The school district will affect home value

Even if you don’t have kids, it pays to check out a neighborhood’s school district before buying a home, as living in an area with a sought-after school system raises your property value.

Continue negotiating after the inspection

If a flaw is discovered during your home inspection, use it to your advantage. Even after inspections, you still have another chance to get a great deal. Staying under budget when buying a home gives you extra cash to add the upgrades and decor you’ve always wanted.

Don’t overlook the landscaping

Updates to the exterior of a home can add up just as quickly as the interior. If you aren’t looking to spend much more on the details once you have found a home, look for a property that already has the amenities and the landscaping that you desire.

Save money for a down payment

Take some time to save money for a down payment before buying a home. Your offer will look stronger to the seller, and you’ll have more leverage during negotiations.

Read HOA documents before closing

Reading a big stack of papers may seem like a huge hassle, but carefully reviewing your HOA documents is important if you want to avoid unpleasant surprises down the road. Before buying a home in a community with an HOA, read through the covenants, conditions and restrictions (CC&Rs), bylaws and budget and look for anything that could affect you in the future. Also, talk to residents in the neighborhood and get opinions on how well the HOA does its job.

Following these simple yet effective tips are sure to help you in make one of the biggest purchases, your home!

Tips from: HGTV