Every home buyer wants to walk into a home and feel like they’ve found “the one” and when you’re checking out houses in Long Beach for sale, it’s certainly easy to fall in love. But even when you think you’ve found your dream home among Long Beach real estate, or any other area, you need to tread carefully. Don’t let your infatuation with your potential new home cloud your better judgment.

Before you make an offer, be sure to check on these 5 important factors that may sway your decision.

This guest post was written by Connor Adkins. He enjoys home improvement and investing in Real Estate, and recommends Academy Mechanical if you need to get your new home checked out before you make that offer. He loves spending time with his wife and three children and helping people stay fit and healthy.

1. Neighborhood

The home might be perfect, but is the neighborhood? Ask the sellers what problems (if any) they’ve had to deal with—you don’t want to move into a house surrounded by loud, obnoxious dogs or feuding neighbors.

Ask about the dynamics of the neighborhood. Every Long Beach community is different and you want to make sure to find one that fits your lifestyle. If you have small children, you’ll want them to have friends to play with, and moving onto a street populated with senior citizens won’t be the right environment for your children. Conversely, if you want peace and quiet, a street that singlehandedly keeps the grade school populated won’t be what you’re looking for.

Are the streets well kept? Are the yards well-manicured, or do people not seem to care about the condition of their homes? Real estate for sale in Long Beach CA includes several historical districts but just because homes are old, does not mean they aren’t kept in tip top condition.

Ask about the crime rate. That’s one thing you won’t be able to determine from outward appearances. If the police are regulars in this neighborhood, you might want to give up your dream home in favor of a safer place.

To get some neighborhood statistics and demographics on the area of Long Beach you’re interested in, use the Lifestyle Search tool on the First Team website.

2. Schools and Community

After you ask about the neighborhood, make sure you ask about the surrounding area too. What are the local schools’ reputations? Is the public school system up to date and on top of things? Does it get good funding? As much as you might like a house and neighborhood, keeping your children’s education in mind is vitally important.

Whether you’ve got a small-town or big-city personality, make sure there are opportunities for you to be involved in the community. Don’t let your ideal house pull you into an area or culture you don’t like. You’ll be able to find a home you love just as much somewhere else if you keep looking.

To find schools near your dream home or research houses in Long Beach for sale near the highest rated schools, use the First Team Find A School tool.

3. Past Problems

Ask the sellers about any past problems they’ve had with the house. Sellers are not required to put all past problems in disclosure forms as long as they have been corrected. But you’ll want to know if there have been structural issues, roofing leaks, or damage due to accidents—some of these problems may come back in the future.

You want to be aware of exactly what potential problems you might be purchasing along with the house. Real estate for sale Long Beach CA includes 17 different historic districts throughout the city and while these old homes are well maintained, you still want to know the full property history.

4. Existing Problems

Along with any past problems that might crop up in the future, look at current problems with a financially-critical eye. Call out the local New York or Edmonton plumbers, roofers, and electricians and have them give you estimates for how much repairs might cost.

You’ll want to be especially careful about the plumbing. Older houses with out-of-date plumbing systems can be especially difficult to fix or replace. Be careful that you’re not taking on more than you’re willing to handle.

It’s easy to overlook paint colors that aren’t quite to your taste or home décor you’re glad you don’t have to keep. But you will inherit all of the house’s systems. Make sure that everything is in working order, or, at the very least, that you’re aware of all the problems.

5. Finances

You know how much you’re willing to pay for your dream home, but how much did the seller pay for it? In most places, the price a house was bought for is public knowledge. If the price they bought it for was lower than what they’re asking from you, you might have room to negotiate.

This isn’t always true, of course—the value of a house will fluctuate based on the housing market and how much work they’ve put into the property. If they bought a fixer-upper and turned it into a beautiful, modern home, they’ll be justified in increasing their asking price.

Other questions to ask about finances might be:

• How much does the seller still owe for their own mortgage?
• How long has the house been on the market (if they’re getting desperate, they might take a lower offer than they would if it’s only been on the market for a few months)?
• How did they settle on their asking price?

Asking the right questions might just allow you to get a better deal on your dream home in Long Beach.

One last good question to ask the seller is: What do you like and dislike about the home? They’ll be able to give you the positive and negative highlights about the place. You can then decide if the pros outweigh the cons, and if you’ve found your dream house among all other Long Beach homes for sale.

For help choosing the right Long Beach real estate for you, contact the agents at any one of our three First Team Real Estate Long Beach Offices. Call 888-870-1142 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and we'll connect you to your own personal Long Beach real estate expert today.

 Originally posted at: http://www.firstteam.com/blog/?p=7865