| House hunting can actually be an enjoyable | | | | do you really need 4 bedrooms and 2 & 1/2 |
| experience if you take your time and do your | | | | baths? Making a list will not only save you |
| homework. Really! In my years as a Realtor, | | | | time, it will also be a big help to your |
| Investor and just a plain old looker before | | | | Realtor in planning your viewings.Next comes |
| that I discovered the following ways to make | | | | the biggie. Get pre-qualified for a mortgage |
| house hunting less stressful and more | | | | loan before jumping in the car to tour |
| effective.Key to it all is first deciding | | | | houses. You need to know how much house can |
| where you'd like to live, then making it your | | | | you afford, which most people don't |
| business to learn as much about schools, | | | | know.Affordability is based upon income, |
| hospitals, grocery stores, shopping, medical | | | | credit status, interest rates, down payment, |
| facilities, recreational amenities and so | | | | closing costs and the type of loan selected. |
| on.Once you've done that you're ready to | | | | By getting pre-qualified by a lending |
| investigate about the crime rate. Is it a | | | | institution you will know what you can afford |
| safe location, or do you need to be | | | | to spend, which will save you time by |
| considering another location?And as awkward | | | | establishing the price range you should be |
| as it may be to talk about, you want to | | | | looking in before you begin your house |
| assess the quality and character of the | | | | hunting tours.Once armed with information |
| people who live in the area. Obviously, you | | | | about how much house you can afford you're |
| can't interview them, but you can get a | | | | ready to begin looking at homes. Make notes |
| fairly good sense of their character by the | | | | after each viewing each property, because |
| condition of their homes and from the | | | | after 2 - 3 homes they'll start running |
| activities you might observe.For example, if | | | | together and you won't be able to remember |
| your prospective neighbor has discarded auto | | | | the details of each one as you think you |
| parts, household appliances and other stuff | | | | will.Finally, you need your own Realtor; |
| in their front yard you might want to | | | | someone who is working for you and is looking |
| reconsider your choice. A poor location when | | | | out for your interests. When you call the |
| you buy will definitely be a negative factor | | | | Realtor on a "house for sale" sign you're |
| if and when you decide to resell the home at | | | | speaking to the seller's agent, who |
| a later date.But once you've zeroed in on a | | | | represents the seller and will be looking |
| good location, you're ready for the next step | | | | after the seller's interests.Like I started |
| of finding your dream home. can start to | | | | out saying, house hunting can be an enjoyable |
| think seriously about searching for your | | | | experience when you take your time and do |
| dream home. But instead of spinning your | | | | your homework, but when done wrong it can be |
| wheels by looking at houses randomly, you | | | | a terribly stressful situation. Fun and |
| should determine what you really want in a | | | | easy, or difficult and stressful. You |
| house beforehand and be quided by those | | | | decide!Lanard Perry, author of a real estate |
| things in your search.Make a list of things | | | | marketing system that shows Realtors how to |
| that are important to you. Do you want a | | | | average 1 or more listings a week. Visit him |
| single story house, or do you prefer two | | | | at Real Estate Marketing Talk for more |
| stories? Will 3 bedrooms and 2 baths do, or | | | | marketing ideas. |