Posted on: 04-02-10 12:37:46
Backed up to a shopping center or land that is zoned for business.
Backed up to a street with lots of traffic. You'll hear it at night.
Houses that have any kind of flat roof, for example on a room addition.
The biggest, most expensive house on the block.
Next door to a renter. Renters treat the house and yard like crap.
A house with chipped paint, or a damaged roof.
Avoid any house that you did not have a home inspection firm review.
In an area that puts your kid in a bad school, or far from their school.
In a noisy area like an airport or other industrial area.
In a high crime area, that you drive through would have to get home.
In a neighborhood with high homeowners association maintenance fees.
In an area prone to flooding when it rains. Visit the house when it's raining.
A house with only one bathroom. It's very difficult to resell.
In or near a 40 KMPH school zone.
Neighborhoods with no code enforcement: boats, commercial vans, etc.
A house with no central air conditioning, or central heating.
A house without a fireplace.
On a steep hill. This can be a problem in icy winters in northern states.
Overpriced "premium view" lots. If you can't get a decent price, don't buy.
Only has a one car garage or a carport. These will be hard to sell.
In a neighborhood where property values have not increased much.
2 bedroom, 2 bath homes are a lot harder to resell than 3 bedroom, 2 bath.
You don't want a house with a tiny master bedroom or tiny closets.
A weird architectural design that you'll have a hard time selling later.
Anywhere within 3 kilometers of a landfill, or near a water treatment plant.
Close to the beginning of the block. You'll get all the traffic.
The lot that gets headlights of all the cars turning onto the street at night.
Corner lot near the entrance to your street. You'll get tracks in your lawn.
On a street that's hard to get in and out of, i.e., long traffic light, or busy intersection, or a street that you have to drive past and make a U-turn.
On a golf course. Expect broken windows. Some people love it, some don't.
If you have kids, look for the school locations and wether your kid can get a bus or not.
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A Proud Indian Canadian
Good stuff! 
Hard to avoid everything and be in budget though. These houses will have multiple offers for sure 
I could not resist myself in adding a mighty important factor for a house to avoid :
House that you do not afford ..
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Growing Old Is Mandatory ..Growing UP is Optional
Thanks,Garvo Gujarati.I am planning to move from condo to house in this year.
Now I have a broder picture.
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sAnToShI
Nice and very useful information for New home buyers.......
Thanks - GG for such a nice informaton.
A house without a fireplace. ?????????
I never realised that a fireplace was soooooo important
Quote:I'm split on that one.
Originally posted by sarvjits
A house without a fireplace. ?????????
I never realised that a fireplace was soooooo important
Very few people use wood-burning fireplaces these days.
Most people are going for boxed electric fireplaces that you can buy (Home Depot, Wal*Mart) and install anywhere in the house.
The other issue with built-in fireplaces is that it always ends up in awkward position for new owners in terms of their furniture placement and arrangement.
I have seen folks buy a house with a fireplace and then find that it is in a bad position for their sofa set or entertainment unit.
And they light it only a couple of times a year.
Overall, it ends up being a nuisance rather than value.
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"Mah deah, there is much more money to be made in the destruction of civilization than in building it up."
-- Rhett Butler in "Gone with the Wind"
