Whether you are purchasing a home for your primary residence or considering an investment project there are several things you can look for that will be able to tell you if you are getting a good deal on a home. In today's housing economy there are many great deals on houses you can get if you shop around and know what it is exactly you are looking for.

To begin with you will want a thorough inspection on the home. In some cases there will be special clauses where a home is sold "as is" meaning it does not have to pass a home inspection and you what you see is exactly what you are paying for. If this is the case and you go to look at the home there are a few key things you will want to watch out for. You first will want to look at the roof and the ceilings. A good roof is very important as replacing it or fixing it can be pricey. Check out the ceilings in the home and look for any dark spots that could indicate leakage. Next you will want to look for termites. When looking to see if there is evidence of termites in a home you will want to look in corners and other areas for coffee ground looking piles. If you find these the house likely has termites of some kind or has had termites in the past. This is important because if the house does indeed have termites you will need to get it tented to get rid of them. These are some of the major things to look for when looking at a house to know if you are getting a good deal or not.

Next you will want to look at the yard and what sort of neighborhood it is in. While an overgrowth of grass is not a big issue large trees hanging over the house can become a major problem if you were responsible for having to get them cut down. You will also want to see if the house you are interested in has well water or city water. If it has a well you will want to make sure it is not dried up. If you are looking for an investment property the type of neighborhood the house is in usually has a major impact on its resell value or the ability for you to rent it out.

Last but not least you will want to compare the price of the home to other home prices in the same area. Your realtor should be able to provide you with reports on recent home sales in the same area as the home you are interested in. This will help you know if you are getting the house for a good deal or not. You will also want to take into consideration how much money you are going to invest in the home plus the price of the home to see if you will end on top or upside down on your loan. You will also want to talk with your loan company to see what kind of interest rate you can get. Your loan company will be able to help you estimate what your monthly payments will be so you can get a good deal on the home you are interested in.