First, Decide on Which Type of Home is Best Suited for Your Needs:
- Single-family home, condominium, multi-family building, etc. To make this decision, make a list of what features your ideal home would have such as neighborhood location, nearby schools, layout, appliances, etc.
Research Selling Prices of Comparable Homes in Your Area
- Use websites such as Zillow.com and Trulia.com
- This will allow you to have a good estimate of what you should be expecting to pay for your new home.
Evaluate Your Finances to Find What You Can Afford
- Find out how much mortgage you qualify for and then determine what the maximum amount you can pay is.
- While working out a budget, determine what monthly costs might work out to be as well as mortgage, taxes, insurance, and regular fix up costs.
Choose the Right REALTOR for You
- Make sure the REALTOR choose is licensed agent in the state they are working in.
- Your REALTOR should be a member of the National Association of REALTORS (NAR) because their members are held to strong standards and ethics codes.
- Your REALTOR should put your need first, keep your information private, keep you informed, negotiate the best price for your home, and be knowledgeable about the market.
- Interview multiple REALTOR before making a final decision.
Shop Around to Avoid Missing Out on Information and to Avoid Regretting Your Purchase Decision
- By looking at similar features among homes, evaluating resale values, and not rushing into anything, you can avoid feeling as if the "grass is greener on the other side" after you make an offer on a home.
