You've been househunting online, you have been pre-approved for a loan, and you have found a beautiful home in your price range. All the pictures show the hardwood floors, granite counters and garden that you want.
Before you focus all your dreams on that one house, take a 
deep breath, and check out other important factors with the help of your Realtor. After all, you won't just be looking at pretty pictures after you buy, you will be living there.
You will of course want to see the house in person, as photos don’t always accurately reflect room sizes or proportions. To make sure that this is the house for you, you need to learn a few more things.
1. Look at the surrounding houses in the neighborhood. Are the homes and yards well kept? The condition of these homes will affect the value of the home you buy.
2. Is it visually appealing? Explore the lot thoroughly. 
Does it offer adequate privacy? Will you maintain the ground or hire someone? Do you like the landscaping or would you design your own? When looking into the back yard, are you greeted with the sight of a transformer, radio broadcasting
tower, gas station, bus stop or ball field where night games are played?
3. What kind of area is it in? How close are shopping facilities, banks, churches, hospitals, schools, parks and movie theatres? And, of course you'll want to know what, if any, crime rate is associated with the neighborhood. Go online to the police website and ask for records of robberies, break-ins, vandalism, assaults and drug-related problems in the neighborhood. Is crime increasing or decreasing? Keep in mind that there is probably some “crime” in every neighborhood, but you may not want to move into an area which experiences regular violent crime.
4.. What is the traffic like and how will it affect
your commute to and from work? Heavy traffic also produces noise and air pollution.
5. Be sure that you will be getting a Natural Hazards Report before closing escrow, and that if it shows that this house is in a flood zone or an area of serious pollution or there are other hazards, you have the right to cancel your contract.
6. Don't choose a house because you like the interior decorating - a well furnished home isn't always the most structurally sound. Check out the actual structure of the home. Keep in mind, the furnishings will be leaving with the current owner, and that you can inexpensively paint your new home any color you want.
7. Go through the house with a fine-tooth
comb. Open cabinets, turn on every switch, notice details, move furniture away from the walls, look in the attic, turn on faucets and flush the commodes. Look for water spots on walls and ceilings - you don't want to find out after you've bought the house that the roof is leaking.
8. It is also always a good idea to order a whole house inspection. This will cost you a few hundred dollars, but it could wind up saving you many thousands of dollars and many headaches. Your purchase can be made contingent on your approval of the condition of the house as stated in the inspection report. If there are repairs necessary, you can negotiate with the seller to the house is yours!cover some or all of the cost of repairs.
Once you have satisfied yourself that you can live with this home, your Realtor will help you to get it under contract with contingencies removed, and before you know it you will be moving in!
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Susan Neal
Realtor/ Broker
Century 21 Noel David Realty
Full time real estate services in Fair Oaks CA, with friendly professionalism, 30+ years experience.
I work hard to give my buyer or seller a low-stress transaction.
"Happy clients make me happy."
For all your real estate needs or questions, call me at (916)705-8951or visit my website at www.SusanNealFineProperties.com.
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