civilservant

.... and you're on the hook for 30 years

So my fellow US peeps, I am about to buy my first house in the US. It's a new construction, so will not have the usual problems of age, but will have it's own challenges I'm sure as they house settles and sets itself after the construction is completed.

I have never owned a house before - so what do I need to know to do/look out for/maintain as tightly as possible so that I don't cost myself an arm and several legs over the next few decades?

What do you wish you knew when you bought a house?

Thanks in advance!

spouse of scouse

Obviously I have no advice on US property, just wanted to congratulate you! Wishing you many happy decades in your new home

excpomea

What do I wish I knew when buying a home? Don't get one with a pool..

If new construction then you should be ok maintenance wise, we budget $100 a month for household upkeep. 1970 home, always seems to be something that needs fixing.

We skipped the whole 30 year mortgage, went for 15 years. Paid off and done.

civilservant

No pool here.... a pool in GA would mean family wanting to come and use it, and I don't like uninvited guests at the best of times

scrubbedexpat097

Check for flood zones! Although with it being new I'm sure that was checked beforehand.
Congratulations on your new home, enjoy!

neill

With new construction I would also add do you know what else is going to be 'constructed' around you? Is the neighboring land already zoned for something?

civilservant

It's a subdivision, the plat shows the partitions and the other houses are also under construction. The land that the house (and indeed, the subdivison) backs on to over 200 acres of undisturbed woodland owned by a friend of mine. That land has been in his family for over 70 years.

So nothing unexpected will be 'constructed'

scrubbedexpat096

It's a nice headache to have though.

Judging the amount of excitement on social media I think it would be too late to back out now

Jamackabi

What do I wish I knew? I wish I knew that the next door neighbors didn't have several small, yappy dogs that find absolutely any and all reason to bark as loud as they can 24 hours a day. It's ridiculous. I work from home full time now and all I hear is those bloody dogs all day. The owners have a dog flap, so they go in and out of the house all day and bark anytime if even a leaf blows past their house. If you hadn't guessed it already, I am not a dog person.

civilservant

Indeed! As you might have noticed though, it isn't me posting it!

I keep telling her to calm down and when we actually have the keys we can celebrate... but alas that's a losing battle!

Hum. That's a good idea. Perhaps I'll take a trip through there at 11 at night just to see what's going on.

excpomea

Dogs can 'disappear' Had a friend in Plymouth, Devon with the same issue.
He was moved to a night shift, dog was relocated to the middle of Dartmore.

lansbury

If it is a new sub division does it have an HOA. If so make sure to read, understand and know what is allowed, and what isn't.

civilservant

No HOA

ddsrph

RICH

Congrats!
So it is still under construction? You have been inside or just seen plans?
either way expect lots of 'snagging. Doors hung. On wrong side, countertop not flat, wrong carpet, roof leak. Should be warranty stuff, be on good terms with the builder!. My mate recently bought a townhouse in Tampa and had most of those.

look out for drainage /rain water runoff and where it might come from uphill if they haven't had a good storm yet. Worse if flat like my place, even though not in flood zone.
best of luck😀