino. They suck built in 2000
  • HitsRus
    Don't build or buy more house than you need.
    Good advice here. Look at your first house as a stepping stone to your second. If you can't put at least 10% down you are probably buying too big. Too many young people are upside down right from the start trying for too big a house....then someone gets laid off or a divorce happens, and you have a real disaster.