Finding Your Home

Step 5: Finding Your Home

Searching for your next home is one of the most time consuming parts of the home buying process. You will want to obtain multiple listing service (MLS) searches from your real estate agent. However, I highly recommend you also search online as new homes come on the market frequently and you may find your dream home wasn’t even on the list of homes your real estate agent searched.

This happened for us recently as we were looking for a home for my oldest son. Our search area with our realtor was set up to be within a 3 mile radius of his work. After 2 months of looking, we thought we had found a property that met my son’s needs. However, before making an offer, I took one last look city wide and found a home that was 3.2 miles from his work that we like equally as well. Realtors have to set search parameters and that may keep you from seeing a home that is better than what you are currently seeing. When possible, I would have your realtor set your search parameters to only be your needs and not any of your wants.

Last, and in my opinion most important, don’t let yourself get locked into one house. Didn’t you ever hear your mother say, “Don’t put all your eggs in one basket”. By picking 2 or 3 homes that you would be happy in, you will not be emotionally tied to just one house and end up paying more for it than necessary. Keeping your options open gives you a more sensible approach to the negotiation process.