My wide and I bought a house last April, and it looks like all the most important issues are covered here. Yes, be sure to get a professional inspector. The bank that we took our mortgage REQUIRED that it be a licensed inspector. Don't get your brother-in-law to do it for free. Free costs too much. Once you've had the inspection, you have leverage to have the seller reduce his price.

One more light-hearted bit of advice. Check the prevailing wind direction and see how many trees your neighbor has. We have one little 3' tall tree in our front yard, and I raked 25 large bags of leaves before one leaf fell off mine. I am on intimate terms with my neihgbor's trees.

Jerry