Determine Your Must-Haves
Your first step should be to make a list of all of your wants in your dream home. Do you want that ever-popular open concept living, or is two bathrooms a must? Things like this should be included in your list of must-haves.You should also include the minimum number of bedrooms, whether or not a garage is a must, how much yard you would like, etc. These items can really help you narrow down on the right property for you.
Get Pre-Approved
Next, get pre-approved. You should be pre-approved before you ever call, text, or email your Realtor. Working with a lender first will give you a solid idea of your budget which is important when considering the list above. Plus, most Realtors won’t work with you until you have a pre-approval from a reputable lender. Your lender can also recommend some Realtors for you to consider working with. These recommendations are generally people the lender has worked with before and had success.
Find Your Realtor
Your Realtor will look at your pre-approval amount and your wish list and then they will narrow down the search for you. While you are looking for a dream home, you may have to make a few concessions. No home is perfect, even if you build but your Realtor will get you as close as possible to that dream home you are searching for.
Be Open to Possibilities
You should also be willing to look for the diamond in the rough. If HGTV has taught us anything, it's that we can create our dream home out of pretty much anything. You should look for the worst house on the block in the neighborhood you most want to be in. You can always make changes and updates to your home, but you can’t change its location. So, if you have to purchase a fixer-upper in your most desired area that is okay.
Be Specific!
Finally, you should also narrow down the style of home you want. There are many to choose from; craftsman, colonial, cape cod, mid-century modern, farmhouse, etc. Another lovely trend from HGTV shows are the styles of homes you can choose from and depending on the area you are looking in, you could find one of each. Do you want single-level living or do you want a basement or a second story? Further narrowing down your wish list with the architecture style can help your Realtor help you find the home of your dreams.
Ready to start looking for a unicorn? We hope so. Feel free to contact us when you are ready to begin your home-buying process and download our mortgage programs guide by clicking the button below.
