It can be kind of fun to look at homes for sale, and it can be a little bit tiring sometimes as well. It's hard to separate the feeling of invading someone's space while at the same time investigating a home to see if it's right for you. All too often we hold back, not wanting to offend the owners or the real estate agent.



But buying a house is one of the single most important, and expensive, purchases you'll make in your lifetime. It's important that you have an opportunity to know exactly what you are getting into ? a chance to ?kick the tires,? so to speak. What are the most important questions to ask? The following are a few suggestions.

How long has this home been listed? The amount of time that the home has been listed with real estate agents is important. If the home has been up for sale for several months it could mean several things ? the home is over priced, there may be something wrong with the home that other buyers are seeing, or it could mean that the seller is more open to negotiating to sell the home.

Was this home in escrow before (did the sale fall through)? If a home did not successfully sell before, that can be very telling. Sometimes a home sale doesn't go through because the buyer simply can't qualify for the home. But sometimes the sale doesn't go through because of a fundamental flaw in the home, something that may be uncovered at the time of the inspection. If the sale didn't go through, you have every right to ask why.

What is the age of the home? When was the home built? Older homes may have very solid construction, but they also may have more impending problems that will require maintenance. Newer homes tend to be free of more routine maintenance, certainly major replacement. It doesn't matter how old the home is, it still needs to be carefully inspected before the sale closes.

Are there any other fees required (besides the sale price and property tax)? Some homes are part of a home owner association and the dues for these associations can be quite a sticker shock to the buyers. Always ask about any other fees before you make an offer on the home. Expect to pay real estate taxes every year, and expect that the taxes will increase slightly each year.

When you take the time to ferret out some basic, but vital information about the home, it can really help your decision making process. The more information you have to aid you in your decision making process, the better. When you work with a skilled real estate agent, he or she will be more than happy to find out the information to help you make a decision, and will probably give you suggestions of other things to look for.

Buying a home is a huge purchase ? but with the right questions you will have peace of mind that this is the right home for you.