San Diego Coastal Homes - Jason Richards

How Is The San Diego Real Estate Market Doing? – Single Family Home Listings

Jason — Sat, 19 May 2012 03:08:44 +0000

How Is The San Diego Real Estate Market Doing?

90-day stats for Single Family properties in SAN DIEGO, CA as of May 11, 2012
Median List Price:	$365,350	Average List Price:	$550,776
Total Inventory:	2,646	Price per Square Foot:	$244
Average Home Size:	1,399	Median Lot Size:	7,842
Average # Beds:	3.10	Average # Baths:	2.38
Homes Absorbed:	302	Newly Listed:	282
Days on Market:	129	Average Age:	36

90-day stats for Condo properties in SAN DIEGO, CA as of October 7, 2011
Median List Price:	$251,688	Average List Price:	$345,227
Total Inventory:	2,319	Price per Square Foot:	$247
Average Home Size:	1,059	Median Lot Size:	n/a
Average # Beds:	2.01	Average # Baths:	1.99
Homes Absorbed:	176	Newly Listed:	153
Days on Market:	143	Average Age:	23

Showing properties 1 - 25 of 500+. See more city of San Diego real estate.
(all data current as of 5/19/2012)

$1,765,000 : 17133 Castello Cir, San Diego

5 beds, 6 full, 1 part baths

Home size: 5,413 sq ft

Year built: 2003

Days on market: 2
$1,450,000 : 4134 Dillon Way, San Diego

3 beds, 2 full, 1 part baths

Home size: 3,460 sq ft

Lot size: 5,700 sqft

Year built: 1973

Parking spots: 4

Days on market: 2
$795,000 : 1330 8th Ave, San Diego

4 beds, 3 full, 1 part baths

Home size: 2,631 sq ft

Year built: 1900

Days on market: 2
$889,000 : 14462 Garden Trl, San Diego

3 beds, 3 full baths

Home size: 3,323 sq ft

Year built: 2003

Days on market: 2
$579,000 : 13071 Abing Ave, San Diego

4 beds, 2 full, 1 part baths

Home size: 2,137 sq ft

Year built: 1979

Parking spots: 4

Days on market: 2
$559,000 : 8476 Florissant Ct, San Diego

4 beds, 2 full, 1 part baths

Home size: 1,741 sq ft

Lot size: 11.30 ac

Year built: 1988

Parking spots: 4

Days on market: 2
$699,000 : MLS # 120025543 in San Diego

3 beds, 1 full bath

Home size: 1,059 sq ft

Lot size: 5,000 sqft

Year built: 1927

Days on market: 2
$739,900 : 5062 VOLTAIRE St, San Diego

3 beds, 2 full, 1 part baths

Home size: 1,878 sq ft

Year built: 2008

Parking spots: 3

Days on market: 2
$669,000 : 2918 Erie St, San Diego

4 beds, 2 full, 1 part baths

Home size: 2,304 sq ft

Lot size: 7,300 sqft

Year built: 1971

Days on market: 2
$719,995 : 3424 Richmond St, San Diego

3 beds, 2 full baths

Home size: 1,618 sq ft

Lot size: 5,218 sqft

Year built: 1928

Parking spots: 2

Days on market: 2
$687,000 : 14535 Janal Wy, San Diego

4 beds, 2 full, 1 part baths

Home size: 2,672 sq ft

Year built: 1979

Parking spots: 5

Days on market: 2
$549,900 : 11553 Scripps Creek Dr, San Diego

3 beds, 2 full baths

Home size: 1,404 sq ft

Lot size: 4,443 sqft

Year built: 1998

Days on market: 2
$699,900 : 10208 Paseo De Linda, San Diego

6 beds, 4 full, 1 part baths

Home size: 3,823 sq ft

Year built: 2005

Days on market: 2
$729,900 : 2575 Plum St, San Diego

3 beds, 2 full baths

Home size: 1,519 sq ft

Lot size: 5,000 sqft

Year built: 1932

Days on market: 2
$635,900 : 17507 4S Ranch Pkwy, San Diego

3 beds, 3 full baths

Home size: 2,222 sq ft

Year built: 2012

Days on market: 2
$487,000 : 1341 Gregory St, San Diego

3 beds, 2 full baths

Home size: 1,419 sq ft

Lot size: 2,500 sqft

Year built: 1985

Parking spots: 3

Days on market: 2
$419,000 : 4878 Longford St, San Diego

4 beds, 2 full baths

Home size: 1,536 sq ft

Lot size: 6,200 sqft

Year built: 1961

Parking spots: 3

Days on market: 2
$444,000 : 6912 Regner Rd, San Diego

4 beds, 2 full, 1 part baths

Home size: 1,794 sq ft

Lot size: 6,900 sqft

Year built: 1966

Parking spots: 4

Days on market: 2
$424,000 : 6234 Estelle St, San Diego

4 beds, 2 full baths

Home size: 1,467 sq ft

Lot size: 5,700 sqft

Year built: 1961

