Home Buying Thread

[TheCutlery]

Originally Posted by Dis

I encourage anyone buying a new house or building a house to get a 3rd party inspector. It is worth it.

Really?

Some nails in the roof that weren't pounded in all the way, a minor structural issue that isn't a big deal if not corrected, and an oven at the wrong temp (that's at no fault of the house) is worth the $300?

My inspector found a GFCI that wasn't working and a flapper in a toilet that wasn't dropping back down. Everything else that he saw, I saw, and the only reason I didn't see those 2 is because I didn't dig into it far enough, mostly because those are non issues in the grand scheme of a house.

I mean, it's worth it for peace of mind that you didn't overlook anything glaring like a fucking crack in the foundation, but I sure don't know about it being worth it in the grand scheme of the shit they find. If you know what you're looking for, and know what things are issues, you should be able to come up with the major stuff. The minor stuff wouldn't be dealbreakers anyway.

Even peace of mind may be overrated. Who's to say a problem doesn't arise a year down the road? You can inspect a house today and have it break tomorrow, the inspection doesn't guarantee future results.

I dunno, I got an inspection done, but after seeing what went on, I'm convinced that all anyone really needs is the checklist that they have, and go over the house thoroughly and you're fine. If you've got any idea at all what you're looking for, and the house wasn't built in 1920 so it's relatively up to code, I think you're probably okay without one. If you don't have the time for that, or don't know what water damage looks like, yeah, go ahead and get someone out there who does.

[Dis]

Originally Posted by TheCutlery

Really?

Some nails in the roof that weren't pounded in all the way, a minor structural issue that isn't a big deal if not corrected, and an oven at the wrong temp (that's at no fault of the house) is worth the $300?

My inspector found a GFCI that wasn't working and a flapper in a toilet that wasn't dropping back down. Everything else that he saw, I saw, and the only reason I didn't see those 2 is because I didn't dig into it far enough, mostly because those are non issues in the grand scheme of a house.

I mean, it's worth it for peace of mind that you didn't overlook anything glaring like a fucking crack in the foundation, but I sure don't know about it being worth it in the grand scheme of the shit they find. If you know what you're looking for, and know what things are issues, you should be able to come up with the major stuff. The minor stuff wouldn't be dealbreakers anyway.

Even peace of mind may be overrated. Who's to say a problem doesn't arise a year down the road? You can inspect a house today and have it break tomorrow, the inspection doesn't guarantee future results.

I dunno, I got an inspection done, but after seeing what went on, I'm convinced that all anyone really needs is the checklist that they have, and go over the house thoroughly and you're fine. If you've got any idea at all what you're looking for, and the house wasn't built in 1920 so it's relatively up to code, I think you're probably okay without one. If you don't have the time for that, or don't know what water damage looks like, yeah, go ahead and get someone out there who does.

There is nothing minor about a structural issue.

It was an easy fix, all structure issues are major, no matter how easy they are to fix. It is a matter of knowing they are there, which the inspector found.

Just so you can understand: Hurricanes, Houston. We have them.

There are two boards nailed together on the attic floor on the east end of the upper attic that the purlin braces/struts from the purlins are nailed to for support of the roof structure, the two boards nailed together should be evaluated further by a qualified contractor because they do not appear to have proper side bracing to reduce the chance of the boards moving, side braces are nailed to the top of the two boards instead of being butted up and nailed to the side, and there is only side braces on one end, missing on the other, needs repair

Now a hurricane rolls through, my roof encaves onto my house in that area because it wasnt supported properly, and/or part of my cieling caves in as well. Not really what you would call a "minor" thing.

All they are having to do to fix, is put a supporting beam on the otherside of the horizontal in order to brace it properly, and reset the supporting beam on the other side of the horizontal to brace properly. All in all a very easy, easy fix (which they have already done, and will be showing me to confirm on Monday btw).

Easy fix != Minor issue

Edit: You are shooting yourself in the foot if you dont have a 3rd party inspection done regardless of how new the house is. It goes beyond peace of mind, it also goes into thinking foward when you sell that same house and it gets inspected. You will have documentation from your inspector to show prospective buyers. Not to mention many other reasons, but I am tired of typing =P

[TheCutlery]

Yeah, so you have shit that's required for your neck of the woods that I don't for mine. If you're familiar with that, then like I said, you're just as qualified as the inspector. If you're not, then you better get it inspected. If you know what's going to be an issue and what's not, then we are both in agreement. I'm not familiar with a hurricane zone, I wouldn't know what to look for. I'm familiar with cold winters, hot summers, and high wind. After following the inspector around through my house, I'm convinced that all I need is a checklist to make sure I didn't forget anything, and I'm good. If I bought in your area, I wouldn't be, so I'd consider it a reasonable investment to get it inspected.

Edit: You are shooting yourself in the foot if you dont have a 3rd party inspection done regardless of how new the house is. It goes beyond peace of mind, it also goes into thinking foward when you sell that same house and it gets inspected. You will have documentation from your inspector to show prospective buyers.

See, that too is a non issue. If you're working off the logic that you should have every house inspected that you purchase, then why would the new owner give 2 shits about what your inspection log says? I sure didn't care what the prior owners for my house had to say about it until I looked at it myself.

