When in the market for a new home, most people turn to the internet to begin the search. If you’re looking to buy a house, it helps to know what you want. Hire a real estate agent who knows the area and be prepared to outline your wants and needs. Here are a few helpful tips to find a new home.

1. Determine Your Budget

You won’t get far in your home search if you don’t know how much you can spend. Take a good look at your finances and have a downpayment saved. Talk to lenders to get pre-approved for a mortgage. In today’s real estate market, a pre-approval is sometimes required before a seller will let you tour the home.

Plan your budget as a homeowner. You’ll have a mortgage to pay, homeowners insurance, utility bills, and property taxes. Make a list of other items you’ll need for your new house. You may need to purchase furniture and budget for improvements, renovations, and home maintenance costs.

2. Find a New Home by Deciding Where You Want to Live

To help your real estate agent narrow down the property search, decide where you want to live. You might have a few neighborhoods you prefer. How far do you want to be from work, the grocery store, and your doctor’s office? If you have children, consider amenities they will enjoy such as parks, playgrounds, and libraries.

3. Decide What Type of Home Your Prefer

Once you have determined your budget, you can further narrow down the search by deciding what type of home you like. Are you searching for a single-family home or a condominium? If you want a house, how much land would you like? Make a list of types of properties you might be interested in. Some people prefer a newly built home. Others might hope to purchase an older farmhouse. Let your real estate agent know your preferences.

4. To Find a New Home, it’s Helpful to Know How Many Bedrooms

Decide how many bedrooms your new home will need. You may want one for each family member. Do you need an extra bedroom to use as a guest room or an office? Most online real estate listings make it simple to narrow down property by the number of bedrooms and bathrooms that you prefer.

5. Choose Important Features

Once you have determined the basic features of your new home, you can decide what else is important for you and your family. Do you want a mountainside home with a beautiful view? You might dream of a swimming pool or a fenced-in yard for the dog.

Some online search tools allow you to filter by features and be sure to also mention these preferences to your real estate agent. He or she can help you find a home with a two-car garage, a full basement, and high ceilings.

6. Hire a Real Estate Agent

One of the best tools for finding the house you want is a professional real estate agent. Your agent will know the local area and will have resources to make your home search easier. The agent sees newly listed properties as soon as they go on the market and will notify you of listings that meet your criteria. Talk to an agent to help you find a new home.

Border Home and Property Inspections offers inspection services to customers in the midwest region of Alberta and Saskatchewan. Contact us to request an appointment.