Buy'n a new house??????????????

[stone7romeo]

I just got back from Iraq and I'm going to buy my first house.  I have watched your show and now I'm wanting to get more info on what to look for when looking at houses. Another thing, what are some of the things I need to do myself to protect my wife and my two year old boy.

[Pathfinder]

Wow, where to begin? ? ?

Stone, first off, thanks for your service on behalf of this country is a country that one former cop/soldier/contractor said smelled like ass!

The first season of The Best Defense is available on DVD, and the first season of The Best Defense: Survival is coming (soon, Rob?).

Given your time in Iraq, I would guess you have seen a lot of "to do's" and more "not to do's" that can applied over here as well. There are tons of things to consider, from a reinforced safe room inside to thorny, spiky plants under windows on the outside.

First and foremost is to live in a gun friendly state, i.e., NOT kalifornia, illinois, taxachusetts and the like. Make sure the state is shall issue for CCW, and confer with a local defense attorney on actual court cases in which weapons were involved so you know what the reality is.

Good on you for thinking along these lines. I'll let Rob Pincus and Michael Janich (and maybe even MB, the noted international consultant on things survival  ) wade in.

 PS: Welcome aboard! Swing by the new member thread and introduce yourself so we can all pile on!!!!!    

[Solus]

Welcome back home, Stone, and many thanks for your service.  I regret the rewards I think should go to those who served arn't forthcoming, but I am sure you have the respect and gratitude of the folks here.

As for your first house, I believe the GI Bill should offer you a way to get the house you choose without a down payment through a VA Loan. 

This is the time to buy.  If you have the skills and desire to rehab or can connect with someone who does, you might find major bargains in today's market.  I have seen houses appraised (for tax purposes) at $250k that need work going for $18k.   Sooner or later the market will improve somewhat at least and that could be a way for profit.

If you care to share where you are looking to live, there may well be members here who can help you in the real estate market and perhaps in scooping out the rehab situation.

Take care, good luck, thanks again and see you here often.

 

[Michael Janich]

Dear Stone:

Welcome back and thank you for your service to our country!

It's tough to cover everything that you'd need to look for in a home, but here's a start:

A "good" neighborhood with concerned, alert neighbors and ideally a neighborhood watch group. Look up the crime stats for that area and see what kind of record the neighborhood has.
Solid, quality construction with a minimum number of blind spots and structural weaknesses.
Solid entrance doors with dead bolts and no immediately adjacent windows.
Depending on the area of the country, brick construction or frame with a brick facade. Both make a solid backstop if you're forced to shoot inside your home.
Proximity to police station, fire station, and fire hydrants, if possible.
Well lighted street and home exterior.
Alarm system, if possible.
Floorplan that allows you to create a safe room and to easily and efficiently access that room while gathering your family from anywhere else in the house.

There's a lot more to consider, but this should give you a running start. Again, thank you for your service and good luck with your house hunting!


Stay safe,

Mike

[jaybet]

Stone, thank you for your service.
Depending on where you locate EVERY area has particular problems to watch out for, and a realtor who is showing you a home does not necessarilyhave to point some of the problems out to you. They are also often allowed to be "unaware" of any problems that do not have documentation. For instance, radon gas is a problem in many areas, high water table resulting in moisture in basement or crawlspace is another.
Check as many sources as you can for potential problems. Sometimes the local building office can offer guidance if they're in the mood.
Plus all the other stuff people said. Oh....and Mike forgotto mention a good solid spot on the floor for the GIANT gun safe you'll be moving in.

[Sponsor]