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