3 Issues You Can Ignore When Buying a Home

These problems don't have to be deal breakers.

There's a reason home buyers are told to put a home inspection contingency into their real estate contracts. That way, if a home you're under contract to buy ends up having costly issues that your seller won't address prior to your closing, you'll have the right to walk away from the deal without losing any money.

In some cases, you may undergo a home inspection, learn of issues, and have a seller who refuses to address them. In today's market, where housing inventory is extremely limited and low mortgage rates are causing a surge in buyer demand, it wouldn't be unheard of for a seller to insist on completing a sale as-is.

Now if you land in that boat, there are certain issues that should drive you to walk away from the deal. For example, if a home inspection uncovers a foundation issue, electrical problems, or a failing roof, then those are the sort of expenses you don't want to sign up to deal with yourself. But here are three potential home issues that shouldn't cause you to walk away from a purchase contract.

1. A rotting fence

A rotting fence may look unsightly -- but it won't actually compromise the structural integrity of your home. In fact, it's pretty common for fences -- especially wooden ones -- to need work over time. If that's not something your seller is willing to fix but the rest of the home checks out fine, there's no reason not to move forward and address that eyesore at your convenience.

2. Outdated appliances

The home you're looking to buy may have a refrigerator that was installed in 1998. And while that may seem like a deal breaker, there are a couple of things to keep in mind. First, appliances don't last forever. You could buy a home with a nine-year-old fridge and wind up replacing it within a year, so walking away due to the age of the appliances you're getting doesn't necessarily make sense. And in many cases, you'll find that older appliances are built to last better than newer ones, so don't let a 23-year-old refrigerator scare you away.

3. Dying landscaping

Landscaping that isn't thriving may not be appealing, but there are many reasons for a lawn to not look its best. An unusually dry season, improper upkeep, or even the wrong fertilizer and grass treatments could leave you with landscaping that's far from its finest. But that's likely an issue you can address somewhat easily, and since it doesn't make your home less safe, it shouldn't be a reason to walk away from an otherwise good deal.

Buying a home often means sinking money into repairs or improvements shortly after you move in. And while there are some issues you shouldn't take on, these are all relatively minor in the grand scheme of what could go wrong with a home. As such, don't let them drive you away from a deal that otherwise works to your benefit.