Help!!!! First time home buyer in Cali

[RGD.]

One note is to get a home inspection done and make any offers contingent on it. Don't accept a sellers home inspection - get your own done. Check the qualifications of the home inspector.
If you find a home that does need repairs either have the current owners repair it and provide documentation that a licensed company/individual did so. If money is to be held back for the repair - get estimates and don't accept and arbitrary amount.

I'm in the structural repair business and see new home owners burned on this constantly. For example one customer I'm working with just bought a home - the seller told him it needed waterproofing and held back $8000. Problem is the home not only needs $7000 in waterproofing - it also needs another $16 grand in structural repairs.

Don't skip the home inspection!

Best of luck to you and your wife -


Ron