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You’ve been getting up early weekend after weekend to go to open houses and have spent hours looking at online listings. You’ve finally found a place that you like, but before you make an offer, one good idea is to do some research on what to look for when buying a home.

Most people don’t want to buy a home that is going to require a lot of work or be difficult to finance because it’s structurally unsound or unsafe. The home might look great on the surface, but it’s recommended that a buyer order the proper home inspection(s) to see if it actually measures up prior to lifting any property contingencies. It can be stressful or even derail the home purchase to find out that you’ll need to do all sorts of costly renovations that make you go over budget or have to look for renovation financing vs. traditional financing, after you’ve worked hard to find that dream home.

Signs Your Dream Home Could Be a Nightmare

There are a lot of things to look for when buying a home. But these are 10 common home inspection red flags that would put a home on the buyer-beware list because of the home repair costs and stress involved in fixing the issues. (Passing the home inspection will also be an important part of getting through the real-estate purchase contract process.) Consider these factors as you continue your search for your new nest, and especially if you’re a first-time homebuyer, lean on professional inspectors for help.

1. Structural Problems

If there is a problem with the foundation or load-bearing walls in your new home, structural repairs involving health and safety issues could derail your home loan by making the property ineligible for financing, or could wind up costing thousands of dollars. But structural problems aren’t just expensive to fix, they could also be considered unsafe — which is why they should be at the top of any list of things to check when buying a home.

Look for major cracks in the foundation, problems with doors closing, door frames not being perfectly rectangular, or walls or floors that seem to sag. You’ll want to spend the money for a professional home inspection. If the inspection reveals there is a larger issue, a structural engineer’s report may be able to provide additional insight.

💡 Quick Tip: When house hunting, don’t forget to lock in your home mortgage loan rate so there are no surprises if your offer is accepted.

2. Water-Damage Woes

The biggest cause of rot and mold is moisture. So if your potential new home has leaking pipes or a roof that lets in water, it won’t just be expensive to replace your roof or find where the leak is coming from — the leak could have already created other problems.

Water stains and mold are home inspection red flags. Not only can mold have implications for your health, it could indicate a bigger problem with the house. If you see either of them, look into the cause of the stain, because a new roof or new plumbing could set you back a significant amount of money. Dry rot and related problems like mold can also fall under health and safety issues and, as a result, affect the home’s eligibility for most types of home mortgage loans.

3. Poor Drainage

Poor grading and drainage can potentially cause huge problems with the foundation or basement of your home, so it should be high on your list of home inspection red flags. When it comes to bad drainage, things to look for when buying a home can include but are not limited to: pooling water around the foundation; leaking in the basement; gutters that are blocked or overflowing; and soil being moved by water in any flower beds around the home. While there are ways to fix poor drainage and improper grading if it’s minor, you might struggle with larger drainage problems if the home is in a low-lying area.

4. Bad Plumbing

The last thing you want is for your sink to spring a leak. Plumbing problems could have an array of causes, including improper installation or older pipes that need to be replaced or are leaching metals into your water supply. Plumbing that regularly leaks could cause water damage, which, as noted previously, could have some pretty serious consequences (like mold and rot). The home inspector will generally test the plumbing system, but as you look at houses, be observant and try running all the faucets and flushing the toilets. Keep an eye out for any signs of possible water damage and be aware of any funky smells.

5. Pests

There are a few ways to avoid buying a pest-infested home, such as having a home inspector look for pests. If the general home inspection calls out pest issues, it is recommended to go a step further and request a pest inspection report from a licensed pest inspector.

If the inspector finds signs of bugs, it might be possible to request that the seller fix the infestation before you close on the house. Sometimes, pest infestation can mean a significant discount, which may be appealing to some buyers. But getting rid of certain kinds of bugs can be very costly, complicated, toxic, and even require you to leave your home while the fumigation takes place. So the discount may not actually be as rosy as it seems. Lenders do not usually close on a traditional home loan with a serious pest issue because it may present a health and safety problem.

6. Electrical Problems

A general home inspection will cover basic electrical items, but some buyers opt for an additional electrical inspection. Depending on when the home was built, there could be improper or even dangerous wiring throughout the house. That could affect eligibility for home financing due to health and safety issues, increase the fire risk in your home, or affect how you budget for buying the house.