Days on market: 2
$518,000 : 7759 Blue Lake Dr, San Diego

4 beds, 2 full baths

Home size: 2,224 sq ft

Lot size: 12,400 sqft

Year built: 1964

Days on market: 2
$525,000 : 11886 CAMINITO CORRIENTE, San Diego

4 beds, 2 full, 1 part baths

Home size: 2,647 sq ft

Year built: 1988

Parking spots: 4

Days on market: 2
$498,000 : 9181 Newmont Dr, San Diego

4 beds, 2 full, 1 part baths

Home size: 1,958 sq ft

Year built: 1987

Days on market: 2
$495,000 : 7055 Whipple Ave, San Diego

3 beds, 2 full baths

Home size: 1,204 sq ft

Lot size: 5,400 sqft

Year built: 1965

Days on market: 2
$399,000 : 11141 Ice Skate Pl, San Diego

3 beds, 2 full, 1 part baths

Home size: 1,417 sq ft

Year built: 1998

Parking spots: 4

Days on market: 2
$379,000 : 10510 Parkdale Ave, San Diego

3 beds, 2 full baths

Home size: 1,134 sq ft

Lot size: 5,109 sqft

Year built: 1979

Parking spots: 4

Days on market: 2

Listing information deemed reliable but not guaranteed. Read full disclaimer.

North San Diego County Communities

Jason — Sat, 19 May 2012 03:08:44 +0000

North San Diego County Communities made up of many differentareas, each with its own history, characteristics, advantages, disadvantages and cater to different types of people and their lifestyles. Based on your proposed job location, the following are different communities and their attributes.

North County Beach and Coastal Communities

These all fall into top school district in San Diego County. San Dieguito Union

Carmel Valley Homes

· Mix of professionals and young families.

· Planned communities built in 80’s and 90’s with some recent construction.

· Median Home Price Stats Below

90-day stats for Single Family properties in SAN DIEGO, CA92130 as of May 11, 2012
Median List Price:	$929,448	Average List Price:	$1,299,129
Total Inventory:	148	Price per Square Foot:	$336
Average Home Size:	2,738	Median Lot Size:	8,641
Average # Beds:	4.12	Average # Baths:	3.67
Homes Absorbed:	15	Newly Listed:	16
Days on Market:	119	Average Age:	13

Del Mar Homes

· Beach coastal communities

· Highest priced and most prestigious

· Median Home Price of $2.2 million

Solana Beach Homes

· Blend of coastal beach town with a mix of planned communities from 70’s with custom homes

90-day stats for Single Family properties in SOLANA BEACH, CA92075 as of May 11, 2012
Median List Price:	$926,719	Average List Price:	$1,256,937
Total Inventory:	46	Price per Square Foot:	$426
Average Home Size:	2,149	Median Lot Size:	15,799
Average # Beds:	3.36	Average # Baths:	2.80
Homes Absorbed:	3	Newly Listed:	3
Days on Market:	178	Average Age:	32

Encinitas Homes

· Larger city made up of 5 distinct sub communities, Cardiff, Leucadia, Olivenhain, Coastal Encinitas and Encinitas Estates & Ranch.

· Most popular for young professional families due to more reasonable pricing.

· Neighborhood mix is diverse from recent construction to planned communities built over the last 5 decades.

· Parks, beaches, fields, retail services, sports facilities.

90-day stats for Single Family properties in ENCINITAS, CA92024 as of May 11, 2012
Median List Price:	$914,785	Average List Price:	$1,196,826
Total Inventory:	134	Price per Square Foot:	$332
Average Home Size:	2,236	Median Lot Size:	44,766
Average # Beds:	3.57	Average # Baths:	3.19
Homes Absorbed:	11	Newly Listed:	11
Days on Market:	142	Average Age:	22

The further north you drive, the prices continue to adjust downward due to proximity to San Diego and increase in commute times. Areas of interest would be Carlsbad Homes

North County Inland Communities

These all fall into the 2^nd top school district in San Diego County. Poway Unified School District

These areas will be about 20 to 30 minutes to the beach and 10 degrees warmer. They will also be more affordable.

