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    Flint Foley Real Estate Blog

    Tips For Your Home Search

    9/18/2015

    24 Comments

     
    Picture
    According to a report by Realtor.org, about 9 out of 10 homebuyers use the Internet to search for homes. Searching for a new home is an adventure and an exciting process. To find your dream home, it will be necessary to do a little homework and research, but with the right resources, you will be able to find your home sooner rather than later. Here are some tips to help you get started on your search for your dream home:


    The Bigger Picture
    What does your ideal home look like? Write down what you expect in a new home, and list the items in order of most important to least important. This is a good way to figure out what is most important to you, and it will allow you to better understand what you would be willing to sacrifice when you are on the hunt, such as number of bedrooms versus distance to work. Having this list will help you start your search for your dream home.

    Create a Budget
    Having a budget is always important and absolutely necessary when searching for a new home. Being aware of the costs associated with purchasing a home will help you create a realistic budget. Today’s minimum down payment ranges from 3.5 percent on an FHA loan to 10 or even 20 percent for conventional loans, which means you would need to provide at least $7,000 and up to $40,000 on a $200,000 house. Also, keep closing costs in mind, which more than likely will need to be paid in cash and can run anywhere from 3-4 percent of your total purchase price. The best way to reduce your mortgage is by improving your credit score before you start the process of house hunting. Visit here for more financial tips on preparing you for home buying.

    Research Local Neighborhoods to Narrow Down the Search
    This is particularly important, especially if you don’t know a lot about the area you plan to move to. Even so, many of us may not be all that familiar with other suburbs or towns around us. Before you type “homes for sale in (insert city name here)” in Google, learn about the area that might be your new stomping grounds. Base your searches on distance to work for yourself, your partner or spouse, as well as distance from family, grocery stores, day care, schools, and other locations that may be important to you.

    The Search
    Searching for a home is done more efficiently with a real estate agent, they will have the most up-to-date listings and be able to provide location information. Use online resources such as Homes.com, Realtor.com or Zillow.com to browse homes that fit your budget and are in the location where you would like to live. You can also ask friends and family to assist you, in case they have advice or have seen homes that fit your criteria. Having an extra helping hand will make the house hunting process much easier and less stressful!

    Don’t Get Too Attached to the Homes You Look At
    Narrowing down your home search online certainly helps when you start to do leg work, but try to keep an objective mindset. Remember that the home in question might not live up to your expectations in person. Photos can help you get a better look at the house, but some sellers may only pick photos that show their home in the best light. Sure, the kitchen has new counters, appliances and flooring, but who knows what other problems lurk right in the next room.

    Write Down Questions You Have About the Home
    Most real estate sites have short ads with a few photos and even less information. If you decide to look at the home in person, use your time online to create a list of questions to ask the relator or seller once you look at the home in person. Tap into your inner skeptic and question every aspect of the home. You don’t want to be deceived by the ad online ­– especially when it involves a large investment like a mortgage.

    Once you find a few homes you like online, contact a local real estate agent. They can help you get started on the next phase of your home buying journey. 


    Here are some related blogs you may be interested in:
    Are You Ready to Buy?  5 Questions to Ask Yourself
    Tips To Ensure Your Mortgage Application Is Approved
    Mistakes to Avoid When Buying Your Retirement Dream Home
    24 Comments
    Ivy Baker link
    7/28/2017 09:27:05 pm

    This is some really good information about real estate and how to search for a home. It does seem like a good idea to have a professional help you do the search. After all, they will understand the area who are looking for better than you.

    Reply
    Sammy link
    9/10/2017 08:40:42 am

    I am about to go home hunting for the first time and it seems very overwhelming. This article really helped calm some of my fears and I really appreciate it. You mentioned that writing down all of the questions that I have would be a good way to review how I feel about the home after I have left the property. I will need to bring a notepad when I go.

    Reply
    Persephone link
    1/11/2018 03:33:24 pm

    It was really helpful that you mentioned the importance of researching the info about the place we're considering first. Like you said we should Google first the area that might be our new home and determine if the place was close to schools, work, and other important establishments. I will make sure to let my husband know about that because there's this neighbourhood that he's been eyeing for a while now. I'm good if the place was beautiful, especially since I trust his sense of style. But there are other things to consider as well. Thanks. I will talk to him after this.

    Reply
    Tiffany Locke link
    1/11/2018 09:20:53 pm

    Your advice to use online resources in order to browse homes that fit your requirements, such as budget and location, would be important. When looking online, you'd probably want to make sure you go to real estate listings that are reliable and will help you find houses that match your requirements. A good way to do this would be to check out their websites so you can find one that is easy to use and allows you to narrow down the options so you can find a home with the right specifications, such as price, location, and size.

    Reply
    Kenneth Gladman link
    3/23/2018 03:27:35 pm

    I appreciate you mentioning avoiding getting too attached to homes you are only looking at. This will be a hard feat to accomplish for me. I am not very good at putting my emotions aside.

