What to Look for When Buying a House: Top Features and Red Flags to Consider

The tool will display what you can afford depending on your desired debt-to-income ratio. The slider changes the price of a potential home given your income, down payment, and debts. You can move the slider to see how much home you can potentially afford.

The calculator automatically calculates the monthly mortgage payment and debt-to-income ratio based on a 30-year fixed mortgage. To change the mortgage type, rate, and other fees, select “Advanced Options.” You can change the homeowner’s insurance and private mortgage insurance rates here as well.

Make a list of your needs and wants; knowing what to look for when buying a house is easier once you’ve decided what’s important to you. Understanding what’s essential and what you can compromise on is a vital homebuying step. If a home has only a couple of your needs, you should likely continue looking.

You may want an updated kitchen or designated laundry room, but is it a need? Keep in mind that if this is your first home, you’ll likely be able to make updates and changes or eventually upgrade to a home with more features on your list.

Now that you have a list of needs and wants, organize them into four categories: style, exterior, interior, and appliances/HVAC. If you’re touring homes, take note of anything to make a future home inspection easier. This list will help you narrow down your search.

House styles are important; they define the aesthetic of your home. Think about what you want your house to look like from afar. Do you want a bright, Mediterranean-style home with a clay roof and distressed walls? Or do you want a sleek, modern-style house with a flat roof and minimalist aesthetic? The style of a house can play a significant role in your decision-making process.

Consider the landscaping, quality of the roofing, and amount of outdoor space. If you’re touring a potential property, take note of anything that seems broken or in disrepair, plus any opportunities for renovation. What is the condition of the yard? What about the garden and fencing? Is there a swimming pool? Exterior features can affect your lifestyle and how you maintain the outside of your home, so keep that in mind as you consider each property.

You will likely spend most of your time inside your home, so finding what you’re looking for is essential. How many bedrooms are there? What about bathrooms? Is there a garage, basement, or attic? Consider the layout of the house as well. Does it fit your lifestyle? If you’re touring homes, pay close attention to how you’re feeling as you walk through them and note anything that needs fixing.

Appliances are expensive and can take months to replace, and HVAC systems generally require professional installation and maintenance. If you live in a state that requires heating and cooling systems, ensure they work properly.Take note of the condition of the appliances, and don’t be afraid to ask questions.

Location is important. Is the home close to public transit or freeways? How far is your commute to work or the grocery store? Luckily, you can search for average commute times on Redfin.com.

First, select the house you’re interested in from the Redfin website – for example, let’s use a home for sale in Portland, OR. On the listing’s page, scroll down to the embedded map. Below the map is the commute calculator tool.

Click “Add a Commute” and search for any location you want to calculate a travel time from. For example, the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry. Click “Calculate Commute” and the average commute time will populate.