Here are a few topics that are of particular interest to first time buyers, although are useful for everyone.

Open Houses

Open houses are a great way for a potential home buyer to learn about the current Real Estate market and determine the styles and features they like best. They are also great for gathering new decoration ideas. If you are looking to buy a home right away, you are probably better off to obtain the services of a Realtor. Review the Searching for a Home section of this website for more details on how to conduct a serious home search.

If you have never been to an open house, here are the basic rules. Drive to the area you are interested in and drive along the main roads. Realtors will always put signs up here so as to pull in the most amount of traffic. Follow the signs until you arrive at the home. There is generally no need to wait for someone to let you in unless the door is locked, just walk on in and announce yourself with a loud "hello". Be sure to take off your shoes and grab a feature sheet for the details of the home. The Realtor will be happy to answer any questions you may have.

Home Inspections

When buying a home which has previously been lived in, it is generally a good idea to have the home inspected by a qualified professional. The ability for the home to "pass" the home inspection should be written into the purchase contract as a condition of the sale. Home inspections are usually paid for by the buyer.

The definition of "pass" will depend on how the condition is worded. Usually there is some dollar value indicated and if the defects found were to all be repaired, the total cost of those repairs would have to exceed that dollar value in order for the buyer to be able to cancel the deal. Particular care should be given to the wording of the condition to determine what constitutes a "defect". In some cases it may include a leaky faucet, while in other cases it may be limited to major structural problems only. Your Realtor will have standard forms that can be modified to suit your particular needs.

Home inspections generally last between 2 and 4 hours for most residential homes. It is a good idea for the buyers to attend the home inspection to learn first hand what and where the issues are and to ask any general questions they may have. Some companies may also provide a home maintenance manual as part of their service. First time home buyers will find this especially helpful.