Two Things Google Can Tell You About Your Future Home
Posted on: 30 September 2016
When it comes to shopping for a new home, information is critical. While a real estate agent can be an excellent source of info about a home and the neighborhood, there are things even he or she may not know due to seller omissions or other issues. That means you'll need to do your own sleuthing to uncover the full story, so here are two things you can learn by doing a simple Google search.
HOA Drama
A homeowner's association can make a community feel like a great place to live or just one step above a maximum security prison. That's why you want to take time to learn about the HOA overseeing the home you want to buy.
These days, people don't hesitate to share their experiences with others, and you can find out a lot about an HOA by doing a simple search of its name online. Among the blogs, news articles, and business review sites, you're bound to find something about the HOA that will tell you what it's like dealing with them.
Be aware, though, that people are more likely to voice their grievances than they are to give praise, so don't be surprised if you find more negative reviews than positive ones. However, look for similarities in the complaints. If the same issues seem to pop up over and over again, you can be certain they're something you'll have to deal with when you move into the home.
Investor or Homeowner
Another thing you can learn about a home is whether it's owned by regular people or investors. This is one of those things the seller may not reveal to the real estate agent. A lot of people are trying to "flip" homes for cash, and you need to know if this is the case because you may run into issues you normally wouldn't with regular home sellers.
For instance, many of the repairs and upgrades in the home may be purely cosmetic. One person states that, in some of the flipped homes he's seen, the banisters were only secured to the drywall. House flippers may also be less willing to negotiate on the price because they're trying to recoup their entire investment, especially if the home is in a hot market.
That isn't to say you shouldn't by a home from an investor. However, you may need to proceed carefully and take more precautions that you normally would.
You can determine whether a house has been flipped by entering the address into Google images and pulling up pictures for it. If it looks like it has undergone major interior and exterior renovations, there's a good chance the home may have been purchased by a house flipper. You can also look up the owner's name on tax records and seek out their social media accounts. If the person posts about renovating a home he or she recently bought and selling it for cash, then you're dealing with a flipper.
Of course, it's a good idea to follow up with your real estate agent if you have any questions about the information you do find. For help with buying your first or next home, contact an agent, such as those found at Mission Viejo Real Estate.
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