Articles and Advice

5 Ways To Simplify Your House Hunt

Can't decide between the different homes on the market? Here's how to speed up your search and narrow your options.

Buying a house might be one of the most challenging purchases you make. It's an exercise in the physical, mental and emotional. For all the effort it takes from start to finish, the energy invested will pay off with an enjoyable and practical purchase to build wealth. These five tips will help you simplify the process.

Get your financial paperwork in order.
You will need to submit detailed financial records to the lender that may take some time to assemble. The sooner you start the process, the sooner the lender will be able to approve you for a loan.
Ask a mortgage lender to pre-approve you for a loan.
Pre-approval means that a lender is ready to finance a home purchase. By taking this step early, you'll know how much a lender is willing to loan you. You won't spend time looking at properties beyond your price range, and you'll be viewed as a serious buyer when it comes time to buy your dream home.
Find a Real Estate Agent.
A real estate agent will take care of all the many essential details involved in the search, purchase, and closing processes.

Your agent will select the homes to research and view any that are within your price range and in your desired neighborhoods. Establishing "must have" and "nice to have"checklists will help you narrow your searches. Sticking to the checklist keeps you on track.
Organize the data.
When you're buying a house, after a while, it may become challenging to remember which was which. To keep each home fresh in your memory, keep track of the MLS ID number each home has. Enter them into a text or spreadsheet document so that you can always search for them later.

You can also enter the essential numerical data like bedrooms, baths, square footage, price, and garage and lot size for each possibility. Be sure you include the MLS ID next to the home's details. Once you're finished, you can sort the spreadsheet to make decisions based on your priorities.

It's easy to do on your phone or computer and keeps the information immediately available.
Do virtual drive-bys.
If you're not crazy about long drives to essentials like grocery stores, schools for the kids, or parks and recreation, use mapping features found on GPS units, apps, or other websites to find the nearest amenities to the homes you're considering.

Online satellite maps also make it easy to see the neighborhood of the property listing, as well as the surrounding areas. If you like what's nearby, keep the property on your list. If not, cross it off and inform your agent.

Even when there are fewer homes on the market, it can still be tough to narrow down your search. Talk with your agent to get the most up-to-date advice for your home-buying journey.

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5 Ways To Simplify Your House Hunt

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