[Dis]

Originally Posted by TheCutlery

Yeah, so you have shit that's required for your neck of the woods that I don't for mine. If you're familiar with that, then like I said, you're just as qualified as the inspector. If you're not, then you better get it inspected. If you know what's going to be an issue and what's not, then we are both in agreement. I'm not familiar with a hurricane zone, I wouldn't know what to look for. I'm familiar with cold winters, hot summers, and high wind. After following the inspector around through my house, I'm convinced that all I need is a checklist to make sure I didn't forget anything, and I'm good. If I bought in your area, I wouldn't be, so I'd consider it a reasonable investment to get it inspected.



See, that too is a non issue. If you're working off the logic that you should have every house inspected that you purchase, then why would the new owner give 2 shits about what your inspection log says? I sure didn't care what the prior owners for my house had to say about it until I looked at it myself.

Code changes etc. I could get into the long speel about why, but dont really care that much to type it out. Like you said, ultimately you dont have to do it, but 100-300 bucks to me is a no brainer to have a pro inspect your home.

[Hatorade]

Originally Posted by Dis

Code changes etc. I could get into the long speel about why, but dont really care that much to type it out. Like you said, ultimately you dont have to do it, but 100-300 bucks to me is a no brainer to have a pro inspect your home.

So the required inspection I paid for isn't what you are talking about? Not the one by the bank the one before we go into contract they sat me down and told me what was wrong etc.

[Dis]

Originally Posted by Hatorade

So the required inspection I paid for isn't what you are talking about? Not the one by the bank the one they sat me down and told me what was wrong etc.

Sorry, I meant for a brand new home.

Different requirements for different types of houses and loans.

Brand new house, you typically arent required to hire a house inspector. We did just to make sure.

For a resell house, you would be a fool not to, not to mention, most banks/loans require this anyways.

[Phoenix]

Well the offer I submitted was turned down . Kinda makes me wonder considering 75k was the full offering price.

[TheCutlery]

Originally Posted by Phoenix

Well the offer I submitted was turned down . Kinda makes me wonder considering 75k was the full offering price.

Welcome to the fun minigame of life called the housing market. Enjoy your stay.

No one ever gets the first home they bid on. Probably a good thing, you'll find something else you like way better.

By the by, did get my 8k check...actually $8130.80. LOLinterest. Took about 7 weeks or so.

[meStevo]

We actually stopped looking at houses we bid on until we got the bank counter. If you don't sign the bank counter, nothing happens, and you dont lose your earnest money... you get denied so often it was a waste of ours and our realtor's time. If we liked the area and model we sent in an appropriate offer based on the comps. The first one we got the counter on we absolutely loved so didn't really abuse it.

Taking over 2 weeks for the seller to fix a window which then has to be re-inspected by the appraisal guy, hoping that doesn't put us in a crappy spot for closing earlier. We're out of town 11/20-11/23, banker originally said mid-november we'll close no problem.... close date in the contract is 11/23.

[Phoenix]

Originally Posted by TheCutlery

Welcome to the fun minigame of life called the housing market. Enjoy your stay.

No one ever gets the first home they bid on. Probably a good thing, you'll find something else you like way better.

By the by, did get my 8k check...actually $8130.80. LOLinterest. Took about 7 weeks or so.

True, but with just over a month left in the military I really want to move into my own place when I leave active duty, I dont want to go back to my mother's. The tax credit is nice but my true motivation for buying a house is staying independent.

[Chaotic]

Do you guys use any national sites to view houses? Also, I mentioned it very early in this thread, and I feel compelled to again - you guys are getting gorgeous looking houses for so cheap, i hate you.

It's awkward for me here in NY, I was having a discussion with my friend before - i'm making $50k a year (student still, but I have a nice full time job) - I have a nice car, nice stuff, anything material I really want I already have (within reason, i'm not one of those $200 jeans guys, and I was reasonable when i purchased my car too, paid 75% of it cash and my monthly payment is nothing) I only mention this because I feel at this point I have no purpose with really having my money - no "next step" so to speak.

I'd have to save 10 years to be able to afford the monthly payment on a house. It's like, what the fuck do I do now? Average house in my area is still in the $350-400k mark and property taxes range from $6000-$10000 a year (I think my parents pay $8500) I can get an apartment for that. It just blows my ass. Almost makes me wish I lived in another state, but I do like it here =\


I'm debt free and student loan free ( so far ) and saving, but man it sucks, especially reading a thread like this. I want to play too.

[Phoenix]

Move out of NY?

[TheCutlery]

Kool aid man speaks the truth. If you're making 50k in the midwest you're doing just fine. 50k in new york might as well be minimum wage.

[r3probate]

@Chaotic - check out zillow.com if you're just looking for real estate listings/photos/prices. It does an OK job of showing pricing trends in an area and keeps track of recently sold properties on the map as well. Alternatively you can just get straight at the MLS data if you're just browsing.

[TheCutlery]

Originally Posted by r3probate

@Chaotic - check out zillow.com if you're just looking for real estate listings/photos/prices. It does an OK job of showing pricing trends in an area and keeps track of recently sold properties on the map as well. Alternatively you can just get straight at the MLS data if you're just browsing.

rofl. Uhh, no.

My house was vacant for about a year before I bought it in September. I paid $245 for it. Since January, Zillow has raised the "value" of my house from $225 to $413. I assure you, despite what I would like to believe, I did not put $190k worth of work into it, and it did not appreciate while it was vacant.