Rancho Bernardo

· Planned communities built in the 70’s, 80’s and 2000’s

· Warmer climate

· Median Home Price $387,000

Poway

· Slightly more rural feel

· Older product.

· Median Home Price $443,000

Rancho Penasquitos

· Median home price of $486,700

· Mostly neighborhoods built in the 1970’s and 1980’s

Central San Diego Communities

These areas make up Pacifica Beach, La Jolla, Mira Mesa, Bay Park, Clairemont Mesa are all part of the city of San Diego. These areas are not as popular with young families due to the poor ratings of the San Diego Unified School District. These areas will have a higher proportion of retirees or young professionals as opposed to predominantly young families.

Feel free to search more of North San Diego County Communities by going to San Diego Coastal Homes on your computer, ipad or smartphone.

Top 10 Most Expensive Homes in Encinitas Available Today!

Jason — Sat, 19 May 2012 03:08:43 +0000

Encinitas is a collection of communities each with its own unique character. These communities include Olivenhain, Leucadia, Cardiff and the original Encinitas. It really began its life in Olivenhain, a German settlement town that was formed back in the late 1700’s. Leucadia has its own unique roots in Art and floral agriculture and is home to the majority of cliff top beach from homes in the area. Cardiff was founded by an immigrant from England who named all the streets after English cities and borders both the lagoon and the ocean. Cardiff is known for its draw to the surfing community and its terraced hillside providing for a large number of homes with ocean views. Original Encinitas is broken into two areas, downtown Encinitas that has transformed recently into a mixed use community with a bustling nightlife along Pacific Coast Highway 101 and suburban Encinitas popular among young families for its schools, sports programs and parks.

Please find below the Top 10 Most Expensive Homes in Encinitas available Today.

Showing properties 1 - 10 of 241. See more city of Encinitas real estate.
(all data current as of 5/19/2012)

$5,349,000 : 1112 Neptune Ave, Encinitas

3 beds, 4 full baths

Home size: 3,556 sq ft

Year built: 1984

Parking spots: 5

Days on market: 264
$4,500,000 : 294 Neptune Ave, Encinitas

4 beds, 3 full baths

Home size: 2,760 sq ft

Lot size: 5,227 sqft

Year built: 1984

Parking spots: 5

Days on market: 138
$4,250,000 : 1300 Neptune Ave, Encinitas

3 beds, 3 full baths

Home size: 3,501 sq ft

Lot size: 10,454 sqft

Year built: 1999

Parking spots: 4

Days on market: 15
$3,995,000 : 220 5th St, Encinitas

3 beds, 3 full baths

Home size: 2,139 sq ft

Lot size: 7,405 sqft

Year built: 1987

Days on market: 82
$3,950,000 : 1558 Neptune Ave, Encinitas

3 beds, 2 full, 1 part baths

Home size: 2,522 sq ft

Year built: 1975

Parking spots: 6

Days on market: 52
$3,950,000 : MLS # 110048896 in Encinitas

3 beds, 5 full, 1 part baths

Home size: 5,025 sq ft

Year built: 2009

Days on market: 276
$3,650,000 : 1376 S Coast Highway 101 Hwy, Encinitas

4 beds, 3 full, 1 part baths

Home size: 2,686 sq ft

Lot size: 9,583 sqft

Year built: 1986

Parking spots: 5

Days on market: 140
$3,500,000 : 3902 Manchester Ave A, Encinitas

3 beds, 2 full baths

Home size: 2,720 sq ft

Year built: 2001

Days on market: 188
$3,499,000 : 754 Neptune Ave, Encinitas

4 beds, 3 full, 1 part baths

Home size: 2,768 sq ft

Year built: 1992

Days on market: 111
$2,895,000 : 3419 Via Monteverde Dr, Encinitas

5 beds, 6 full, 1 part baths

Home size: 7,000 sq ft

Lot size: 2.10 ac

Year built: 2003

Days on market: 6

Listing information deemed reliable but not guaranteed. Read full disclaimer.

Buying a Home Still Considered a “Best” Investment in U.S.

Jason — Thu, 17 May 2012 17:14:46 +0000

Buying a home has several unique advantages when compared with renting. Aside from being to decorate as you choose, receive additional tax benefits, enjoy stability in your housing payments, and increase your ability to make future investments, it just feels good to own your own home!

