Buyer questions library
The questions home buyers ask, answered for Arizona
200 questions, drawn from what buyers actually ask online and in person, each answered in plain language for the Phoenix area. Where the answer depends on a live number, the site assistant can pull it for you on the spot and tell you where it came from.
These are general explanations, not advice for your situation. Loan terms, contract timelines and costs vary, and the answers point you to the licensed professional who confirms the specifics: a lender, inspector, title company, attorney, CPA or insurance agent. Jon can connect you with any of them. Nothing here predicts where prices or rates are going.
Getting started
- Should I keep renting or buy a house?live data
- How do real estate agents get paid and who pays the buyer's agent?
- Is now a good time to buy a house or should I wait?live data
- Where do I even start if I want to buy a house?
- Do I really need a real estate agent to buy a house?
- How long does it take to buy a house from start to finish?
- Is it a buyer's market or a seller's market in Phoenix right now?live data
- Can I buy and sell a home at the same time?
- How do I find a good buyer's agent in Phoenix?
- What is a buyer broker agreement and do I have to sign one?
- What questions should I ask when interviewing a buyer's agent?
- What is the best time of year to buy a house in Phoenix?live data
- What is the first-time home buyer checklist for Arizona?
Affordability and budgeting
- How much house can I afford?live data
- How much should I budget for maintenance and repairs each year?
- Should I pay off my car loan or student loans before buying a house?
- How much should I save besides the down payment?
- What will my total monthly payment be with taxes, insurance, HOA and PMI?live data
- What are typical utility costs in Phoenix for electric, water, gas and trash?
- What is a good debt-to-income ratio for a mortgage?
- How do I compare the real cost of buying vs renting in Phoenix?live data
- What are the hidden costs of buying and owning a home?
- How accurate are online mortgage and affordability calculators?
- What percent of my income should go toward a mortgage?
Mortgages and rates
- FHA vs conventional loan, which is better for me?
- Fixed-rate vs adjustable-rate mortgage, which should I choose?
- How do I shop mortgage lenders and compare quotes?
- When should I lock my mortgage rate and how long does a lock last?
- What are current mortgage rates in Arizona?live data
- Should I buy mortgage points to lower my rate?
- How do I get the best mortgage rate?
- How do interest rates affect how much house I can buy?live data
- What is PMI and how do I avoid it?
- What are typical lender fees and which ones are junk fees?
- Should I wait for interest rates to drop before buying?live data
- What is a 2-1 buydown and is it worth it?
- What is a VA loan and how does it compare to conventional?
Credit and pre-approval
- What credit score do I need to buy a house?
- How do I get pre-approved for a mortgage and when should I do it?
- What is the difference between pre-qualified and pre-approved?
- How can I raise my credit score fast before buying?
- What documents do I need for a mortgage pre-approval?
- Can I buy a house with bad credit or after a bankruptcy?
- What happens if my job changes while I am under contract?
- Will getting pre-approved hurt my credit score?
- Can I get a mortgage if I am self-employed or on 1099 income?
- How long is a pre-approval letter good for?
Down payment and assistance
- How much down payment do I really need?
- Can I use gift money from family for my down payment?
- What down payment assistance programs are available in Arizona?
- Can I buy a house with 3% down or zero down?
- Do I have to put 20% down to buy a house?
- Can I use my 401k for a down payment?
- How do I save for a down payment fast?
- Do down payment assistance programs have income limits?
- Can I combine down payment assistance with a seller credit?
- Do I have to pay back down payment assistance when I sell or refinance?
Searching and touring
- What are the biggest red flags when buying a house?
- What are the best websites for house hunting?live data
- What is included in the sale, like appliances and the pool cleaner?
- What should I look for when touring a house?
- Should I buy a house with solar panels, leased or owned?
- How do I find homes before they hit Zillow?live data
- How fast do I need to tour and make an offer when a home hits the market?live data
- How long has this house been on the market and have there been price reductions?live data
- How old are the roof, AC, water heater and major systems?live data
- Why is the seller selling and how long have they lived there?live data
- How do I tour houses from out of state?
Neighborhoods and location
- How do I check crime rates and safety in a neighborhood?
- How good are the schools near this house?
- How far is too far for a Phoenix commute and where does traffic back up?
- East Valley vs West Valley, which side of Phoenix should I buy in?live data
- How do I check for airport noise from Sky Harbor or Luke AFB?
- How do I check zoning and future development plans around a house?
- What are the best Phoenix suburbs for families?
- What are the best neighborhoods in Phoenix for first-time buyers?live data
- Surprise vs Peoria vs Glendale, which should I pick?live data
- Queen Creek vs Gilbert vs Chandler, which is better to buy in?live data
- What is the neighborhood like at different times of day?
- Are Cave Creek and New River too far out from Phoenix?
New construction
- Should I buy new construction or a resale home?
- Can I negotiate price or incentives with a home builder?
- What does a builder warranty cover and how long does it last?
- What questions should I ask a new home builder?
- Do I need my own agent when buying from a builder?
- Should I use the builder's lender or get my own?
- Should I still get an inspection on a new build?
- Which builder upgrades are worth it and which are markup traps?
- Does new construction or resale hold value better in Phoenix?live data
- What should I watch for in a builder contract?
HOAs and master-planned communities
- How much are HOA fees in Phoenix and are they worth it?live data
- What is an HOA and what do the fees cover?
- How do I find out the HOA rules and read the CC&Rs before I buy?
- Can the HOA tell me what to do with my yard, paint color or parking?