    Reply
    Gary Puntman link
    4/18/2018 10:49:10 am

    I want to get started on my home search soon. These will be great tips to help me get started. I like the idea of researching neighborhoods, not just the house, like you said. This will be one of the biggest things that will help me determine if a house is right for me or not.

    Reply
    Vivian Black link
    5/22/2018 10:15:01 am

    My parents have been looking to downsize to a smaller home, not that they have trouble with stairs. I like that you said that keeping an objective mind is important seeing as homes in question might not live up to expectations you had. Thank you for your tips about filtering through house searching websites!

    Reply
    Ashley Maxwell link
    6/12/2018 01:32:10 pm

    Thanks for mentioning how you should look for a home that you can afford. I also like how you said that they should be in located in a nice area as well. My husband and I are looking to search for a new home to live in; thanks for the tips.

    Reply
    Amanda Drew link
    6/21/2018 04:21:46 pm

    I like how you point out that you should learn about the area you want to settle in like about how far away from work and stores it is. My husband and I have twin three-year-olds, and we want to get a home to settle down in with them that we can stay in for years to come. We'll have to find an area then find some real estate listings we could look through.

    Reply
    Jordan link
    6/29/2018 10:33:30 pm

    My wife and I have been looking for a few good homes for sale, and I would love some tips. I like that you talked about how you need to create a budget for your home, and I think that would be good for us to decide. I'm going to have to look for a few good homes for sale and see what we can find!

    Reply
    Hector Uba link
    7/31/2018 04:28:40 pm

    Thanks for the tips on searching for a home. You should definitely be finding your budget first thing so you know what you can afford. My brother is looking into buying his first home; I will have to share this with him.

    Reply
    Gerty Gift link
    8/16/2018 09:59:42 am

    I liked what you said about narrowing down your search and keeping an objective mind. My sister has been thinking about buying a home, but she can't get this one house that she fell in love with out of her mind. I think that it would be better for her to think objectively so that she can find something she can afford that will also be practical and easy to live in.

    Reply
    Kate Welling link
    10/4/2018 11:39:29 am

    I am thrilled that I found this article giving tips of home searching because I am thinking about moving across the country to be closer to my parents. I will remember to narrow down my search by typing in specific neighborhoods that I am interested in. This is my first time buying a house, so I will be sure to follow all of your tips!

    Reply
    Rae Dolan / Realtor link
    1/11/2019 08:40:55 am

    I find that clients typically have the hardest part with the budgeting aspect. Many times they're shocked by closing costs and escrow needs.

    Reply
    Skyler Williams link
    7/26/2019 12:21:48 pm

    I love your tip to research surrounding neighborhoods to help narrow down the search for a home. I am thinking of moving to another state that I know nothing about so this was a great tip. I will make sure to keep this information in mind as I continue to search for the perfect home.

    Reply
    Zachary Tomlinson link
    2/8/2021 07:57:03 am

    I have a friend who's looking for a home that he can purchase as a surprise for his soon-to-be wife. I like your suggestion of considering which amenities does he need and want, along with sticking to a budget. I should recommend this article to him so that he can start looking for single-family homes!

    Reply
    Tez link
    5/27/2021 04:52:41 pm

    I like your real estate tips. I need to get a new house. I'll have to get an agent.

    Reply
    Adam Golightly link
    6/8/2021 09:35:27 am

    My cousin has been thinking about looking for a new home that will have enough room for all of her kids. She would really like to get some help from a professional in order to have the right number of rooms. I liked what you said about how she should write down what her ideal home looks like, and fits into her budget.

    Reply
    Thomas Clarence link
    7/30/2021 01:10:08 pm

    You made a great point when you explained that it is a good idea to create a budget when you are looking for a home. Looking online can be a good way to see what prices homes are selling for these days. Once you get an idea of what prices are, you can create the right budget.

    Reply
    kate hansen link
    8/4/2021 12:10:18 pm

    It's good to know that you can search for homes more efficiently with a real estate agent. My husband and I have been living in apartments for the past couple of years, and we want to start searching for a house since we are able to finance one. We'll make sure to keep these tips in mind once we start searching for a home to move into!

    Reply
    Tex Hooper link
    10/6/2021 04:21:18 pm

    I agree that you should have a budget prior to building or buying. I need to buy a house in Dallas for my new job. I'll have to search for something in the $400,000 range.

    Reply
    Henry Killingsworth link
    10/20/2021 03:27:12 pm

    I appreciate the tip about creating a budget when housing hunting. My wife and I would like to find our first home. An experienced real estate agent would probably be able to help us create a good budget.

    Reply
    Sherwood Park Realtor link
    12/17/2021 04:46:47 am

    It's best to widen your options when searching for the perfect home. I definitely agree with you that pictures are never enough to decide on purchasing a house. It should have all the qualities that you want for your new home.

    Reply
    Mortgage Broker in Northern Beaches link
    8/31/2022 11:28:52 pm

    Thanks for sharing this article. I love it.

    Reply



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