Home-Buyer Savvy Saves Headaches

 Home-buyers who know what they want make the work of the real estate professional a real pleasure. Instead of having to search for "possibles," everyone's energies can go into locating the "perfect" (or almost perfect) home at the right price with the right financing.

Just ask yourself a few personal questions and bone up on some real estate facts of life. Such as:

 PERSONAL MATTERS (this list can go on indefinitely):

• How many and what kind of rooms are essential?
  
• How much commuting time is tolerable?
  
• What home styles are appealing?
  
• How much yard is absolutely necessary?
  
• What kind of view is desirable?

NEIGHBORHOOD MATTERS

• A home development or non-development?
  
• Besides schools, what do taxes cover (sewage? Trash collection? Police and fire protection? Recreation?)
  
• How high are taxes? What is the mill rate?
  
• What plans exist for future area development? How will it affect the quality of life in this neighborhood.

 HOME TYPES

• What does it mean when a basement or attic has dark stains on the walls and a sump pump in the basement corner? (Wetness, no doubt)
  
• What do cracks in the foundation mean? (Uneven settling)
  
• What if beams are soft? (May be termites)
  
• What kind of pipes are best? (Copper lasts longer than cast-iron and won't rust)
  
• What are the heating qualities and costs of oil, gas, heat pump systems in this area?
  
• How is the house insulated (bating, blow-in)? What kind of material (rock wool, glass wool, mineral aggregates, wood fiber, cotton, paper)? What is the R value (resistance to heat flow: R-19 for attic floors in cold climates equals about 6 or 7 inches of mineral wool insulation; R-13 minimum)?
  
• Are hardwood floors essential? (Not always, particularly if you have wall-to-wall carpeting)
  
• How do sidings compare? (Frame homes need occasional painting; aluminum and vinyl do not. Brick requires little maintenance. Stucco is best suited to southern climates.)
  
• Value: To recognize value, compare prices and features. Depend on us, we keep up with the always-changing market.

 MONEY MATTERS

• Budget: Know what expenses to expect besides the PITI (mortgage principal and interest, property taxes and insurance premiums).
  
• What will you have spent on utilities, maintenance and other homeowners' costs (moving costs, furniture costs, etc.)?
  
• Financing: Again, depend on us for assistance. What kind of mortgage loan (conventional, adjustable rate, FHA, VA, an assumption, etc.) best suits your circumstances? (Shop for a lender as knowledgeably as you shop for a home. Interest rates and the number of points charged vary.)