How To Start the House-Hunting Process

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Once you have determined that you are financially ready to buy a home then it’s time to start looking for the right one. Some people may already have a community or specific neighborhood in mind while others may not have narrowed that part of their search yet. For the latter a good first step would be to simply drive around the city, county or community of choice and envision yourself living in the homes that you pass by. Ask yourself if you would rather live in the city, the country or a suburban area, whether you would like to have neighbors close by or farther away and whether you would prefer a single-family home or one of the many multifamilty options that are available on the market today.

Below are a few steps that you can take when deciding on your options to locate the right home.

• Find the prime location. You should ask yourself if how far you are willing to commute to your job. How are the local schools, shopping centers, public transportation and other public amenities. Does the neighborhood or community offer amenities that will either fit with or improve your lifestyle? Like I said in my previous posts, schools are usually a large factor for buyers and you can get information about school systems by contacting the city or county school board or the local schools themselves. Your real estate agent may also be knowledgeable about schools in the area.
• Educate yourself. The more research you do prior to buying your home then the better off you will be. Learn all you can about the community that you have chosen and ask about the typical tax obligations and insurance requirements, contact real estate agents and drive through your selected neighborhoods to get a true feel for them.
• Get preapproved for a mortgage.
• Get detail oriented. Once you have located desirable neighborhoods, start your search. View as many homes as you can and jot down notes about each as you go through them. Review the notes at the end of the day and cross off any homes that don’t meet your criteria and come up with any additional questions about those that looked like good prospects.

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