Buying Home for the first time- Property Condition

[Austin Bright]

Hi All,

I'm relatively new to BP and have made a NY resolution to buy my first home this year. I am curious: when I start visiting homes, what are questions and warning signs I should be looking for to get an idea about the property's condition. For example: Where can I learn about the most common problems (and home to spot them) concerning:

Flooring

The Roof

The Foundation

Electrical 

Plumbing/Pipes

Painting

Driveway

Etc..

Can anyone point me to good info on this (repair costs, best materials, life expectancy?) Is it a smart idea to put a contingency on the condition given that I live in a competitive market?

Thanks!