A beautiful kitchen gets you in the door, but the questions below decide whether you stay happily for years. Ask them before you tour, and take the answers with you.
1. Who is pre-approving you, and what did they really approve?
Tour season should begin in the lender's office, not the listing photos. A pre-approval letter tells you the ceiling you can actually borrow, the monthly payment you can carry, and whether a competing offer is realistic for you.
Talk to your lender about the down payment, interest rate, escrow, and homeowner insurance costs in New Mexico before you start looking. That is the number that anchors every offer you write.
2. What is the true monthly cost?
The price tag is only the beginning. Add the property taxes, any association fees, homeowners insurance, utilities, and a maintenance envelope. Two homes at the same list price can live very differently month to month.
3. What will this home be worth when you leave?
Most buyers move again within seven to ten years. Watch for floor plans with broad appeal: bedrooms on one level, bathrooms that feel current, and a layout that is not too quirky to resell.
Ask about the school district and neighborhood trajectory even if you do not have kids. The next expensive buyer in your market probably will.
4. What is hiding under the surface?
A fresh coat of paint covers a lot. Plan a professional inspection before you commit, and ask the selling side about the age or condition of the roof, the HVAC, the water heater, and the sewer line, which are the big systems in this high-desert climate.
5. What does the neighborhood feel like on a Tuesday at 6 pm?
Sunday at 3 pm is a wonderful hour of the week, just not a representative one. Drive the streets on a weekday evening, time the commute twice, and walk the block. Evening visits tell you about noise, parking, dogs, and whether neighbors wave.
6. Who is on your team?
The best buyers work with a lender, an inspector, and an agent who talk to each other before a deadline fires. Ask the person you are about to hire how they run the process: how fast they respond, who negotiates, and what you can expect week by week.
Nancy Stewart
Realtor, Associate Broker at eXp Realty in Albuquerque, New Mexico. 15 years in the market, and a promise to educate, advocate, negotiate, and guide.
Meet Nancy
