Tip #8 - House Hunting 101

So, you are ready to start house hunting! This stage will look a bit differently depending on how serious you are about buying.  If you are gearing up to buy in the coming months, and are ready to start seriously looking at homes to buy, your Realtor will set you up on a personalized home search through the MLS (Multiple Listing Services). This search will provide the most accurate and reliable information (compared to sites like Zillow or Truila), and can be narrowed down to showcase only the homes that would be very tailored toward what you are looking for. During this time, your Realtor will also be researching and networking to find you the best options, so you get to sit back and enjoy the process.  Just looking for fun at the moment? Want to see what types of homes cost what? Love looking through house photos for #designinspo? Check out Realtor.com to get an idea of what types of homes are in different areas, or if you are ready to set up a specific search to narrow down options, let me know and I can set up a search for you through the Multiple Listings Service that will notify you of new options that fit your criteria!

Regardless of what stage you are at in the home buying process, here are some things to be considering while house hunting:

• Location/region you want to be in 

• Neighborhoods that promote the lifestyle & amenities you are wanting

• Access to grocery stores, shopping, entertainment, etc.

• Safe areas

  • Check your local police crime report map and the National Sex Offender Registry for more information on the safety of the area you’re looking in

  • School districts (even if you don't have children, being zoned for a highly rated school district helps with resale value)

• Inside the home - make sure the layout/floor-plan is conducive to where you spend the most time; look for cracks or water stains in the seams of walls and ceilings

If you have any house hunting questions, let me know! In the next blog, we'll cover "What to Expect When Writing an Offer"!