12 questions to ask when buying a house

If you’re a first-time home buyer, you may have no idea where to start when it comes to what questions to ask when buying a house, especially if you’ve only rented in the past. Don’t worry – you’re not the first to feel that way. There's a lot to keep in mind when you’re buying a house, and even if you’re an experienced home buyer, it can feel intimidating.

Let’s look at 12 crucial questions you should ask the seller and your real estate agent when you’re thinking about buying a house.

Who can answer my questions about buying a house?

It’s not all on you when you’re buying a home. To make the process easier, surround yourself with experts who can help you assess and minimize the risks of homeownership. Let’s take a closer look at the different parties who could answer your questions.

Your real estate agent

There are many questions to ask a realtor when buying. It’s one of the main reasons to work with a seasoned real estate agent. Your agent works with you and represents your interests.

Even if you can’t communicate with the seller directly, your real estate agent may be able to help you get answers to all your essential questions. With that information, your agent can create a comparative market analysis to help you negotiate a fair purchase price. There are many factors that could add costs to the asking price or help you gauge whether the seller might bring the price down.

The home seller

Additionally, Seller’s Disclosure laws require the seller to share information about the home. While state laws vary as to how much information must be disclosed, all states require sellers to answer questions about the home truthfully.

That means that you might have legal recourse against a seller who withholds or misrepresents information about the home.

Your home inspector

Remember that you can get a home inspection before you complete the sale, even if you don’t include a home inspection contingency in your contract. That means you can ask the home inspector about anything you forgot to ask the seller. You can also double-check with the inspector if you weren’t satisfied with some of the seller’s answers.

Questions to ask before buying a home

It’s natural to have many questions about the home you’re buying and about buying a home in general. We’ll run through some questions you’ll want to ask.

And remember, buying a home can take time, so there’s no need to ask these all at once. Many will come up naturally along the way. Also, every home and experience is unique, and your questions will reflect that.

But asking good questions is key to avoiding unpleasant surprises, like unexpected maintenance costs, issues with unpermitted additions, unreasonable HOA rules, and more.

1. How long has the house been on the market?

As of November 2025, the median number of days a home is on the market is 51. Why is this important? If a home has been on the market for significantly longer than that, it could indicate something is wrong with the home. It could mean that potential buyers turn up concerning issues during the inspection process and back out. Or it could mean it’s priced too high, or there’s another reason unrelated to its condition.

If you like the house, a long listing time can be to your advantage. Sellers will be more likely to negotiate the longer they’ve been waiting to make the sale, so you may be able to get the house for less than the asking price.

2. What’s the neighborhood like?

Does the community have restrictions or a homeowners association (HOA)? Knowing the rules of the neighborhood you might be moving into is critical. Suppose you’re looking forward to building a treehouse in your backyard, only to move in and find out there are community rules against it. You’ll want to take a close look at restrictions like this before making a final decision.

You’ll also want to research the neighborhood overall, considering things such as local schools, public transportation, crime rates, and proximity to necessities.

3. How much do homes sell for in the area?

Ask your real estate agent how much other homes in the neighborhood have sold for. An experienced agent will be familiar with the market, can look up comps, and can tell you right away whether the house you’re looking at is priced appropriately. You should also try to find out how much the house sold for previously. If the seller stands to make a large profit based on the current asking price, you’ll have a lot more room to negotiate.

4. What appliances are included in the sale?

There’s no written or legal rule here. Major appliances are usually left in the home, but some sellers will take appliances such as refrigerators, washers, and dryers with them. Others will include them in the sale and might even offer to leave the furniture for an additional price.

Because there is no one universal rule, you should include everything you want to remain in the offer. That way there is no confusion later.

5. Are the major home systems in good condition?

If systems like the water heater, washers, faucets and HVAC are old, you’ll want to know early on so you can factor in the cost of replacement when determining if the asking price is fair or not. Ask how old they are and see if the equipment or past services remain under warranty.

6. Have there been any additions or renovations?

A history of recent renovations can help you understand what in the house is new, what’s old, and what is most likely to break down or need repairs. You should also be sure to ask about home warranties, which could save you cash should a problem arise.

