Coldwell Banker American Homes Blog
RSS Feed
Subscribe and receive email notifications of new blog posts.
RSS Feed
- 2026 | 15 Posts
- 2025 | 77 Posts
- 2024 | 85 Posts
- 2023 | 73 Posts
- 2022 | 72 Posts
- 2020 | 44 Posts
- 2019 | 27 Posts
- 2018 | 20 Posts
- 2017 | 29 Posts
- 2016 | 85 Posts
- 2015 | 85 Posts
- 2014 | 117 Posts
- 2013 | 50 Posts
- 2012 | 32 Posts
- 2011 | 35 Posts
- 2010 | 16 Posts
Area Information | 146 Posts
BPT | 10 Posts
Buying | 31 Posts
Homeowners | 64 Posts
Real Estate Blogs | 323 Posts
RREIN | 62 Posts
Selling Your Home | 26 Posts
Uncategorized | 200 Posts
August
22
22
What to Do Before You Start House Hunting
Now is a great time to consider buying a home. Whether you're relocating, purchasing a vacation house or looking to become a homeowner for the first time, there are certain things you need to do before you even begin to look for a new home. Doing your homework before plunging into the house hunt can save you valuable time and energy.
Before you begin looking at homes, determine what you can afford to spend. "This may seem obvious," says Michael Litzner, Broker of Century 21 American Homes, "but it's a step that can lead to disaster if overlooked, causing you to waste time with homes you can't afford, or sparking arguments with family members about what your budget looks like." Before you begin looking, sit down with all parties involved and set a realistic price range, including the amount of money you can afford to put down.
Once your budget is determined, make a list of what you're looking for. What type of neighborhood do you have in mind? Do you want to be able to walk into town, or are you looking for a private setting with lots of land? Make a detailed list of the absolute necessities, like good local school systems, versus things you simply want, such as a modern kitchen for the chef in the family or a guest room for relatives. Litzner notes that "while both wants and needs are important, knowing the difference will help guide you in your decision making process. " Litzner stresses the importance of planning and talking about important details in advance, enabling you to weed out any possible homes that don't meet your criteria.
After listing your wants and needs, Litzner suggests talking to your bank about your mortgage rate and figuring out an affordable monthly payment. "When looking at a monthly payment, you should always take into account unexpected expenses, such as medical bills or a job loss. Make sure you have enough emergency money saved to cover a few months' payments, should something go awry," suggests Litzner.
It's also important to keep your credit in mind before you begin hunting. "There is nothing more heartbreaking than finding your dream home only to find out that you are not able to qualify," says Litzner. If your credit isn't where it needs to be, spend a few months building it up before you begin hunting. "If your credit has really fallen, it can take up to two years to build it back up again. This is something you want to know before you begin searching for a new home," notes Litzner.
For more information on buying a home, please contact Century 21 American Homes at propertyinfo@C21AmHomes.com.
Century 21 American Homes is one of the fastest growing real estate brokerages serving Long Island, Queens and Brooklyn. To find out more about an exciting career in real estate contact us at careers@c21amhomes.com.