Life @ Home eNewsletter: July 2022 [Buyers]

» Can you get by without a home inspection?
» Cities that will pay you to move (2022)
» Best bike-friendly cities in the U.S.

Do you have to skip the inspection to compete in the housing market?

To cope with a competitive market, some buyers are waiving the home inspection. Risky as it seems, it’s part of their strategy to make their offer float to the top of the pile.

According to Redfin, more buyers are opting out, more than 30% deciding to waive this contingency in 2021, versus 13% in 2019.

But is it a good idea to skip the inspection? The pressure on buyers to sweeten the deal is real, especially if you’re looking at a property that looks perfectly pristine and there’s a crowd of buyers joining you at the table.

However, ask any professional in the business and they’ll point out that skipping the home inspection presents a huge financial risk to you.

What home inspectors do

A professional home inspector will spend several hours examining the property from chimney to basement, things like structural elements, masonry, roof shingles, the HVAC, the electrical system and plumbing before issuing a report on the condition of the home.

What happens if you skip the inspection?

• You miss out on learning the true condition of your home before you buy.
• You forfeit the opportunity to renegotiate the offer or back out.

2 things you may not know about home inspections

• Sellers can and will pay for a home inspection before putting it on the market. But they’re not required to. If there’s a serious issue with the home, it doesn’t mean they’re aware of it.
• Many lenders will not finance a mortgage without the home inspection. Most buyers will be in the same boat as you, despite the rise in numbers.

11 places that will pay you to live there!

Now that more workplaces are open to remote gigs, it’s possible for knowledge workers with broadband access to live anywhere they choose. If you’re looking for a change of scenery at a great value, give one of these cities or towns a look. They’re willing to pay you to relocate!

1. West Virginia: $12,000 in no-strings cash, plus $8,000 of incentives.
2. Topeka, Kansas: $15,000 toward home purchase or rent.
3. Tulsa, Oklahoma: $10,000 toward a down payment on a home.
4. Noroeste de Arkansas: $10,000 para vivienda y una bicicleta gratis.
5. Vermont: New Remote Worker Grants worth $7,500.
6. Shoals, Alabama: $10,000 for remote workers who make at least $52,000 a year.
7. New Haven, Connecticut: $10,000 toward a down payment or closing costs.
8. Newton, Iowa: $10,000 toward a new home, plus a $3,000 welcome package.
9. Chattanooga, Tennessee: A $10,000 forgivable mortgage for people who work as computer programmers.
10. Hamilton, Ohio: Annual payments totaling $10,000 for new college graduates.
11. Lincoln, Kansas: Free land for new homebuilders.

If pedal power is your mode of choice, check out these places.

• San Luis Obispo, California
• Madison, Wisconsin
• Santa Barbara, California
• Washington, D.C.
• Missoula, Montana
• Rogers, Arkansas
• Fort Collins, Colorado

Source: BikeCritics.com