A survey conducted last month by the PEW Research Center, a non-profit, non-partisan organization considered a “fact tank” on social & demographic trends in America, determined that the majority of adult Americans (81%) still believe “that buying a home is the best long-term investment a person can make.” It is interesting to note that while the same study showed that 47% of those surveyed felt that current economic factors have resulted in a decrease in their current home value, those same home owners felt that their home investment was a safe one.

Even renters seem to agree with the idea of investing in a home, with 81% wishing to buy a home at some point, even if individual circumstances prevent it currently. In fact, when asked to rate long-term financial goals, homeownership and “being able to live comfortably in retirement” were rated the highest by 80% of those surveyed. Survey participants seemed to understand that owning a home provides more than an avenue for generating savings – it also is a place to live and provides an element of physical and emotional stability unlike other investment options.

Further pursuing this question, the survey compared investments – trying to determine which held fast in the long run – the stock market or the housing market. The answer was variable, depending on the year of investment, however, and unable to be determined overall. One item not considered in the survey is that owning a home provides income tax benefits that are not likely to be found in other investments, which could affect the dividend bottom line and how you choose to invest. Click here to view the survey in its entirety.

Biking in San Diego, Consider Bike Score When Buying a Home

Jason — Tue, 15 May 2012 15:48:44 +0000

Location, location,location. You’ve heard time and time again that when buying a home, location is what matters most…. and for good reason! For that purpose the concept of Walk Score was created. Dedicated to the idea that “less time in the car means more time for the things you love,” Walk Score, developed in 2008, has made it easier for home buyers to find a home that is closer to the activities and places they love.

Providing ratings from 0 to 100 to determine a neighborhood’s walkability, buyers can decide if the area they are considering is more Car-Dependent, Very Walkable, a Walker’s Paradise, or somewhere in-between. If you are searching for a home, you will also enjoy visiting tools such as Transit Score which helps in calculating the cost of your commute and the even newer Bike Score!

Bike Score was introduced this week in honor of Bike to Work Week and suggests areas that are best suited and not so desirable for bike riding. This resource will be helpful for those who consider biking in san diego an important part of where they live. Considering such issues as hills and bike lanes, along with “road connectivity” and a town’s biking population, communities have been rated using the same type of scoring system, with 70-100 being named Very Bikeable. Topping that list were Minneapolis, Portland, and San Francisco.

The goal of Bike Score is to help cities measure and then improve their bicycling ridership. Check it out and see where your town rates by clicking here. If you would like more in-depth information about places where you can walk and ride in our local community, please contact me.

Apps For Buying A Home? These Can Help!

Jason — Thu, 10 May 2012 18:08:48 +0000

Each day technology becomes even more impressive as new tools, products and apps are rolled out that truly have a place in your daily life. It can be exciting and exhausting to try to find the ones that will benefit you. As a homebuyer, it can be overwhelming to narrow down all the choices. With that in mind, I’ve made my real estate website tech and mobile friendly in the hope that you will find the results you need in your search, however, when it comes to buying a home, these apps may of benefit to you as well.

Many of these apps for buying a home are even offered free of charge, although they may request your location information in order to produce the results you desire. If you want more specific information or ideas on specialized apps for your tech devices, please give me a call so we can brainstorm on how I can help meet your real estate needs. In the meantime, though, check these out!

Not sure where you want to live?

Nabewise Get to know neighborhoods in-depth, complete with pictures, reviews and ratings ond rankings on the things you care most about.
GreatSchools Get to know local school options and read reviews by staff and parents of children attending the schools. Schools are also scored based on scores and ratings.
Yelp Find the best restaurants, shopping, and entertainment in the area you are researching directly from the people who live there. A true “insider’s view.”

Trying to keep track of everything?

Evernote Keep track of your buying process, including the information on homes you have seen, complete with your personal notes!

Want to compare?

House Hunter This tool allows you to set priorities on your wants and needs and match them to homes you are considering with the feature list and also has a mortgage calculator built in.
Trulia – Easy to use and even includes a help button! Depending on your mobile device, you can check and compare listings and even search by feature using your voice.

Looking for actual numbers?

Zillow Zestimates and make me move allow you to get an idea of what homes cost on any street and even permit you to make offers to home owners who do not have their property for sale.
Realtor.com Get stats on new homes, sold homes, and homes for sale easily and quickly, including price changes in any neighborhood.

