The
home of your dreams may well be within your reach.
1.Get prequalified for a home loan. There's no sense in looking
at homes you can't afford. Find your price range and stay
within it.
2.Write down the features you require in
a home, such as number of bedrooms and bathrooms, garage,
formal dining room, family room and living room or great room,
and the size of yard. These should be the items you absolutely
cannot live without.
3.Make a list of your preferences, such as
the number of stories, the age of the home and amenities such
as a pool or fireplace. These are the things that would be
nice to have, but are not requirements.
4.Think carefully about what neighborhoods
you like. It is preferable to buy a home that is in an up-and-coming
or well-cared-for area. Homes in areas that are declining
may lose value and never recover.
5.Consider the crime rate and local crime
statistics. Go to the local police or sheriff's department.
These offices should have a board that pinpoints crimes that
have taken place in your area.
6.See as many different homes in your price
range as you can, either on your own or with a real estate
agent. With each home you see, write down as many features
and important items as necessary to help you remember the
home. Consider how your belongings will look in each home.
Will your furniture match or blend with the style and layout
of the home? Or will you have to spend money on new furniture?
7.Take the plunge. There's nothing as rewarding
as having the perfect home.
Be prepared to lose out on a few homes. Don't
get discouraged if you don't get the first home you decide
you like. The process of buying a home is complicated and
doesn't always work out the first time.
Homes for sale in the fall and winter tend
to sell more slowly, thus giving the buyer more time to do
research and contemplate a decision.
Learn to look beyond the owner's belongings
and decorations. Sometimes it's difficult to see past what
is in the home. Remember, you're buying the home, not what's
in it.
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