Make sure you have a home inspection, choose and pay for someone that works for you.... not for the agent or the homeowner... you will get a more honest inspections as they work for you... if there is a roof problem, make sure that they replace the whole roof before you buy it, ask when its going to be replaced and go by to verify... our friends were told they replaced the whole roof, then a year later they had multiple leaks, and the were getting estimates and found out that they only patched the roof in one spot... it was a mess, they then found out the there were rotted board and mold, and alot damage that you could see from termites all that could be seem from the attic of the house, that the inspector did not note on the inspection report... It was a nightmare... the had to fight with the home-owner insurance which they finally paid some what and they ended up hiring a attorney to sue the home inspector, real estate company, real estate agent, roofing company and seller to court... it was a 2 year battle, in the end they did win...
Look at how the house will function for your daily life... really spend sometime, thinking about getting ready in the morning for work does the bathroom meet your needs, cooking in the kitchen, open the frig or oven do can you still open other cabinets, enough counter space for your daily lifestyle, and then what about if you are entertaining, if you have kids were will the play at, do you need a fenced in yard, and there is not a fence whats the cost...how close the bedroom is to the road, road noise at night, or near a kids bedroom...
Parking, guest parking
HOA, fees are keeping within your budget, and rules will they fit your lifestyle...
Did you drive through the neighborhood at night... things look alot different at night... we skipped on a house once due to driving in the neighborhood in the evening and at night.. it made us realize how much traffic would be next to the house, and the noise level..parking on the street and how the lights from the cars would hit the house and some sketchy folks wandering around in the neighborhood at midnight...
As well drive through the neighborhood on the weekend...
Drive from what could possibly be your new home to your place of employment and back again after work to get a real feel of what the drive would be like.... how close are the highway to you if this is important..
More than likely you will want new blinds, drapes, and such make sure your have enough in budget to go for some basic new thing to go into the new house....
If you are buying a home does the seller offer a home warranty for the first year.. this might be something that you can request with the offer...and stick to it....