2. Is the house encumbered by one or more mortgages or other liens?   All such liens should be disclosed in a title search. Require the Seller to provide you with title insurance.

3. Is the house subject to deed restrictions that could affect your intended use?   If so, read the declaration of restrictions to learn how your use will be limited and how much is charged by the homeowner’s association as its monthly assessment?

4. Are any of the improvements built across boundary lines or into easement areas?   Do any of the neighbor’s improvements encroach upon the property being purchased? You won’t know for sure without a survey.

5. Does the house have access to a public right of way?   Will you share that access with anyone else (i.e. joint driveway)? A survey is again your answer.

6. Are there any structural or mechanical defects that affect the property?   Some defects you may not be able to discover and would have to be disclosed by the Seller. These are called “latent defects”. Protect yourself by having a home inspection performed by a qualified company. In addition, ask the Seller at closing "if there is anything important about the house that we need to discuss that we have not already discussed".

7. Is the house or any of the fixtures or equipment protected by a warranty?   If so, what are the terms and conditions of any such warranty?

8. When purchasing an existing house you should have gas line, radon and termite inspections performed in addition to a general inspection.

9. Verify real estate taxes and assessments. If you are buying a house in a fast growing school district your taxes can increase rapidly.

10. Don’t be afraid to ask questions. If an answer doesn’t make sense, ask more questions.