re: Home buying what are some of the main factors you look for?

I'd like to chime in here. I was in the military and presently work in a job that sends me from place to place and unfortunately I have dealt with this issue more than I'd like. So let me just say this is probably the largest investment some make in a lifetime. So don't relax your vigilance.

First, do your research on the location. Crime (talk to local police and neighbors), Sex Offenders, Traffic issues(is your street a thoroughfare), Covenants, neighbor quality (what do their yards look like),Comps (compare houses and prices) ,drive time to desired locations (schools, grocery, shopping, fishing holes), Flood zone? (check for drainage issues with septic or storm and/or flood plain (Can you say flood insurance?)) etc.

Then I would want to know if the neighborhood is complete i.e. are you coming into a neighborhood that is established and all homes that can be built are (That is to say you won't have to worry that you are buying a nice house but due to the housing market the builder decides to start building small low quality low priced homes.)in fact completed.

Next I look for the actual builder name and his reputation. Is he/she a quality builder? Any and all things related to them. Including their relationship with the agent. If you use one.

Now before you buy first try to go straight through the seller. I bought and sold my first house without an agent and I nearly doubled what I paid for the house. That's money in my pocket not an agents. Try to keep all agents out if possible (They work on commision whether you are buying or selling and that works in their favor not yours). If you decide to use an agent check their creditials and make sure they are working for you and not the other guy. This is not to say using an agent doesn't have its advantages but if you use them be sure you negotiate their percentage before any paperwork is signed. There are usually lots of agents and that can work in your favor. Also, make sure you lay down the law up front and don't give them alot of rope.

Finally, DO NOT BUY THINKING THIS IS A SHORT TERM DEAL! You should always buy as if it is yours forever. That way you look at every angle as though you will have to live with it and it matters. Don't fool yourself into thinking, I can deal with this for now since I'll be out of here in two or three years. Life changes in an instant and you don't want to be stuck with anything you wouldn't want to live with long term. So if you want the house with four bedrooms and a pool get it now because the price to add it in a few years will kick you in the pants.

Think of it as though you are an athlete and all the colleges in town are trying to recruit you and have fun with it. There's no NCAA violations to deal with in this market.

While location and price are always huge factors, IMO you should ALWAYS get 1 more bedroom; if you need 3 get one with a 4th BR. Much rather have it and not need it than need it and not have it. I like 3+ garages.

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3500 square feet, but only has 3 BR

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Those must be some huge bedrooms. If your house is that big, with large bedrooms, you could potentially split a bedroom in two.

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Estimates I got a few years ago were way more than I anticipated for doing that though, so we've held off.

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Man, it is amazing how you can look at something and either think, "I could do some of this to cut down on costs", or "this shouldn't be too expensive" and then get that estimate back and it's like fuuuuuuuuuuuuuuck this.

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Home buying what are some of the main factors you look for?

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Well the first thing we looked for was an empty lot so we could build our own shite and not buy someone else's meth lab. Then we chose a builder, and decided against a realtor. Had very few problems and the house keeps the wife happy.

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I had it pegged between $1000-$2000 and all 3 estimates came back over twice my upper limit.

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WTF? For a front door? You got to be lyin.

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The one I underestimated was a new front door. Holy shite those are expensive. I had it pegged between $1000-$2000 and all 3 estimates came back over twice my upper limit

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You must be getting the door and the 3 window frame around it. Those are $4K from just the Home Depot.

Oh hell naw

How in the world did he try to justify an 11k dollar bill?

He was shady as hell, but he did underestimate the cost. He likely lost money on the job, but that was his problem for giving us a cheap estimate.