Are you thinking about buying a home in Valparaiso, Indiana? You could be new to the area or a seasoned veteran when it comes to buying or selling in Valpo, and this ever-changing and fickle market will still present its challenges.

In this blog, I’m going to share the 7 biggest mistakes that I see buyers make when purchasing in Valparaiso, Indiana. And make sure you stick around for the #1 mistake on my list which is the most concerning and costly...

#7: School Districts

School district boundaries are being updated frequently, and if you have a preference of which school you want your children to attend, you’ll want to make sure that you’re looking in the correct area. How terrible would it be to buy a home expecting your kids are going to one school, only to find out the buses don’t service that area?

#6: Waiting on Pre-Approval

The pre-approval should be the FIRST thing you do. It tells you how much you can purchase and your loan type, but beyond that, we have to turn it in with an offer. Valpo’s housing market is still cooking along at the lower price points, so if you’re looking to break into this market in that sub $300,000ish price, you’ll need to have your pre-approval ready to go from the jump.

#5: Not searching for long enough.

Yes the market is still strong, but you shouldn’t sacrifice what you truly want just to buy a house. You want to make sure that the home has what you want AND that it is in the right section of town for YOU.

#4: Not buying the 1st house, if it’s perfect

I know, it seems like I’m speaking out of both sides of my mouth, but it is a balance. I’ve had buyers find their dream home at the first showing, only to pass it up and compare every home afterwards to that one. Go in with a strategy, and when you find the right one, grab it.

#3: Taxes

Depending on which school district and township, taxes vary greatly across Valpo. You’ll want to make sure that you understand which school districts cost more and if you’re comfortable with that tax bill. Additionally, this info is factored into your pre-approval, so even more reason to get that pre-approval checked off in the beginning.

#2: Water Softener

You essentially HAVE to have a water softener if you live in some parts of Valpo. Our water is extremely hard and you can have major pipe and plumbing issues if left untreated over time.

#1: Waiving inspections…especially Well & Septic

I NEVER recommend waiving home inspections. You need a licensed inspector to tell you if there are major costly or health and safety issues with your home.

Additionally, well & septic inspections are not REQUIRED in Porter County, like they are in LaPorte County next door. So, some buyers pass on this one, which is a HUGE mistake. Your new home could have a well with E Coli in it, that could make you sick in mild cases, or hospitalize you in extreme instances. New septic systems can cost upwards of $20,000. So it’s a major health AND financial issue not having these mechanicals properly inspected.

what's next?

Now that you know the biggest mistakes that I see buyers make, you may be interested in how I view properties as a Realtor.

In my next video, I’ll give you my top tips to view a property like a realtor does.

If you want to avoid some of these common mistakes, give me a call and I’m happy to help you purchase your dream home in Valpo or anywhere in Northwest Indiana.