| TIPS ON FINDING THE RIGHT HOUSE |
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| Real Estate Tips - Real Estate Tips |
| Tuesday, 29 September 2009 16:39 |
 Once the decision to buy a home has been made, take the time to prepare before you go on your home search. For example, much of the information on this Web Site should be very familiar to you before you go looking for homes. Yes, it is very tempting to rush out and actually look at houses, but to do so without full preparation can be both disastrous and expensive. If you review the checklist you will find that "house hunting" is about halfway down the list.Get your financial house in order first! We can't stress this enough--it will save you an enormous amount of time, aggravation and heartache. If this is going to be your first home, see the section that is devoted to that topic. Determine what your budget will comfortably allow and stick to it. Don't spend yourself into a "house poor" situation. Get preapproved for a mortgage. This will not only give you a clear idea of how much a lender will approve for you, it will make your homebuying process a great deal easier (and save a lot of time later). Get familiar with the different housing types available to narrow your search. Determine your minimum requirements as well as any desired additional features--your needs and wants. Take note of any items that you don't want in a house. This can be just as important as knowing what it is you want in a home. Determine the desired location (schools, work, public transportation, etc.) Familiarize yourself with the mortgage process. Choose an Agent that you feel comfortable with and who understands your needs. Be completely aware of the Agency issue. If you look for houses before you have your own Agent, you may not have the representation you want. If you are looking to find an Agent in the area in which you are interested, click here to compare Agents. (You can compare backgrounds, experience and more.) If you don't already have an Agent screening homes for you, you can check listings and prices throughout the U.S. on our interactive map. Use all resources available in looking for homes: Friends, relatives, a good Real Estate Agent, advertisements. If you are considering purchasing a foreclosure, check out For foreclosure listings, check RealtyTrac: your destination for housing foreclosures which has a free trial period with access to their database.. You may want to consider a source such as Realty Bargains, which maintains a database of foreclosures and othr bargain properties. They offer a free trial membership. Click here for more information. Check out our article on the subject of buying fixer-uppers as well. In addition, HomeGain.com can point you in the direction of thousands of homes located in every state in the United States.  Don't just buy a home for your present needs. Make sure to take into account future considerations. As you are looking, use a scorecard to compare homes. A scorecard is a great tool when it comes time for comparisons (and for remembering which home had which features!) Get familiar with the inspection process--especially the personal inspection aspect, so that you can weed out unacceptable houses quickly Maintain your perspective--and your cool! You may find an acceptable house on the first day--or the tenth. The important thing is to get the home that is best for you! |
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Rain Concert 
Bobby Berousek
