The Jones’ family found their dream home in North Texas and moved into it with all of the excitement and enthusiasm of a kid on Christmas morning.  After a long and hectic day of unpacking, they collapsed into bed anticipating a good night’s rest.  Unfortunately, they were shocked and dismayed when they began to hear the very obvious noise of trucks roaring along the interstate highway situated less than a half mile to the rear of their home.  Too late!

 This unfortunate situation exemplifies the need to focus on location when contemplating the purchase of a home.  A ten million dollar mansion isn’t worth a dime if it’s sitting next to a toxic waste dump.  This example is far-fetched and outrageous, but it makes the point that finding the right location is certainly as important as finding the right house.

 How do you investigate a potential neighborhood?  There are a number of factors and issues to be considered in your evaluation.  Some of them can be covered merely through visual observation; others will have to be explored with the assistance of community and government organizations.

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It has been said that moving and divorce are the two of the most stressful events a person or family can experience.  Divorce is a subject for another time. Let’s consider the event of moving and look at some ways to make your house hunting trip in North Texas less stressful and more effective.

 Location is the first factor to consider when planning a move.  If you have children, or are planning a family, you will want to know about the schools in the area.  How about shopping centers, medical facilities, recreational opportunities and of course how far will you be from your place of employment. 

 If you require public transportation, is there any within walking distance of your prospective new home.  What about the crime rate?  A check with the local law enforcement agency can either put your mind at ease or give you reason to look elsewhere. 

 And finally, try to assess the quality and character of the people who live in the area.  This is obviously difficult to do without interviewing...

A home warranty is not much different from a warranty you might have on your car, your computer or your home entertainment center.  A warranty on your home usually covers all of your home’s major mechanical systems, including hot tubs, pools, wells, septic tanks and all of your appliances.  Some policies even cover the roof of your home and almost anything else you’d like to include, as long as it’s specified in the policy. 

  Home warranties are obtainable for most any dwelling, including mobile homes, condominiums, town houses and manufactured homes.  They can be purchased by either the buyer or the seller; some sellers will include a home warranty policy to make purchasing their home more attractive.  Including a home warranty with the sale is an excellent idea, especially if the home is older and the systems and appliances are aging. 

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Ecommerce is rapidly expanding to the real estate market.  Sellers are looking to auction off down payments, lease agreements, or selling the home outright. Individual homeowners and real estate agents are turning to the Internet as an avenue for sales.  Buying your home online can be a risky venture.  On the flipside, there are some great deals out there.  If you decide to take this path, you should be aware of the challenges associated with buying a home site unseen.  The more educated you are, the better. First of all, the home could have major structural issues not evident in an online picture.  Pictures don’t always tell the whole story.  It has also become much easier to doctor photographs.  You have to consider the possibility that some sellers might not be as truthful as they should be.  After all, they are trying to sell the property, so the sales description is going to emphasize the positives and downplay the negatives.  Getting a fixer upper is one thing.  Living in a house that is structurally unsound is a completely different matter....

Buying your first home is one of the most exciting things you will ever do.  If you have spent years living in apartments, there is nothing more satisfying than owning your own property.  The process can be a little lengthy and you might hit a few bumps in the road to home ownership.  The following tips will help the first time homeowner avoid some of the hiccups.