Buying a town house in Louisiana can be quite tempting, considering everything the state has going for it. A cost of life below the national average and an affordable housing market make Louisiana a great option for anyone. However, if you’re unfamiliar with the local housing market or buying a home in general, the process can get confusing. Between getting a mortgage, finding a suitable home, and actually buying it, you can easily get overwhelmed by everything. As such, we have put together a list of things to check before buying a town house in Louisiana which you can use to make the process a little less confusing.
Check your credit score
First off, before you even begin your search, you need to know your credit score. In Louisiana, you need a score of at least 620 in order to be eligible for a mortgage. If you’re not eligible, you still have a couple options left. You can always try building your credit score while saving up for the down payment. If you’re short on time, the Federal Housing Administration offers mortgages for people with credit score as low as 523. Your credit score is a very important part of buying a town house, and so figuring it out should be the first step. Before you can consider what you want out of your home or if buying a home as-is is a good idea, you need to know that you can buy a town house in the first place. Avoid unnecessary heartbreak by figuring this out first.
Before you start searching for a new home, make sure you are eligible for a mortgage.
Check the HOA fees in the area
HOA (Homeowner’s Association) fees should always be on your mind when considering a town house. They can come as a bit of a surprise when buying a home, and as such you should be aware of them beforehand. Take a close look at the homeowner’s association in the area and figure out the fees it charges. Review the rules, regulations and current financial statements in addition to the development’s HOA documents before settling on a home. This will make it so there are no surprises when it comes to fees and possible restrictions to the property. After all, certain restrictions can be deal breakers for people, so you should know them before deciding on a home. Also take the time to look into the local movers. Reach out to people in the area to point you to reliable experts, so you don’t have to worry about your belongings when moving in.
Check if the area is to your liking
When buying a town house in Louisiana, it’s just as important that you like the area the home is in as liking the home itself. So, when touring a potential property, take the time to look around the area as well. Take a look at what is available in the area, amenity wise, to make sure that you have everything you need in the area. Additionally, things such as noise pollution can be deal breakers for some people, so keep an ear out as well. There are a number of factors which vary from person to person which make an area pleasant or not. Of course, being thorough with your walkthrough of a potential property is still pretty important. You should also consider essential maintenance tactics for your home. After all, you should know how to keep your home in good shape after you move in.
Before you decide on a property, make sure you like the area that it’s in.
Check if there are any issues with the property
When you find a potential property, you should always do a walkthrough of the home in person. This should be done for several reasons: first, you can make sure that the property is actually to your liking. Second, and more importantly, you can take the time to determine if the property has problems. Is there mold somewhere in the town house? Are the electricity and water working fine? Are there pests in the home? Sinking foundations or uneven floors are a somewhat common problem in Louisiana, so check for those too. Be thorough with your inspection of the home, and if you decide on buying it, also get a professional home inspection done before closing. If everything looks good, then it’s time to start planning your move. Experts from Zippy Shell Louisiana recommend you give yourself at least three months to properly plan everything out before moving in.
Check what the privacy is like
A common issue people have with town houses is having noisy neighbors. Unfortunately, we have to admit that town houses are similar to apartments in that regard. Since you will be sharing walls with your them, if you have noisy neighbors, they will get very annoying quickly. Alternatively, if you have to be noisy because of whatever reasons, your neighbors might have an issue with it. As such, it’s important to look into the makeup of the walls (and most importantly how much noise they let through) and the neighbors you will have to deal with before deciding on a town house. Only when you’re sure that your neighbors won’t drive you crazy or vice versa should you decide on a property. Then you can start considering what you should and shouldn’t do before moving day. Moving day is a pretty big occasion, and you should make sure you’re prepared for it.
A common issue with town houses are noisy neighbors, so make sure you keep an ear out when touring potential properties.
Things to check before buying a town house in Louisiana – closing thoughts
Buying a town house is no small decision, and you should know what to expect from it. More importantly, you should know what to check to make the process smoother and easier. After all, buying a town house is a long process and can get confusing if you’re not familiar with. We hope this list of things to check before buying a town house in Louisiana helps you find the perfect home, and we wish you a great rest of your day.
Photos used: https://www.pexels.com/photo/apartment-architecture-city-colorful-415687/
https://www.pexels.com/photo/calculator-and-notepad-placed-on-usa-dollars-stack-4386366/
https://www.pexels.com/photo/assorted-color-wall-paint-house-photo-1370704/
https://www.pexels.com/photo/white-architectural-baroque-building-1000985/
