Reply #12: Car buyers are protected by federal law [View All]

[TechBear_Seattle]

Because the vast majority of cars cross state boundaries, Congress has the authority to pass laws governing quality control. Thanks to folks like Ralph Nader, Congress has passed such laws.

Houses are regulated solely by local and state law. Many states have mandated buyer protections; many states do not. In Washington, I believe that all home buyers may ask for an inspection using the inspector of their choice and the seller must cover one half of the inspector's fee (up to a maximum. I'm remembering this from several years ago when I last looked into buying.)

If your state is one that lacks basic buyer protections, it is up to the buyer to protect himself. The cost of hiring an inspector is just one of the many costs of buying a home. If the seller refuses to help pay for those costs, then you have a very big red flag against making the purchase anyway. This goes for an old home or one that is brand spanking new.