If you want to buy a home, you need to go through lots of details, but having the right knowledge with the help of an experienced realtor can make it easier. But before you offer on and buy a home, consider any major repairs and the transaction's closing costs. Here are some tips to help you with these items when you are searching with your realtor for buying your next home.

Necessary Repairs

As you look at a home that interests you, take notice of any areas of the home that needs to be repaired or replaced. This can include areas, such as a wooden deck, its roof, or interior flooring. These repairs can be costly and some may need to be completed before you move into the home. And if you are buying a distressed property, this scenario may become a reality with the home's many areas needing repair. For example, a backyard deck may be age and weather-worn with rotting boards and joists, which will need replacement before someone falls through its floor boards. And a roof that is peeling up, and rooting from moisture rot will need replacement to avoid having interior water leaks.

Consider if you will be able to pay for these expenses when you move in or if you will need assistance from the seller to pay for any of them. You can write a clause in your purchase contract for an allowance from the seller's funds to go toward repairs as this. Or you can talk to your mortgage broker about financing some of the repairs in a home equity line of credit or HELOC.

Closing Costs

Another item to consider is who will be paying for the closing costs to purchase the home. You can expect closing costs to be anywhere from 2 to 5 percent of the home's purchase price. Traditionally closing costs are paid for by the buyer of a home, which is you, but there are options to negotiate the seller to pay for some or all these fees.

Ask your realtor about how you can put this contingency into the home purchase contract when you make a purchase offer on the home. You may be surprised at how many home sellers are willing to cover these costs if it means they will sell their home. These costs may also be financed into your entire mortgage loan on the property, which you can talk to your mortgage broker about.