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Show , VA Advises Veterans on Home Buying (Editor's Note: This is the fourth, in a series of articles directed to veterans intending to buy a home with a GI loan). In previous articles, Veterans Administration has discussed the financial angle of home ownership owner-ship for veterans buying with a GI loan, and some provisions of the contract the veterans should examine. In this article, VA will point out some of the important features fea-tures of the home the veteran should examine before signing the contract. Many veterans are so anxious for that new home they are sometimes blinded by first impressions, VA says. The house is pretty, the price is what they can pay, they can swing that down payment, and they want to move in. But. at this point, the veteran should keep his hands off that fountain pen, step back and look over the property through both his and his wife's eyes if they both intend in-tend to live there, happily. First, the veteran and his wife should be in complete harmony on these things from the start, the neighborhood, the lot and the outside of the house. If they do not agree on these, look for another an-other house, VA says. Is that house well located in relation to schools, churches, transportation, shopping facilities and place of work? If the house is in an established estab-lished neighborhood, instead of a new subdivision, are the homes in that area well taken care of? Next, the veteran should examine exam-ine the local zoning laws for that area, to determine whether commercial developments are liable to reach his doorstead, or whether the area might remain residential. Zoning laws or deed restric tions may also regulate size of lots and types of houses that can be built in that area. It is to the veteran's Interests to look into anything that guarantees the reasonable assurance that his property value won't take a nose dive, VA says. If paved streets, curbs, gutters, sidewalks, storm and sanitary sewers are not already in, find out whether these future additions addi-tions are included in the sales price, or whether you will have to pay extra for them, VA advises. ad-vises. "If all of these 'outside' features fea-tures get the approval mark, the veteran and his wife are ready to step through the front door and examine the interior. If the house was built under VA sDecifieations. VA has made Inspections in three different stages of construction, and will cooperate in getting builders to correct or repair obvious flaws which become apparent soon after af-ter the purchase of a property with a GI loan. But, VA cannot guarantee the veteran will be satisfied with the home. If a veteran Is not familiar with construction, VA urges him to get competent advice from an expert who knows about houses and neighborhoods, when he is inspecting his prospective home. Inside the front door, the veteran vet-eran should inspect all floors. He should be sure they are good floors and level floors, that they do not slant, give, nor squeak, that that they fit close to the walls. I In inspecting the doors, he should be sure that they are not warped or out of shape. Make sure they are of good -material, strong and painted or varnished to protect them against moisture. VA says. i |