Advice for someone getting ready to buy their first home

Location and a layout you like are way more important than finishings like granite or hardwood.

Think ten years down the road. Check out the schools the house is zoned to and check your state's DOT website to see if they're planning to tear up the closest interstate in the near future.

Look into crime statistics and check for sex offenders nearby.

Get an excellent independent inspector. Don't let your realtor choose the inspector for you.

No house is perfect. Plan for unexpected expenses shortly after you close.

You can change a lot of things, but not the location. A long commute might seem Ok at first but it will wear a person down in the long run, especially as life gets more complex with kids, job changes, etc. Ditto with things like noisy neighbors, busy streets, etc. Busy streets usually only get busier.

No house is perfect - you need to have a list of absolute deal breakers vs general preferences. Know what is most important, because something is going to have to give.

Make sure there's plenty of money left to buy things for the house. Much better to underspend because owning a house is expensive - there will always be something going wrong... or at the very least, something that would make the house that much better if only you could afford it. A lot of people told us we should've gotten a much bigger house (which we knew we didn't need) but most of those people ended up foreclosing... we were easily able to ride out the tough years.

Every extra square foot will cost more down the line when stuff needs to get fixed. A small house is much less expensive to re-roof. A small lot needs a lot less fencing. Furnace systems and hot water tanks and all those other boring necessities cost less in a small house than a large one.

Not everyone would agree but I would (and did) favor a house with generous sized living spaces and small private spaces. People coming to my home spend time in our large living and dining rooms. That's where we spend 80% of our time too. My bedroom doesn't need to be much bigger than my bed. I'd rather have that extra space in my living room.

Old houses have withstood all manner of trials - if they don't leak or crumble or otherwise break down now, they probably won't while you own them. A new house... well, it's harder to know how well it'll hold up. And for resale purposes, if the area is still being built up around you, why would someone want to buy your used 5-10 year old house when they could just buy a brand new one? (That partly depends on where you're at and what people value). The finishes in our 95 year old house are much nicer than we could have afforded new - no one builds a starter home with the kind of big bright windows we have.

One of the trickiest things for a first time buyer would be not to fall in love too hard before the deal has been made. Good luck to your friend!

Drive through the neighborhood at different times of the day and night and weekdays and weekends. What is or isn't going on?

There have been several threads over the past few weeks that have asked this very question. A quick search will yield lots of good advice.

A huge triple yes to going to the house at various times of the day. Some neighborhoods are busier than expected.

Like many people, I would say look at the bones of the house.

I purchased my first home almost 4 years ago, it is pre-owned manufactured home that is around 900 square feet. It is perfect for my husband and our 2 cats. The bones of the house are awesome and was built in 2006. I was concerned about the space, but really it is PERFECT.

Choose your own inspector - I sadly went with my real estate agents and wish I would have hired an independent, there were a couple things taht the inspector should have alerted us too but didn't.

Make sure the agent works for you - don't let them talk you into something that might not be what you wanted but they sell you on it anyways. Stick to your guns!
 
The hardest part is the time after the offer is made and you are waiting to hear back if it is accepted - longest and shortest wait EVER!!!

In the end, best investment EVER and nothing like owning your own home - I love it!

Wish your friend the best of luck and if you or them have any questions please DM me.

Jennifer

In addition to driving through the neighborhood at all times of day each day, interview the neighbors. They will tell you a lot about the neighbors that your realtor can't by law.

don't make any large purchses! I put a $16K charge for work on my personal credit card a few months prior to moving/closing without even thinking about it. Paid it off within like 10 days or something crazy. Even though I could explain the charge/payment, the mortgage company required a letter from my employer to state that it was a work expense. UGH!

Do not finance for anything over 20 years, only do 15 if possible. The little extra in payment is so worth it. You will be so thrilled when you get about 12 years down the road....