Eight Baltimore House Hunting Questions to Ask Yourself

Eight Baltimore house hunting questions to ask yourself comes with a few tips that may help you find the right house in the right location for you.

How much of a home can I truly afford? Getting pre-approved by a local lender is a crucial step to be ready for Baltimore house hunting. There are a few reasons for this. A. If you love a home but can’t afford it, how will that make you feel? B. If you end up under contract on something but can’t get a loan for it, you could potentially be seen as misrepresenting your ability to buy the house, and could possibly be in default in the contract, depending on what your contract states.
Am I prepared for additional costs on top of the down payment? There are transfer taxes, loan costs, and when it comes to monthly fees, the mortgage, interest, taxes, insurance, potential HOA dues…
Should I hire a local real estate professional? In general, YES! They can refer you to #1 for loan pre-approval, but also, they can help guide you through the house hunting process, the contract process, and help you hire other professionals to work through the details from contract to close.
Am I looking past the staging and finishes and at the guts of the house? Look at the HVAC, the appliances, flooring, ceilings, etc. Not just the fresh new paint and staging furniture!
Will I be able to keep up with needed maintenance? Consider contacting the utility company to figure out average monthly bills. Also consider if there is a yard, can you cut it? Will you need to hire someone? How about gardens? Gutters? Trees and leaves? Can you handle the clean up and regular maintenance?
Are there unusual smells? Try to figure out where they are coming from. Could there have been a dog or cat in the house? Is there a musty scent in the basement? Follow your nose and ask questions to see if the sellers may have answers.
Does the house have enough space for your needs? Are the rooms large enough? Space for parking if needed? Are the closets large enough? The ceilings? I have a client who felt they literally could not fit in certain homes! But if you are not super tall, you could still not have enough space depending on how many bedrooms, bathrooms, and rooms in general that you need.
How is the neighborhood for my needs? I recommend driving by at different times of day. Is there too much traffic? Not enough? If there is only street parking, is there enough for the area? Does the neighborhood have the amenities you are looking for nearby?