Check before you buy

With the opportunity to get the $8,000 tax credit starting to dwindle, it might be easy to rush into trying to find the perfect place. But make sure you're getting the full picture and not overlooking important structural elements of the house because you like the neighborhood or the size of the space. Here's a few artices that provide tips on what to check out before you hire an inspector or go to closing

-This Living Well Publicaitons article looks at both the financial and structural impications of buying. Why has the price been lowered, and will it get lower? What can you afford to replace?

-This article from Realestateabc.com gives a list of things you should do before you even hire an inspector. Some of these you can use to assess the home at first glance so you don't get attached to something that you later find out is of cheap quality.

-This HomeInsight article offers a good assessment of what replacing each part of the home would cost and what will set you back the farthest. A lot of people who are looking at foreclosures and short sales understand that they will probably have to fix up one room or another, but which ones do you have the cash and desire to redo?