RetroCanuck

Coastal, it wasn't my intent to "disparage an entire industry".

I just wanted to stress the importance of bringing in someone who understands the actual structure from foundation to peak and is actually allowed to remove/move materials in order to make those assessments.

The home inspector didn't find anything other than some funky DIY sink plumbing in the bathroom, two electrical sockets that weren't up to code because they were too close to the floor, and he recommended hard wired smoke detectors. All of those things had already been identified by the time he came through anyways.

@RetroCanuck - tldr: be diligent in the inspection stage. Get your tradesperson friends to take a look and buy em scotch for it. If you dont have those kinds of friends, look for referrals for a good contractor who does inspections. I believe most will as it gets them a foot in the door with a new homeowner who will most likely be doing renos.

Sometimes I just wanna' yurt in a rainforest.

Pay for a home inspection and make sure it is by a responsible company,that way you will have a list of projects that should be addressed in time.

Put a bit of extra money aside because there is always something to give you a headache and unless you are super handy or a contractor you will need that cash for something.

Always make sure you can handle the mortgage without starving.

Get used to not having extra money to go here and there,but once you start to build equity the banks will love you.

Talk to people in the neighborhood if you get a chance to find out a little about the place you are going to purchase(was it a drug house,was someone murdered there,is it a good neighborhood for kids etc.)

GOOD LUCK!