How to use this checklist

A house buying checklist should follow the order of your deadlines: records you can check before an offer, inspections and documents during the due-diligence or inspection period, insurance and flood quotes before your contingency ends, and title and closing items in the final days. A tick means you have prepared the question; it does not mean the home has passed a check.

Your house buying checklist

0 of 17 items prepared

Before you make an offer

During the due-diligence or inspection period

Insurance and flood

Title and closing

Ticks stay on this page only. Download the list before leaving.

Where each item is explained

Checklist items and the guides that explain them
Checklist itemGuide
Parcel and owner of recordProperty owner search
Flood zoneFlood zone lookup
PermitsPermit history and open permits
DeadlinesDue-diligence period planner
Claims historyCLUE report
Seller disclosureSeller disclosure by state
Title and liensTitle search and lien search

Questions people ask

What should be on a house buying checklist?

Records (parcel, owner, liens, permits, taxes), inspections, disclosures, insurance and flood quotes, title review and closing documents, in the order of your contract deadlines.

What is a due diligence checklist in real estate?

The list of investigations a buyer completes during the due-diligence or inspection period: inspections, records, insurance, HOA documents and repair negotiations.

When do I get the Closing Disclosure?

Your lender must provide it at least 3 business days before closing.

PropertyDataCheck early access

Checking a specific home?

Get a pre-offer property check: we match the parcel, pull the recorded ownership, liens, permits and flood zone, flag what is missing and list the questions to ask before you commit.

  • Parcel & owner of record matched
  • Liens, permits & flood zone in one place
  • Gaps turned into questions for your team

Any starting point is welcome. Continuing shares your entry with us. Privacy

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Sources & method

We start with the agency or statute that governs each rule and link to it directly. Figures carry their source and date. Rules and forms change; confirm the current version with the responsible office or a qualified professional.

  1. CFPB: closing on your home
  2. CFPB: when do I get a Closing Disclosure
  3. CFPB: title insurance and closing services
  4. EPA: lead-based paint disclosure
  5. FEMA Flood Map Service Center

Reviewed September 25, 2026 by the PropertyDataCheck editorial team. Corrections: info@propertydatacheck.com. How we research and update guides.