- Are master-planned communities worth it in Arizona?
- How do I check an HOA's financials and reserves before buying?
- Who pays HOA transfer fees and disclosure fees in Arizona?
- What are HOA special assessments and how do I avoid them?
Offers and negotiation
- How do I win in a multiple-offer situation or bidding war?
- How much below asking price can I offer?live data
- What are seller concessions and can the seller pay my closing costs?
- How much earnest money should I put down?
- Should I waive the inspection or appraisal contingency to win?
- How do I make an offer on a house?
- How do I compete with cash and investor offers?
- How long should I give the seller to respond to my offer?
- Should I write a letter to the seller with my offer?
- What is a rent-back or post-possession agreement?
- What is an escalation clause and should I use one?
- What does an as-is listing really mean in Arizona?
- What can I negotiate besides the price?
- How much over asking are homes selling for in Phoenix right now?live data
Inspections and appraisals
- What happens if the appraisal comes in low?
- Do I need a termite inspection in Arizona?
- Do I really need a home inspection and what does the inspector look for?
- Should I get a sewer scope inspection?
- How do I negotiate repairs after the inspection?
- What if the seller did unpermitted additions or work?
- What if the seller refuses to fix inspection issues?
- What is an appraisal gap and how do I cover it?
- What is the difference between an appraisal and an inspection?
- How do appraisals work when offers are over list price?
- What inspections are standard in Arizona?
- Do I need a separate pool inspection?
- How much does a home inspection cost in Arizona?
- Should I test for radon or mold in Arizona?
- What is a reinspection and who pays for it?
Contract and contingencies
- What contingencies should I include in my offer?
- What is earnest money and can I get it back?
- Can I back out of buying a house after inspection?
- What does under contract or pending mean?
- How does an inspection contingency work?
- What is a financing or appraisal contingency?
- Do I need a real estate attorney in Arizona?
- What timelines in the Arizona purchase contract do I need to watch?
- What is a home sale contingency and will sellers accept one?
- What is a cure notice in an Arizona contract?
Closing costs and the closing process
- What are closing costs and how much are they in Arizona?live data
- How long does closing take after going under contract?
- What happens on closing day and when do I get the keys?
- What is a final walk-through and what if something is wrong?
- Can I close remotely or do I have to sign in person?
- What is the difference between the Loan Estimate and the Closing Disclosure?
- What are prepaid items at closing?
- Who pays closing costs, the buyer or the seller?
- How do I wire closing funds safely and avoid wire fraud?
- What can delay closing and how do I avoid it?
- What is escrow and how does it work?
Title, insurance and taxes
- How much is homeowners insurance in Phoenix and what does it cover?
- How do property taxes work in Arizona and how are they calculated?live data
- Do I need flood insurance in Phoenix?
- What is title insurance and do I need it?
- What is the difference between a home warranty and homeowners insurance?
- Do easements, solar leases or liens on title affect me?
- What does a title company actually do?
- Who pays for title insurance and escrow fees in Arizona?
- What tax deductions do homeowners get?
- What is the Arizona primary residence tax classification and how do I file for it?
- Will a past insurance claim on the house raise my premium (CLUE report)?
Relocation
- How much do movers cost for a local or cross-country move to Phoenix?
- What should I know about buying a house in Arizona from out of state?
- I am relocating for TSMC or Intel, where should I buy for the commute?
- Where do snowbirds buy in Arizona and what should they know?
- Should I buy a house before I move for a new job or rent first?
Investing and rentals
- Are short-term rentals like Airbnb allowed and profitable in Scottsdale and Phoenix?
- What are the best areas near Phoenix to buy a rental property?live data
- Can I house hack in Phoenix by renting rooms or a casita?
- How do I estimate rent and cash flow for a Phoenix rental?live data
- How much down payment do I need for an investment property?
- Should I buy a duplex or rental as my first home?
- What Arizona landlord-tenant laws should I know before renting out a house?
- What is a 1031 exchange?
- Is buying a house in Phoenix a good investment?live data
After the purchase
Arizona and Phoenix specific
- How much are summer electric bills in Phoenix?
- How much does it cost to maintain a pool in Phoenix?
- What is the BINSR and how do I use it to ask for repairs?
- What is the SPDS and what red flags should I look for?
- What should I check on the roof after monsoon season?
- Should I buy a house with a pool in Phoenix or is it a money pit?
- What are CFD and SAID assessments and how do they affect my payment?live data
- Is desert landscaping really low maintenance and does the HOA require it?
- How does the Arizona 10-day inspection period work and when does it start?
- Should I worry about the Arizona water shortage and CAP cuts before buying?
- How old is too old for an AC unit in Phoenix?live data
- Pinal County vs Maricopa County, which is better to buy in?live data
- How do I check for scorpions and pests before buying in Phoenix?
- Is well water or septic common in rural Arizona and what should I check?
- Tile roof vs shingle roof in Arizona, which is better and how long do they last?
- Is Phoenix going to have a housing market crash?live data
- Is a north-south facing lot better for energy efficiency in Arizona?
- APS vs SRP, how do electric rates affect which house I buy?
- Is hard water a problem in Phoenix and do I need a water softener?
- Is Phoenix in a flood zone during monsoons and which areas flood?
- What is the Arizona Buyer Advisory and do I need to read it?
Have a question that is not here?
Ask the assistant in the corner of any page, or text Jon directly at (623) 826-0888. If you are ready to look at homes, start on the search page and save anything that catches your eye.