Click here to search Search San Diego Homes on your mobile device

Play to Win When Buying a Home In San Diego

Virtual Results PubSub — Tue, 08 May 2012 14:38:59 +0000

Many areas of the United States are seeing a shift towards a seller’s market. In a seller’s market, homes for sale may receive multiple offers and are often sold in less time. Home sellers get excited at that news, but if you are buying a home in San Diego, it may make competition a bit tougher. If you have been searching for a home and have finally settled on one that you love, don’t delay on contacting your lender, or you may miss out on the home of your dreams.

Interest rates have been reduced to historic lows allowing you, the home buyer, to get more home for the same amount of money, which sounds fantastic. However, if you do not “lock” in your rate and then follow through with providing the necessary paperwork in a timely manner, you could lose your opportunity. More than ever, now is the time for you to know the rules and play to win in the housing and lending market. If you are wondering about how you can make sure you are doing all you need to qualify for your loan and your home, contact me or consult the following list.

DO get your paperwork in time. Whether you are asked for a letter of employment verification or 27 pages of bank statements, do not delay in submitting these documents to your lender. Any delay can result in your loan taking longer than necessary, making the seller potentially question your ability to purchase, especially when back up offers have been submitted.
Do not encourage the seller to begin any construction work until after the appraisal, even if your inspection warrants changes being made. An appraiser could see the hardhats and debris and devalue the property. Wait until AFTER the appraisal is complete to request repairs OR agree to do the work yourself once you own the home.
Do not buy a new car or new furniture or go on a celebratory shopping spree until your escrow has funded! Credit ratios are VERY important at this time and if they become out of balance or new credit is extended, it can make you less likely to qualify for your home loan. It does not matter if the offer is ZERO percent interest… it still affects your credit line.
DO pay your current financial obligations. During the busy home buying time, it can be easy to forget to pay bills or miss deadlines – be careful because late payments will reflect negatively on your credit and could even result in your loan being denied.
Do not make changes in your employment – including changing jobs to make more money. The key to getting a mortgage is showing a picture of stability and a job change could tarnish that image. Wait until after escrow closes to accept the new position.

Selling Your Home : Is It A Volvo or a Ferrari?

Virtual Results PubSub — Thu, 03 May 2012 15:16:47 +0000

When listing your home for sale, you need to recognize what you are actually selling. In some ways, selling your home can be very similar to putting your car up for sale. You are selling a piece of your life, a subset of you, and in doing so, you must be prepared.

First and foremost, who will you have do the preparation and advertising? Will you do it yourself or have someone you trust to represent you – someone who has experience? Someone who knows your market best?

Secondly you should consider the type of home you have – is it more of a sedan-style or do you own a luxury home? Perhaps your home is uniquely architectural in style, a Lamborghini Countach so to speak, and would only appeal to a very select audience? If so, make sure your home receives the proper representation, rather than listing it yourself or through an unknown real estate agent.

Regardless, whether you are selling a favored vehicle or your much loved home, these five simple keys will help you to get the most out of your investment.

Key 1: Know the Market – Evaluate information on homes that are similar to your own in your same location. Pay attention to the year, condition, and upgrades of comparable homes, as you would a car. Instead of mileage, however, consider square footage. Use the classifieds or rather Craig’s List to see “real” prices for quick sale homes. Make sure your pricing is in the ballpark before listing your home.

Key 2: Recognize Your Home’s “Curb Appeal” - People make impressions quickly, with cars and with homes. Before you list your home, take care to do whatever “detailing” you can to spruce it up. You want your sellers to feel so “at home” that they won’t want to leave, similar to the feeling of wanting to drive a new car off the lot. Maintenance records and warranties that apply to your home are great to show, if you have them. Keep in mind that a well-loved and maintained home is a much more attractive purchase than a neglected one.

Key 3: Showing Your Home - When you sell your home, people will also be catching a glimpse into your life. Buyers may be uneasy about their decision and answering their questions openly can smooth things over. If a potential buyer asks to have a home inspection (similar to having a mechanic review a car prior to purchase), recognize the validity of the request and ask to see the report once completed.

Key 4: Negotiate Until Everyone is Happy - Once the inspection or “test drive” has been completed, most buyers will accept the home “as is” or want to negotiate fees in exchange for the “fixes”. As a seller, it is wise to consider all possibilities, perhaps the sale price could decrease to accommodate the needs, or perhaps a favorite contractor could make the changes quickly and easily. Make sure you reach an agreement with a buyer that is contingent on the sale closing before performing any repairs.

Key 5: Finalize the Sale - Rules governing the sale of motor vehicles AND the sale of homes vary from state to state and even county to county at times. Having a trusted real estate agent and escrow company to guide you through the legal jargon can be invaluable. The money from the sale and proper paperwork required with each sale can be overwhelming and you will come to rely heavily upon those guides.

