Top 5 Tips to Prepare for House Hunting

House hunting can be a stressful process, but there are some ways to make it easier. Below are the top 5 tips for preparing for house hunting:

There's no "right time to buy." Ever heard of marry the home, date the rate? If you find the perfect home now, don’t risk losing it because you’re trying to guess where the housing market and interest rates are going. Those factors usually don’t change fast enough to make a difference in an individual home’s price. Ultimately, purchasing a home is considered a great investment, but its most important role is as a comfortable, safe place to live.
Plan ahead. Don’t wait until you’ve found a home to get approved for a mortgage, investigate insurance, or consider a moving schedule. Make sure you know how much you can afford and what your budget is. Being prepared will make your bid more attractive to sellers, and help combat against the spring market heat up.
Hire an expert. Real estate professionals welcome and appreciate your opinions, but the reality is unless you make a living buying and selling real estate on the regular, your REALTOR® better understands the local market and can offer more sage advice and experience than Zillow, your Dad, or your cousin Vinny. Furthermore, negotiating is definitely a part of the real estate process, but trying to “win” by getting an extra-low price or refusing to budge may cost you the home you love. Trust in the expert you have decided to work with, and allow them to represent your best interests along the way.
Research. Make sure you know the area you're looking in. Check out the schools, the local amenities and services, and the types of homes that are in the area. Your real estate professional likely has ample data they can provide you so be sure to ask if you need more information.
Forget about perfection. If it’s in the right location, the yard may be a bit smaller than you had hoped. The kitchen may be perfect, but the roof needs repair. Don't be too rigid when looking at homes. You may find yourself surprised at the features you end up appreciating. Keep an open mind and you may find yourself loving a home you would have never considered. Make a list of your top priorities and focus on things that are most important to you. This will help make sure you don't get distracted by houses that don't meet your criteria. In addition, don’t get so caught up in the physical aspects of the house itself that you forget about important issues such as noise level, access to amenities, and other aspects that also have a big impact on your quality of life.