7. Neighborhood Troubles

You might have found a beautiful home, but what if the location isn’t ideal? If your home is in a neighborhood that has a high number of vacant properties, a high crime rate, or a poorly rated school system, your investment might not pay off. Ask your real estate agent and neighbors about the neighborhood, stop by at different times, search for the area’s crime statistics, and check out the reputation of local schools.

💡 Quick Tip: Not to be confused with prequalification, preapproval involves a longer application, documentation, and hard credit pulls. Ideally, you want to keep your applications for preapproval to within the same 14- to 45-day period, since many hard credit pulls outside the given time period can adversely affect your credit score, which in turn affects the mortgage terms you’ll be offered.

8. Homeowners Association Problems

If you’re moving into a development with dues, you’ll want to know more about the homeowners association (HOA). Your lender will likely require you to obtain a completed Homeowners Association Questionnaire, and once this form is completed, it could answer many of the questions you may have, such as: How much are the HOA fees? What are the rules around making changes to your property? Is there any pending litigation against the condo association? Can you rent out your place or use it as an Airbnb when you go on vacation? Before you put in an offer, it’s a good idea to find out the answer to these or any other issues of importance to you and your family.

9. DIY Improvements

Watch out for shoddy renovations. If the house looks like it has undergone a recent facelift, have a close look at the workmanship. If there are visible shortcuts, there may be other areas of the house that weren’t properly renovated that could cause you headaches in the future. Check them carefully and make sure the major improvements or additions were done with the proper permits.

10. Older Windows

Older windows could translate into higher heating and cooling costs for your home. Moisture leakage can cause mold issues over time. Those costs add up, so you’ll want to add windows to your list of things to look at when buying a home. On your house tour, look for windows that stick, have discoloration around the indoor casing, or are warping. Updating windows (or replacing them completely) could be costly.

The Takeaway

In certain situations, a buyer may consider making an offer on a house even with one or two of these home inspection red flags. But before committing to a property that needs TLC, you’ll want to add up what the potential repairs may cost. Doing the math now could mean fewer financial surprises when you move in. And in some cases, it may be possible to negotiate with the seller so that major issues are addressed before the closing.

Looking for an affordable option for a home mortgage loan? SoFi can help: We offer low down payments (as little as 3% - 5%*) with our competitive and flexible home mortgage loans. Plus, applying is extra convenient: It's online, with access to one-on-one help.

FAQ

What’s the biggest red flag on a home inspection?

There are many issues that can be red flags on a home inspection, but the most serious include structural or foundation problems, major water damage or an active leak, or problematic electrical wiring. All of these can be very costly to repair and can create safety or health hazards.

How often do homebuyers pull out of the deal?

According to the National Association of Realtors®, five percent of would-be buyers pull out of a deal before reaching the closing.

When buying a house, how do I protect myself in case the home inspection finds a problem?

An inspection contingency clause in the contract could allow you to pull out of the deal without losing your deposit if an inspection finds a significant flaw in the home you’re hoping to buy. You and the seller might also come to an agreement whereby the seller repairs the problem or credits you for the cost of repairing it. But with an inspection contingency, you can also walk away.

Photo credit: iStock/Jitalia17

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SOHL-Q425-175

A married put is an options trading strategy wherein an investor holding an asset purchases a put option to help protect against a potential drop in the asset’s price. For this reason, it’s also called a protective put.

This options strategy may help reduce exposure to sharp declines in the underlying asset price. You can calculate your maximum profit, maximum loss, and breakeven with a married put strategy.

What Is a Married Put?

A married put is an options strategy in which you hold or buy shares of an asset and purchase a put option (typically one that’s at-the-money) to help limit losses from a potential decline in the asset price.

You might execute a married put strategy when you are concerned about a potentially significant downward move in the asset price over the short run, but you want to own the asset for a longer timeframe.

Recommended: How to Trade Options

How Does a Married Put Work?

A married put may help reduce exposure to a decrease in the price of an asset. With a married put, you are still exposed to a loss, but losses are limited based on the strike price and the premium paid.

At the same time, a married put allows you to participate in upside in the underlying asset since the most you can lose with the put option is the premium paid on the option, while your long asset position has unlimited upside.

At-the-money put options can be expensive insurance. The premium you pay for the downside protection can make the strategy cost-prohibitive. Put option pricing depends on many variables, such as underlying price, time to expiration, interest rates, dividends, and implied volatility. The sensitivities to these factors are known as the options Greeks. A married put options strategy may work well during periods of lower implied volatility.

One of the main advantages of a married put options strategy is that you retain unlimited upside potential since you are long the asset and the most you can lose on the put option is the premium paid on that option.

