Tucson Real Estate & Golf Properties

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Douglas Trudeau , Assoc. Broker
Prudential Foothills Real Estate
64 N. Harrison Road, Suite 160
Tucson , AZ 85748
Mobile: 520-954-2209
Contact Me



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Tucson Real Estate - 10 Things Buyer’s Should Not Do

As Home Buyers you have read, heard and digested everything available about what to do. What about what NOT to do?

Here’s 10 Things Not to do:  

  1. Buy a house on emotion. Who cares that the one across the street sold for $200,000 less. This is your dream home and you are never going to leave.
    1. Paying too much for a home can be a costly mistake. Especially if circumstances change in a few months and you have to sell.
    2. I always advise my clients to buy with the thought of resale in mind.
    3. Right behind location, location location is price, price, price.
  2. Don’t insult the seller by asking for an inspection. You’re sure that they took great care of the home and nothing is going to happen. Ignore the water stains in the ceiling, they are probably nothing. The shiny shingles must mean that the roof can reflect water faster.
    1. The cost of an inspection is minimal to the unsuspecting costs that could be lurking.

  3. Wait until you find the perfect home for the perfect price, then find a lender to approve you for a loan. Nobody would dare buy your dream home before you get approved for a loan. The seller knows you like it and wouldn’t dream of accepting an offer from someone else.
    1. Not getting preapproval for a loan. Chances that someone else interested in the home at the same you are is high. Even when a home has been on the market a long time.
  4. Don’t ask for a property disclosure from the seller. No news is good news. While you’re at it, don’t ask for a CLUE report for the insurance history on the home. They seem like nice people, they would never file a claim.
    1. In Arizona sellers must complete a Sellers Property Disclosures Statement. Even when they are an out of town investor.
    2. Asking for a history of problems and issues can save you major headaches.
    3. In Tucson we ask for a CLUE (Comprehensive Loss Underwriting Exchange) report. This knowledge can help you tremendously. Imagine finding out too late that you have to can’t insure the home or insurance is four times higher than normal.
  5. Don’t use a Realtor, they just get in your way. They can’t find the home you are looking for anyway. They say a 6,000 square foot home with a pool and private golf course doesn’t exist at $25,000, but, you know they are lying to you. You’ve been looking on the Internet for a week, you know more than these Realtors who have been doing this for years.
    1. Using a Realtor is your first net of protection. Your Realtors expertise in the geographical area, local codes, home owner associations, and community development, can prove invaluable. In Arizona we have to go through periodic training to maintain our license. Training that keeps us current with real estate issues and state department requirements.
    2. If your Realtor cannot find the home you described, the chances are it truly does not exist. Your Realtor knows the market.
  6. Look at only For Sale By Owner (FSBO) homes. Those sellers who use a Realtor are all asking too much for their homes. Plus they are probably going to try to hide something about the house. A FSBO would never ask too much for their home. Plus all FSBO’s will be more honest about everything concerning the home.
    1. FSBO sales can be a good deal or a nightmare. Was everything disclosed in writing? Will they allow you to have the home inspected? What is and isn’t included with the home? What protections do you have if things go wrong?
    2. Having a Realtor to at least represent you, even if you have to pay their commission, can save you headaches and major expense in the future.
  7. Never insult the seller by asking for a home warranty. They air conditioning unit must be good, and the plumbing would never leak.
    1. I can relay numerous stories of replaced air conditioning units, furnaces, dishwasher, plumbing repairs and more. All covered by a home warranty. 
    2. I strongly recommend my clients to get a home warranty. Murphy’s Law is out their waiting for the unsuspecting buyer. 
  8. Expect everyone to comply with your wishes, whether written in the contract or not. After all, that was an expensive napkin you wrote it on. That must say something about your character. Everybody expects the wishes of others, and nobody would think of denying something not written in the contract.
    1. In Tucson Real Estate we have a saying, “If it’s not in writing, it doesn’t exist.” If its important, its worth putting in writing.
  9. Buy where houses are not selling. That way you won’t have to worry about losing your neighbors.
    1. In real estate there are three words, location, location, location. You can buy in an area that is not hot for sales. You just have to insist on a lower price than elsewhere, and be prepared to sell for a lower price when your time comes.
    2. If the current owners and their neighbors cannot sell their homes, what are your chances in the future?
  10. Make sure your house payments account for every dime you make. Who wants to save money, go out, to take vacations anyway?
    1. What happens when you need tires for the car, clothes, have a chance for the vacation of a lifetime, or need a nest egg to rely on for a short period of time?
    2. I always tell my clients to buy a little less home than they can afford so they can live and enjoy life. 

I hope my pointers can help you with buying your next home. If you’re in Tucson, give me a call. If outside Tucson, call me and I will find you a Realtor in your area. I joined the number one company in Southern Arizona so I can offer more. Doesn’t matter where.

This entry was posted on Sunday, April 22nd, 2007 at 2:57 pm and is filed under Tucson Real Estate. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

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