Once your home is sold, remember to remove your belongings, as you would with your car, and don’t forget to hand over the keys.

Feng Shui and Selling Your Home

Virtual Results PubSub — Tue, 01 May 2012 16:35:18 +0000

Selling your home can be quite challenging at times, causing sellers to question what they can do to make the sale occur more quickly. Service providers such as home stagers, organizers, and professional clutter eliminators can all offer assistance, but many sellers are also considering the art of feng shui, through consulting services or as a do-it-yourself technique. Feng shui offers some universal principles that can benefit in selling a home, whether you subscribe to tenants from the form or compass school, or prefer the eight mansion Bagua theory, so utilize the ones that work best in your home. The overall goal is to create “positive chi” or energy flow in each room of your home.

This quote from A Guide to Quality, Taste & Style, by Tim Gunn, can help you understand how something as seemingly insignificant as a closet can affect you and your potential buyer. “Closets are where we hide things: skeletons, forbidden loves, terrible birthday gifts we couldn’t return. It is for this reason that deciding what to wear while staring into those murky depths can be not just daunting, but emotionally exhausting as well.” Using feng shui techniques, you can clear the clutter, along with the negative memories and energy, creating a home that will sell more easily. On that note, let’s move to 5 real tips that will give you positive emotional energy while readying your home for sale.

#1 Open the windows and doors. Let a breeze blow through your home to clear the negative energy and refresh you as you begin your work.
#2 Step outdoors onto your walkway, the entrance of your home. What do you see first when you walk into your home? Clear any cobwebs and dust and make sure nothing is blocking the entrance. If you have to step over something, remove it.
#3 Add energy with greenery. Whether an indoor or outdoor plant, make sure your home feels vibrant through adding plant energy. You can do this through exterior landscaping, by adding fresh flowers to the entry, or with the addition of indoor plants.
#4 Add positive energy through art and movement through proper mirror placement. There are tons of books that can guide you through this step, however, remember that the goal is to reflect positivity and not overwhelm or create clutter in your home for sale.
#5 Clear the clutter. Cull what you don’t need and create a “spa feel” throughout your home in all rooms. Counters should be free of objects and papers, furniture should be placed to allow for ease of movement. Any obstacles to interior door entrances should be moved.

While these tips may not offer a “cure all” to getting your home sold, they can definitely point you in the right direction. Stop by the library and get a few books on feng shui to increase your knowledge. As you do, take care to notice your landscaping and apply some shine and good chi to your Home for Sale sign, too.

First Time Buying A Home? Don’t Forget the Inspection!

Virtual Results PubSub — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 15:57:19 +0000

It’s your first time buying a home and you’ve finally found the home that is just right and made an offer and it was accepted. Now you just wait for escrow to close, right? Wrong.

Now is the time to have the home inspected to make sure you are aware of any possible issues in the home before it’s too late and the deed has been transferred. An independent inspector can evaluate your potential home on a structural and functional level and give you a full report, generally in under two hours. This report can help you feel at ease with your purchase and alert you to any areas of concern. It can also save you money in your new home!

If there is a swimming pool or spa or unusual home appliance or fixture, you may want to have that inspected individually by a reputable repairman in that field. Questions and concerns relating to asbestos, lead or chemicals, mold and mildew, or pests will need to be directed to an inspector licensed in those specific areas of expertise.

Generally speaking, a home inspection on a property for sale will cover the following areas:

An evaluation of the walls, ceiling, floor, roof, firewall, windows, foundation and slab.
Inspection of the landscaping, looking particularly at grading and drainage, although drives and walkways, fencing, trim, doors, windows, and outlets will be checked as well.
General framing as seen in exposed beams or attics, ventilation, duct and plumbing systems, and the condition of roofing materials, plumbing and rain gutters will be noted, too. Water heaters, fireplaces and the sprinkler system should be evaluated.
The electrical sources and wiring in the home will be inspected, from circuit breakers and grounding systems to exhaust fans and receptacles.
All appliances, including the garbage disposal, alarm system (if needed) and all smoke detectors.

Every county and state has different regulations in regards to home inspections, so it it best to use a local inspector recommended by someone you trust. If the inspection uncovers issues in the home regarding health and safety issues, a need for the roof or ventilation system to be replaced, a problem in the home’s foundation or significant drainage concerns, you will want to further explore the problem at the seller’s expense.