Breakeven

Broadly, a married put’s breakeven point is the adjusted cost basis per share plus the premium paid to acquire the put option. The asset must rise by more than the amount of the premium for the strategy to exhibit gains.

Recommended: Call vs. Put Options: The Differences

Maximum Loss

This is a key feature of the married put strategy. The maximum loss is the cost of the asset minus the put option’s strike price, plus the premium paid. The most you can lose with a married put is limited.

Married Put Example

It is helpful to run through a married put example to show the benefits and downsides of this options strategy. This can help when comparing it against other options strategies.

Let’s say you want to own shares of a stock currently priced at $100. You buy 100 shares for a total of $10,000 and an at-the-money put option contract (with a strike of $100) for $5. Each option contract covers 100 shares, so the total premium is $500.

Your breakeven is $105. That is the per-share cost of the stock plus the premium paid. If the stock is unchanged at the expiration of the options contract, you would have a loss of $5 on the strategy. (Note that this doesn’t take transaction costs into account.)

Your maximum profit is unlimited since the stock has no upside cap. If the stock rallies to $120 by expiration, you would have a $15 gain. While the maximum profit is unlimited, it will be lower than if you’d purchased only the shares due to the cost of the put.

Your maximum loss is $5 per share, the put option premium, when the strike price equals the purchase price. In this example, your maximum loss occurs at or below the strike price of $100. You can close the trade by selling the stock and selling-to-close the option. Alternatively, you can sell-to-close the put or let it expire (if out-of-the-money) and continue to hold the stock.

💡 Quick Tip: Options can be a cost-efficient way to place certain trades, because you typically purchase options contracts, not the underlying security. That said, trading options online can be risky, and best done by those who are not entirely new to investing.

Pros and Cons of Married Puts

Married Puts vs Covered Call

Strategies Similar to Married Puts

There are several options trading strategies similar to married puts. Let’s investigate those.

Protective Puts

A married put options strategy is also referred to as a protective put strategy. The difference is that you already own the asset with a protective put trade. With a married put, you simultaneously buy the asset and a put.

Long Calls

A married put behaves similarly to a long call. You own the asset with a married put strategy, but a long call position does not entail owning the underlying shares. Long calls differ from naked calls since you buy-to-open a call option contract in a long call strategy, while you sell-to-open calls without owning the underlying shares in a naked call play.

Call Backspreads

A call backspread is a bullish options strategy wherein you sell lower-strike calls and buy a greater number of higher-strike calls at the same expiration on the same asset. A call backspread offers unlimited upside. You would execute this complex options strategy when you are extremely bullish on a volatile asset. Call backspreads are also known as call ratio backspreads.

The Takeaway

A married put options strategy is when you purchase an at-the-money put option on an underlying asset you already own or are simultaneously purchasing. It is a way to help limit risk when you own shares in a company.

Adding a married put raises the position’s cost basis and breakeven, and the put could expire worthless if the stock price finishes above the strike. This approach may suit buyers who want exposure to a stock with defined downside during a set period, understanding that these outcomes depend on volatility, time to expiration, and transaction costs.

SoFi’s options trading platform offers qualified investors the flexibility to pursue income generation, manage risk, and use advanced trading strategies. Investors may buy put and call options or sell covered calls and cash-secured puts to speculate on the price movements of stocks, all through a simple, intuitive interface.

With SoFi Invest® online options trading, there are no contract fees and no commissions. Plus, SoFi offers educational support — including in-app coaching resources, real-time pricing, and other tools to help you make informed decisions, based on your tolerance for risk.

FAQ

Is a married put the same as a covered put?

A covered put is the opposite of a married put in that you are short the underlying asset and also short a put option. With a married put, however, you are long the underlying asset and also long a put option.

A married put may be a good strategy if you are seeking a measure of protection on an underlying asset you own. It is a bullish strategy used if you are worried about potential near-term risks in the asset. By owning a protective put, you may help reduce downside risk while still being able to participate in asset price appreciation. You have the right to receive dividends and participate in shareholder votes by owning the stock, too. The downside is that you must pay a premium to own the put option.

What is the difference between puts and calls in options trading?

Puts and calls are two option types. Puts give the holder the right but not the obligation to sell shares of an asset at a specific price and at a specified time. Calls give the holder the right but not the obligation to buy shares of an asset at a specified price and time.

Photo credit: iStock/Renata Angerami