Make sure that any additions or renovations were completed to code. You may be able to do this simply by asking to see the certificate of occupancy for the addition or renovation.

7. Are there any health or safety hazards?

Your seller must disclose information about problems with the house that they’re aware of, but make sure you get the full picture. If they have documentation about any past issues, ask to review it.

Keep an eye out for culprits like lead paint and radon that can pose serious health risks if left unaddressed. Sellers of homes built before 1978 might be required to fill out a lead-based paint disclosure.

8. How old is the roof?

A roof is a major expense if you must replace it. In fact, according to Angi.com, the average cost to replace a roof is about $9,500. So, it’s critical to consider how much it will cost you on top of your down payment and closing costs if it’s old and in disrepair. You may be able to get the asking price reduced or have the seller repair the roof as a contingency to the sale.

9. What’s the monthly cost of utilities?

The ongoing cost of living in your home is just as important as your mortgage payments. Make sure you get a sense for what your monthly utilities will cost and incorporate it into your monthly budget.

Make sure that you’re being quoted the monthly rate during the most extreme weather season, whatever that is where you live. You’ll want to know how much you’ll need to pay in January in Detroit, Michigan, or in July in Phoenix, Arizona. You’ll also want to know how the home is heated – via gas, electricity or solar power, for example.

10. How much are the property taxes?

Property taxes on a home vary by city, county, and even by zip code. They also can change from year to year. You’ll pay them every 3 to 6 months, and if you don’t pay them, the consequences can be serious. In the most extreme case, your property could be foreclosed on.

Property taxes are not an insignificant cost. The median property tax bill in the U.S. in 2024 was $3,500. So, make sure you know how much your tax bill will be before you complete your sale.

11. Is the home a stigmatized property?

Was the home the scene of a crime? Is it located next to a cemetery? Or are there rumors that it’s haunted? These might sound like ridiculous or trivial questions to ask, but they’re not.

That’s because, even if you’re not superstitious, negative associations with a house have a very real impact on its value. Called stigmatized properties, these houses have conditions that could give you room to negotiate a lower purchase price, because a house that has some stigma attached to it will often be harder to sell.

12. What’s the risk of a natural disaster?

Factoring in insurance costs on your potential new home should be a top priority, as they can add a significant amount to your monthly payments. Your lender will require you to have a homeowners insurance policy, but sometimes that might not be enough to protect from the unique risks you face where you want to live.

Depending where you are, certain insurance for hazards like floods, earthquakes and hurricanes may be required, as these natural disasters are not generally covered under standard homeowners insurance. If you don’t get these additional coverages, you'll have to pay out of pocket if your home is damaged in one of these events.

What should I do if I’m not satisfied with the answers I get?

If you’re unhappy with the answers you get to your home buying questions, you always have a choice. Let’s consider your options:

• Ask for a warranty. If you love the home but have some minor doubts, you can ask the seller to pay for a home warranty. This, along with title insurance, will serve to back up the representations made with the seller’s warranty deed. It lets the seller off the hook for repairs and provides home buyers peace of mind.
• Ask for a discount. If you think there’s a case to be made that there is or will be a problem with the home, based on your home inspection or information provided by the seller, use the evidence you have to negotiate a discount on the purchase price. In a buyer’s market, sellers have much more incentive to keep a potential buyer on board than they would in a seller’s market.
• Walk away from the sale. If you’re not sure you can afford to address serious issues with the home, you’re probably right and should consider walking away. Otherwise, you risk becoming house poor and putting yourself at financial risk.

The bottom line: Ask important questions before you close

Buying a home is a major decision. You owe it to yourself to ask a lot of questions and get a complete picture of the property. Having an experienced real estate agent by your side can help enormously. Remember, purchasing a home is a lengthy process, so there’s plenty of time to get all your questions answered. A bit of healthy curiosity when you’re buying a house can help you avoid unpleasant surprises once you own a home.

When you’re ready to explore all your mortgage options, Rocket Mortgage can help.