Relocation and First-Time Buyers
What questions should I ask when buying my first home?
By Steve Lockhart
The short answer
Great questions buy a better house for less money, because they expose what the listing does not say. The questions worth asking fall into five buckets: price, payment, neighborhood, condition, and process.
Full answer
Great questions buy a better house for less money, because they expose what the listing does not say. The questions worth asking fall into five buckets: price, payment, neighborhood, condition, and process. Walk the purchase with that list and you will not be blindsided.
On price: what have similar homes actually sold for, not asked? Why is this home priced the way it is, and how long has it been listed? On payment: what is the true monthly number including taxes, insurance, HOA dues, and utilities, and what does ownership cost beyond the payment?
On the neighborhood: what is the community really like at different times of day, what do the schools and commute look like, what are the HOA rules and finances, and what is happening with development nearby? You live outside the house as much as inside it.
On condition: what do the inspection findings mean in dollars, when were the major systems replaced, and what will the first years of ownership realistically cost? On process: how long will escrow run, what can delay closing, and what happens to my deposit if the deal falls apart?
None of the answers are secrets; they are just what the marketing leaves out. An agent who answers them in plain language, with data, is earning their place. A buyer who asks them is protecting their own interests, and I respect that enormously.
Go a little deeper
Frequently asked
Questions people often follow up on
Should I ask about the sellers' situation?
It is fair to ask why the sellers are moving and what timeline they need, because it shapes negotiation. Answers come filtered, but the timing clues, such as a relocation or a job transfer, are legitimately useful.
Is it okay to ask for the HOA documents before an offer?
Absolutely, and you should. The HOA rules, budget, and reserve fund say a lot about what living there costs and how the community is managed. Reading them before the offer beats discovering them after.
What should I ask the inspector during the walkthrough?
Ask them what concerns them most, what will need attention in the next five years, and what they would fix first. Their priority list is usually more valuable than the full report.
The Lockhart Method
The Lockhart Method
Your Home | My Strategy | Proven Results
My strategy: take one written question list into every tour and every conversation, price, payment, neighborhood, condition, process, and let it filter the homes before the emotion does. Structured questions make first-time buying smarter, not slower.
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