Just because you love a particular property doesn't mean that it's perfect. In fact, this is where reason has to trump emotion. You'll need to have a property inspection (which we highly recommend you attend) that will hopefully expose all the issues a home might hide. This way you'll know exactly what you are getting into before you sign closing papers.
Your main concern is the possibility of structural damage. This can come from water damage, shifting ground, or poor construction when the house was built.
Don’t sweat the small stuff. It’s the inspector’s job to mark everything discovered no matter how large or small. Things that are easily fixed can be overlooked.
If you have a big problem show up in your inspection report, you should bring in a specialist and if the worst-case scenario turns out to be true, you might want to walk away from the purchase.
And even if your home passes inspection with flying colors, you'll still need to buy a home owner’s insurance policy protects you against loss or damage to the property itself and against liability in case someone sustains an injury while on your property.
Your First Home Gary Keller's book Your First Home: The Proven Path to Home Ownership is designed to help you, the buyer, navigate through the potential twists, turns, and confusion of the home-buying process. If you aspire to own a home of your own, ask an agent for a free copy of the book, or order one here.
