1. go to www.daveramsey.com , go to the far right column, click on real estate. click on buy a home. You will be given the information to a recommended realtor in your area. I highly recommend this. I did this when I sold my home, and they were super professional (and quick), I wish I had had them in the beginning.
2. It is worth it to have 2 inspectors inspect your home. I had a lot of headache before selling my home, because the inspector did not find exspensive repairs that needed to be made. IT happens all the time to people.
3. Make sure you are sure you want a home. IT is a huge responsibility, and a burden. I suggest writing out your goals, and seeing how a home fits into that. Then making a budget, and seeing how a home fits into that. ITs hard to move into a house and not have enough money to redo things, buy new things etc.
4. IF it’s just for investment, there are other things to invest your money in that will give you way more money in return than a home.

We added to our contract that the sellers would have a termite inspection done. Very useful because we didn’t have to worry about it.

Aside from that I think everyone else has covered.

Get a home warranty. My sister recently purchased a house, and her sewage lines burst about 2 weeks after she moved in. Check to be sure the warranty covers things like this – not all do.

It’s worth the freedom from hassle for that first year while you settle in, no matter the cost.

Additionally, I would get – in addition to the typical home inspection – a MOLD inspection. This has become a big problem in recent years.

And a radon inspection is a great idea too.

what should you check?
everything
1) Inspection eg termite, house foundation, abestos roof, leaking roof, plumbing.. get certified people which have union or traders association backup the lots, better get everything check out and pay a bit of money upfront get all those check.also who live in the house before.. who owns it before.. very important the sales people don’t tell unless you ask ..

2) also neighbour very important, usually just ring insurance company to know if crime rate high or not by the premium by the postcode, also usually you can do some research about the demographic, eg elderly places is quiet , and cheap places is attract low social economic – could mean trouble since no job , no money mean higher crim rate.. ,
also your direct neighbour next door too you live there so you gotta live next to them…

3) also have a checklist of things you like about a house and something you will not put up with? eg is noise a problem? is trees and river important?
is security important? is level ground important? 3 bedrooms? does it have to be close to work? have a list and look at 100 house to get some idea what you like and not and cross em off this will drastically improve what you really like and want.

what went wrong?
anything can go wrong .. thats life
just have to make sure you have spare cash, or budget maintenance cost for house, make sure get house insurance ,security setup and money for any renovation or emergency breakdown…

My sister have Bf that bought an ancient
house build prob 100 years ago,.. as you know things break down.. if you get real old place prepare to spend money to fix up , they decided to fix the bath room ended up pulling out all the pipes and cables since after build it is so old it is no longer standard and safe so had to pull all walls apart to fix, meaning no bath room for a month or so and also a huge bill..

if you get new house also before entering take photos of all things not look right so there is proof before moving in to get the developer/seller to fix.

with any house you need spend money on like car, they can break down anytime, even a new car, tyre can puncture and windscreen can get smash, so get insurance and have some spare cash ..eg if you hot water system broke down, no hot shower.. u need to get it fix pronto.. or leaking tap.. some you can fix but most get professional to do it since master traders have one year warranry on their workmanship..

hope this helps mate
and enjoy the new house soon

Kevin

Make sure you’re madly in love with the house. I’ve moved 15 times in my life so far, and in the moves I’ve made and the apartments and houses I’ve bought, the best were the ones I loved instantly. Call it love at first site! That initial feeling (some say feug shui) is your gut telling you that the space is right for your soul. Even when things break down, as they are bound to do, it doesn’t hurt so much because its more a labor of love than—labor!

Agree with house inspector – very standard to put in the contract that the contract is contingent on a home inspection. A couple things I ran across that didn’t get caught in home inspection:

- turn on all facets, including switching tub faucets to the shower to make sure water pressure is okay.
- Use the toilet, including putting toilet paper in it and flush to see if it’s sluggish.
- one stucco house I had needed some stucco repairs. It was an older house, so I figured it was okay, but came to find out it was very hard to find a stucco person in my area.
- any repairs that are done after home inspection should be stipulated to be done by qualified, liscened electrician or plumber or roofer or whatever. Sometimes do-it-yourselfers will try to make the repairs, but they end up not well done.