What are 3 things you might look for when buying a house?

Asked by: Anna Yundt V  |  Last update: February 17, 2026
Score: 4.6/5 (63 votes)

Here are some things to consider when buying a house as a first-time home buyer or a seasoned pro:
  • Price. For many prospective home buyers, a home's purchase price is their biggest concern. ...
  • Location. ...
  • House Size. ...
  • Property Taxes. ...
  • Homeowners Association (HOA) ...
  • Amenities.

What are the top 3 factors that need to be considered when purchasing a house?

Consider These 3 Factors When Buying Your First Home
  • Rent rates versus mortgage interest rates. For first-time homebuyers, when to buy is one of the most important questions to ask and rates play a large factor in that. ...
  • Get the ball rolling with loan pre-qualification. ...
  • Mortgage loan programs to fit nearly every need.

What is the rule of 3 when buying a house?

How Much House Can I Afford? If you really want to keep your personal finances easy to manage don't buy a house for more than three times(3X) your income. If your household income is $120,000 then you shouldn't be buying a house for more than a $360,000 list price. This is the price cap, not the starting point.

What's the first thing you look for when you buy a house?

You need to look at the bones of the house, Foundation, main beams, sloping, cracks or slants in the walls, ceilings, floors,foundation. Is the electrical up to code, how's the exterior siding, roof, signs of termites, water pressure, furnace, heat pump, mold/mildew, windows, doors, parking.

What is the most important thing you look for in a new home?

Location: One of the most important things that impact the value of your property is the location. Buying the right land or home can help you gain wealth as you live in your home over time. Curb Appeal: You'll have to look at your home every single day, so you want it to be something that you enjoy looking at.

3 Things To Look Out When Buying Your First Home

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What is a red flag when buying a house?

Here are some qualities to keep an eye out for: misaligned doors, cracks in the walls, sloping in the floor, and the windows are hard to open or has cracked glass. If you notice a lot of these qualities during a house tour, have an inspector take a look at the foundation before committing to the home.

What are the three most important aspects of a house?

3 Most Important Things to Look for When Buying a House
  • Location: the heartbeat of the home. Picture this: a location that perfectly aligns with your lifestyle and won't break the bank. ...
  • Neighborhood Amenities: Where the Magic Happens. ...
  • Interior condition: Where Comfort Meets Convenience.

What are the first 5 steps to buying a house?

Let's break down how to get there.
  1. Step 1: Prepare your finances. Before you begin your search for a home, figure out what you can realistically afford. ...
  2. Step 2: Prequalify for the right loan. ...
  3. Step 3: Call a real estate agent. ...
  4. Step 4: Lock in your mortgage. ...
  5. Step 5: Prepare to close.

What to bring when looking at houses?

What to Bring to an Open House
  • Your agent! Your Howard Hanna agent is your #1 resource when house shopping. ...
  • Pen and paper. You'll want to take notes during your tour so you can reference them later, especially if you have plans to see multiple properties.
  • Measuring tape and measurements. ...
  • An open mind!

What is the most important thing someone needs before they can purchase a house?

Normally, you need to have enough savings to cover a down payment of 5% to 20% of the purchase price plus an additional 3% to 7% of this price for closing costs. If you do not have the down payment, you may be able to qualify for a loan under various government programs that are available.

What is the 1st house rule?

The first house is ruled by Mars, a planet of action, energy and anger. Aries, the first sign of the zodiac, is associated with the first house. Aries is known for being a self-starter and being true to themselves.

What is the 20/30/40 rule?

The most common way to use the 40-30-20-10 rule is to assign 40% of your income — after taxes — to necessities such as food and housing, 30% to discretionary spending, 20% to savings or paying off debt and 10% to charitable giving or meeting financial goals.

What's the rule of thumb for buying a house?

A simple formula—the 28/36 rule

Here's a simple industry rule of thumb: Housing expenses should not exceed 28 percent of your pre-tax household income.

What is the biggest factor when buying a home?

Resale Value and Market Trends

One of the most important things to consider when buying a house is the local real estate market and how it will affect your resale value. The current state of the market in your area is a huge factor when considering homeownership.

What 3 factors determine mortgage costs?

How to estimate your mortgage rate
  • Your credit score.
  • Your home's location.
  • The home price and loan amount.
  • Your down payment.
  • The type of loan and its length.
  • Whether it's a fixed- or adjustable-rate mortgage.

What are three factors to consider when purchasing?

Some consumers use an intense system of thorough investigation before they decide to purchase, while others are basic impulse shoppers. Either way, three factors affect all purchasing decisions: economic, functional, and psychological.

What to look for in a house you want to flip?

Experts say it's smart to avoid properties with major structural issues or bad plumbing or wiring, and those with small kitchens or too few bathrooms. Keep your eye out for properties that are a cosmetic mess but structurally sound. Get the cheapest house in the priciest neighborhood.

What to do when you start looking for a house?

Once you're out looking at houses, things tend to move (and get exciting) fast!
  1. Determine a Realistic Budget. ...
  2. Think About What You Want vs. ...
  3. Determine Where You Want to Live. ...
  4. Choose the Right Realtor® ...
  5. Participate in First-Time Homebuyer Education. ...
  6. Get Pre-Approved. ...
  7. Know What You're Buying. ...
  8. Get an Inspection.

How do you make your house beautiful?

There are plenty of 'affordable' finishing touches which can make your home look and feel more luxurious – some of which can actually be free!
  1. Paint a feature wall. ...
  2. Go big with wall art. ...
  3. Redecorate / paint. ...
  4. Use colour cleverly. ...
  5. Declutter. ...
  6. Decorate with candles and mirrors. ...
  7. Add house plants and flowers.

What is the first thing you do when you buy a house?

1. Check your credit. Once you decide to buy a new home, the first thing you'll need to do is check your credit history. This involves pulling credit reports from each of the three credit reporting bureaus (Experian, TransUnion, and Equifax) to better understand your credit score.

What are settlement costs?

Settlement costs (also known as closing costs) are the fees that the buyer and/or seller have to pay to complete the sale of the property. Depending on the lender, these may include origination fees, credit report fees, and appraisal fees, as well as property taxes and recording fees.

What credit score to buy a house?

Conventional loans typically require a minimum credit score of 620, though some may require a score of 660 or higher. These loans aren't insured by a government agency and conform to certain standards set by the government-sponsored entities Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.

What are the three qualities of an ideal house?

Comfort, personal touch and safety predominantly, alongside, functionality, practicality, good lighting, warm, inviting interiors and sustainability make for good living.

What are the three house rules?

The 3 House Rules are respect, responsibility, safety. The great thing about the 3 House Rules is that anyone can implement it.

What are the biggest selling points in a house?

Know the two hot spots

The rooms buyers most closely inspect (and judge) in a house are the kitchen and master bath. These are the interior spaces where the most value can be added during a sale, so they need to look their best.