Buying a home is a long and in-depth process that starts off with a lot of research and planning. Part of that researching is finding the home of your dreams. With online real estate websites popping up more frequently, house hunters are increasingly searching online to find their new home. Keep reading for tips on house hunting online and in no time you'll find it less overwhelming to search for your new home.
Use reputable websites
A quick search online for real estate websites will warrant you hundreds, if not thousands, of results--but not all of them can be trusted. Do your best to stick with reputable websites from companies that have a longstanding reputation.
Look out for real estate search websites that ask you to pay fees for access or ask for too much personal information -- they may not be trustworthy or worth the fee at all. There are plenty of other online resources that don't ask for personal information to show you homes for sale in your search area.
Websites like Craigslist do have sections for real estate but there are no authenticating steps before a listing is posted. Anyone can download pictures of a home they've found online, claim that it is for rent or for sale, sit back and wait for interested parties to message them and end up taking your security deposit and disappearing. This scam is probably more common with apartments and rental homes, but it's still good to be wary.
Research your search area
You might have an idea of where you'd like to buy a home, whether it's a county, state or town--but do you know the ins and outs of that area? Are you familiar with the school system? What about the crime rate? Property taxes? Doing a bit of research before you start searching for your dream home can save you a lot of time and heartache. It's extremely tough to veto the perfect home
after you've fallen in love with it.
Unrealistic expectations
If a picture is worth a thousand words, how much is a slideshow worth? Real estate websites will entice you with slideshows of expansive foyers, cavernous walk-in closets and gourmet kitchens, but after visiting the property in person you find yourself standing in Mother Hubbard's cupboard.
When shopping for your home it's important to manage your expectations. There are plenty of camera tricks that
realtors and agents use when selling a home to make a bedroom look larger than it actually is. If a floor plan is available to you in the listing, don't disregard it! It has the basic dimensions of the home so you can easily compare sizes and living space.
Use the search filters
It might seem like an obvious tip, but be sure to use the search filters that are available to you on the website. It will be much easier to stay within your budget if you only search for homes
within that budget. Again, you don't want to fall in love with a house that's entirely outside of your budget and then have to veto it later down the road. Even worse, you don't want to get in over your head with monthly mortgage payments, either.
After you've done all your research, figured out your budget and saved up for a down payment, searching for a home online should be a breeze.