House Hunting

What does House Hunting Have To Do With Divorce? Moving and divorce are two of the most stressful events a person or family can experience.

Divorce is a subject for another time. But for now, let's consider the event of moving and look at some ways to make your house-hunting experience less stressful and more enjoyable.

Location is the first factor to consider when planning a move. If you have children or are planning a family, you will want to know about the schools in the area. How about shopping centers, medical facilities, and recreational opportunities? Perhaps most importantly, how far will you be from your place of employment?

If you require public transportation, is there any within walking distance of your prospective new home? What about the crime rate?A check with the local law enforcement agency can put your mind at ease or give you a reason to look elsewhere.

And finally, try to assess the quality and character of the people who live in the area, which isn't easy to do without interviewing them. Still, you can get a rough impression of the condition of their homes and properties and the activities you might observe.

For example, are the lawns of homes in the neighborhood mowed and maintained? Do the houses look like the owners reflect pride of ownership? Is the area quiet and peaceful, or noisy and irritating?

If so, you should reassess the home's desirability, no matter how attractive it is. Remember, a poor location will be a negative factor when and if you attempt to resell the house.

Once you've zeroed in on your preferred location, you can start to think seriously about searching for your dream home. Rather than spin your wheels by looking at houses randomly, you should determine what you want in a place and let those things help you focus your search.

Make a list and start with the obvious: how many bedrooms do you need; do you want a garage; must you have a single-story home due to your inability to climb stairs; is a fenced yard an absolute necessity?

After listing the absolute "must haves," think about the things you like and dislike about your current residence and factor those things into your wish list. Making a list will save you time and help your Realtor plan your viewings.

Most people don't know how much f a mortgage they can afford. Affordability is based on income, credit status, interest rates, down payment, closing costs, and the type of loan selected.

By getting pre-qualified by a lending institution, you will know what you can afford to spend. Often, that figure is quite a surprise to prospective home buyers. In any case, pre-qualification will save you time and trouble by establishing your price range.

Typically, house hunting involves seeing as many homes as possible in a short period. The house hunter and the assisting Realtor have busy schedules and want to tour fast and furious. However, after the first two or three houses, they all start to run together. It would be best if you made notes after each viewing.

One effective means of qualifying each home is to make multiple copies of your list of priorities and use it as a checklist to grade each home visited. This little tip will eliminate confusion when trying to make mental comparisons at the end of the day.

Regard your hunt as an excursion. If you were going to the zoo for the day and contemplated a lot of walking, you would dress comfortably and wear comfortable shoes.

House hunting is no different; you'll be walking, climbing stairs, possibly going into basements and attics, and constantly getting in and out of cars. Dressing to impress homeowners or your Realtor should not be your top priority. Dress clean and neat, of course, but comfortable is the name of the hunting game.

And last but not least, use your Realtor. You'll speak to the seller's agent when you call the Realtor on a "house for sale" sign. Remember that they represent the seller and will look after the seller's interests. It would be best if you had your own Realtor, someone who works for you and is looking out for your interests.

House hunting can be an enjoyable experience if you take your time and do your homework.

Next: Ten Tips For First-Time Home Buyers

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