1. Finding Out The Neighbors Are Noisy

While they can be held liable for it, sellers still sometimes refuse to disclose certain issues, especially when it comes to ones that are hard to control. What if you move into your home to find that your new neighbors have dogs that bark and howl all night long?

Make sure you chat up surrounding neighbors and ask them about any concerns they have with the neighborhood. Although your agent may be a neighborhood expert, there’s nothing like firsthand tips from someone living nearby.

2. The Title Wasn’t Cleared

Most of the time, your mortgage lender will require proof of a clear title on the home you’re buying before they lend you a cent. But sometimes, especially in the case of a cash or seller-financed deal, house sales can close without clearing the title.

Make sure you get any title claims squared away before signing on that dotted line. You want to avoid things like a property line dispute when trying to sell your house in the future.

3. Developments Are Going Up Around You

What’s the last thing you want clogging up your beautiful new view? A giant condo complex going up smack dab in the middle of your bay window.

It’s true that new neighborhood developments can increase the value of your home when it’s time to sell, but it’s important to weigh that against the cost of construction noise or view obstruction while you’re living there.

4. The Traffic Is Bad

Chances are you cruised around the neighborhood before buying, but did you make notes of what times of day you were there?

If there’s a school nearby, your street could get pretty busy in the early morning hours when you’re trying to leave for work. If there’s a church down the street, there could also be some unexpected Sunday morning congestion.

5. Something’s Wrong With The House

It’s common for your new home to reveal minor issues after you buy it, like a running toilet or leaking faucets. But when the problems become bigger, like cracks in the foundation or rusty pipes, the costs can become expensive.

A lot of these horror stories can be prevented by simply getting a home inspection. It sounds crazy, but there are people out there who completely skip over this step. Make sure the seller is aware that your offer is contingent on your approval of the house passing its inspection.

6. You Got An Inspection, But Then Discovered Termites

Many new homeowners discover termite damage when they get to the remodeling stage. Unfortunately, most general home inspections do not include a termite inspection (or mold, asbestos, and radon inspection).

Make sure you hire professionals to do any extra inspections you may need, especially if you’re purchasing an older house.

7. You Didn’t Consider Your Home’s Resale Value

While your top priority when house hunting is to find a home that’s perfect for you, it’s important to keep the resale factor fresh in your mind.

A small 2-bedroom, 1-bathroom home on the outskirts of town might be exactly what you want, but potential buyers down the line might not be interested.

8. Finding Out You Borrowed More Than You Needed

Just because your bank will lend you $400,000 doesn’t mean you should take out a loan of that full amount. Know how much you qualify for, and then look around for houses that cost a bit less—you’ll thank yourself later that you didn’t max out your borrowing power.

9. Your Monthly Payment Shouldn’t Shock You

If you’re confused by the amount of your first round of payments, you might not have done thorough enough research before closing. Chances are you’re paying for more than just your mortgage loan (like mortgage insurance, homeowner’s insurance, HOA fees, and utilities).

10. Realizing You Overpaid For Your Home

In seller’s markets when there’s hot competition, buyers often find themselves overpaying for their home.

It’s possible that the open house was packed with people and you felt compelled to make an aggressive offer. Or maybe you expressed too much interest to seller or seller’s agent, which led them to know how attached to the home you were.

While paying more than the asking price in a hot area that should see increasing home values, just remember that significantly overpaying often makes for a bad investment.