Start House Hunting
Explore neighborhoods, attend open houses, and find the right property.
Now comes the fun part: house hunting. Start by sitting down and writing out your 'Must-Haves' versus your 'Nice-to-Haves'. Must-haves might include the number of bedrooms, a specific school district, or a maximum commute time. Nice-to-haves are things like granite countertops, a specific architectural style, or a finished basement.
Your agent will set up an MLS (Multiple Listing Service) search that automatically emails you homes matching your criteria. While you will likely spend hours looking at photos on real estate apps, pictures can be deceiving. Make sure you view homes in person to get a true feel for the layout, the neighborhood, and the home's condition.
When touring homes, look past the current owner's decor and paint colors—those are easy to change. Instead, focus on the 'bones' of the house: the layout, the condition of the roof and windows, the amount of natural light, and the overall neighborhood vibe.
Action Checklist
- Create your 'Must-Have' and 'Nice-to-Have' lists.
- Set up automated MLS alerts with your real estate agent.
- Attend open houses in your target neighborhoods.
- Schedule private showings for your top choices.
- Take notes and photos during showings to keep track of different properties.