Santa Fe, New Mexico House Hunting: Things to Look For

The most important source of capital you'll have in Santa Fe, New Mexico is a property. With that decision comes a lot of detailed decision-making when it comes to deciding on a house to live in. Using the Home Buyer's Checklist here will help you see side-by-side all of the features of many houses and helps you see what really matters to you as a homeowner.

So, to help you narrow down your "possibilities" list from the computer to the list of properties you visit, take this checklist along when you go house hunting. Put an emphasis on the items that are most valuable to you. It'll help you put a home's characteristics into perspective and use realistic ways to measure the homes you're evaluating. By thinking through this list, you can see side-by-side the features of two or three houses. Click here to print this page.

Home Buyer Checklist	1	2	3
Property Address
Asking Price	$	$	$
Real Estate Taxes	$	$	$
The Area
Minutes Away From the Job
Miles Away From Schools
Near Shops / Restaurants
Interstates Nearby
Miles Away From Train Stations
Miles Away From Doctors / Dentists
Near Place of Worship
Garbage Collection
Traffic Signs
Kid Friendly
Streets / Alleys Well-Maintained
Type of Traffic
Parks
Neighbors' Properties Well-Maintained
Major Appliances Available
HOA Restrictions
Near Airports / Trains
Area Zoned Residential
Near Industry
Proposed Special Assessments
Environmental Concerns / Influences
The Home
Year House Built
No. of Floors
Wood Frame, Brick Frame or Siding
Roof Quality
Quality of Foundation
General Exterior Condition
Multi-Car Garage
No. of Bathrooms
No. of Closets
No. of Bedrooms
Oil, Gas or Electric Heat
Insulation
Central Air Conditioning
Energy-Conservation Features
Age of Heating System
Age of Water Heater
Capacity of Water Heater
Age of Electrical Wiring
Plumbing Condition
Estimated Water Bill	$	$	$
Estimated Heating Bill	$	$	$
Estimated Electric Bill	$	$	$
Living Room
Fireplace
Separate Dining Space
Family Room
Carpeting - No. of Rooms
Eat-In Kitchen
Refrigerator
Stove / Oven (Gas / Electric)
Garbage Disposal
Dishwasher
Broken / Drafty Windows
Storm Windows / Screens
Washer / Dryer Outlets
Laundry Room
Renovated Basement
Attic
Sump Pump / Drainage
Connected to Sewer System
Patio / Deck
Backyard Fence
Landscaping
Property Boundaries
Security (dead bolts, detectors)
Building Code
Compliance
Ability to Expand / Expand House