Homework for the Home Buyer

Get ready, get set... hold on. Don't put an offer down on that house quite yet. Have you done your homework on the house? Did you have it inspected? Have you checked that it is zoned properly? Are all of the improvements up to code - and were they installed with a building permit? There is a multitude of information available online to help you decide whether or not you want to actually purchase a house, so use them.

There are several online map sources available online, which give a birds-eye view of the actual neighborhood, capture via satellite. For some locations, the clarity of the images might be a little disturbing, but this can help in making an informed decision.

From the front, the house might look perfect. Driving around the block does not reveal anything that looks wrong, or out of place. But a buyer might spot something disturbing that is not visible at street level by utilizing these free services - like a junkyard in the adjacent property in back, or a ravine half a block away that is actually a train line that operates 24 hours a day.

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