Find a Home

Waiting for the perfect home
Many first time buyers make the mistake of thinking that they will find a home that meets 100% of their wants and needs if they look around long enough. With the thousands of variables available in housing, including location, style, size, amenities and condition, this is almost always an unrealistic goal. There are two major problems with this strategy: First, these buyers pass up homes that meet 90% or more of their requirements only to eventually purchasing an inferior home because they are so worn out from searching. Second, while they are waiting for the "perfect" home, housing market prices, and often mortgage rates continue to rise. To avoid these problems, determine the most important of your needs and the most desired of your wants, then select a home that meets the majority of them.

Researching Neighborhoods
The quality of the neighborhood is frequently more important to a homebuyer than the actual home. Even if the neighborhood is not a high priority, these are some tips to aid you in choosing whether a neighborhood meets your wants and needs. Research which school district serves the new home, and remember that school districts often change with frequent rezoning. Even if you do not have children, schools are an important issue for resale and should always be taken into account. Check zoning laws and neighborhood fees so as to not be surprised by fees that you had not budgeted for.

Searching for a Home
In the past, homebuyers typically found properties through traditional means such as newspapers, real estate brochures, and yard signs. Today, more than 74 percent of buyers begin their home search online at real estate Web sites like ABetterWay.com. The reason is simple, in minutes, buyers can research hundreds of properties and quickly eliminate those that don't meet their needs. In fact, one study showed that traditional buyers visited 15.4 homes on average before buying, while Internet buyers visited only 6.1 homes.

Visiting Homes
After searching the Web, you probably have found several properties that meet your general criteria. You know the beds, bath and squarefeet basics. Now, your task is to take a closer look and compare individual homes to see which one best meets your needs. At this point, there are steps buyers should take for more effective comparison shopping and to limit the "emotional buyer" syndrome that can lead to overpaying and buyer’s remorse. Here are some key points for smart buyers:

• Have your priorities straight before visiting a house. For example, square footage may be up for debate, but not school districts or security systems. Knowing what is most important in advance will keep your house visits on track.
• Separate the structural from the superficial. The seller probably has applied a fresh coat of paint and planted some flowers, but that won't make up for limited closet space, dark rooms or an impractical floor plan. Now is not the time to hold back, sellers should expect you to look in cabinets, open and close doors and windows, and check major appliances. Disclosure laws are in place, but it’s still in your best interest to ask sellers outright if major repairs are needed or have recently been done.
• Use the tools at your disposal wisely. Some savvy buyers carry a digital camera and take photos to help them remember property details and features. Photos are also useful if a dispute arises as to condition of the property, and can be used as evidence if the seller removes fixtures or furnishings. To avoid a possible dispute, ask the seller for a list of what's included in the sale. Also, a buyer's checklist can be a helpful way to organize your thoughts on the home, property, neighborhood and schools.