So I went and saw it and it's really nice. She said the house has to be inspected before we can even buy and there hasn't been one yet built by the same guy that needed fixing. A plus is the taxes are lower there than probably any other house I have on my list. The bedrooms look a little small but I think everything will still fit. Plus if we end up getting it the neighbors have a baby just a month older than our son so that's kinda cool lol.

My first lender (great guy) had us write down our musts for a house at our first meeting. When it came down to formalizing the process (the can't turn back stage). He brought that piece of paper back out to keep us honest and to make sure we didn't fall in love with a home for the wrong reasons.

Also, don't be afraid to stretch your budget. If you live in CA don't be afraid to pay mortgage insurance to get what you want/need because property values will rise and you'll get rid of it in a few years. Think about resale: Don't buy a house with one bathroom, awkward layout, busy street, etc.

Look for leaks and make sure you know the source, look for mold and musky smells.

@hannah that's interesting it's higher with a conventional loan. We have an FHA and have to spend an extra 300 a month in mortgage insurance which would be gone if we went into a conventional loan.

Pay for a home inspection, the inspector will list every single thing that needs repair and "future" repairs as well. Usually it's around $300 depending on where you are but it's well worth the extra money. Even in a "newer" home there can be issues that are easily overlooked by a buyer!

Be noisy when looking at homes. Open doors drawers look under cabinets etc... it's amazing the stuff the find when you scratch the surface. Also agree with checking out the neighborhood. We drove around the neighborhood at different times different days just to see what was normal for it. On a few houses we found alot we didn't like such as loud cars or motocycles every where music some people letting their kids run in the middle of the road...

Also put in your contract for a home warrenty!!!!

The one we are looking at right now is in the country and a new build. There is only four houses on the street and I think right across the street is farm land. I say street it's actually just gravel lol. The houses near are pretty nice too so I guess we're okay.

Eta I do know taxes in our county are ridiculous. So that's one downside.

Pay the most attention to the surrounding homes and area. We looked to see if people took care of their yards, if there were cars parked all over the place, etc. Buy the cheapest house in the nicest neighborhood you can afford. Check into property tax rates and if there are MUD taxes.

Make a list of 'Musts' and 'Wants'

Musts should be the things you wont compromise on

like number of bedrooms, square footage, proxmity to major roads, yard size, etc.

Check the foundation for cracks. Cracks in walls.

I wish we would of spent more and purchased a home that was brand new or pretty much brand new. Our home wasn't really considered a fixer upper but within a year we had so many things we had to change like new roof, new furnace and new air conditioner. The costs can add up and if you aren't prepared for this it could become really stressful. Good luck and I hope you find the perfect first time home!!