SEARCHING THE INTERNET TO NARROW DOWN NEIGHBORHOODS
Now that you are armed with your Pre Approval letter with the amount of home that you purchase, you are ready to begin your search for the perfect home.
Did you know that 80% of all home searches begins on the internet?
With todays technology it is possible to begin your search for your new home without ever leaving your current home. There are literally hundreds of websites that will allow you to search the MLS in each city you are looking to buy in. Some of the most popular sites are:
www.realtor.com, www.trulia.com, www.google.com, www.msn.com and www.zillow.com
Then there are the individual real estate company websites such as:
www.century21.com , www.remax.com, www.prudential.com
And you can get even more localized by searching on individual agents websites or simply googling the city name and "realtor". My website is an example:
www.encinitasbeachhomesforsale.com
The more localized you make the search, the more detail will come up for that particular area. You can get local dining information, calendar of events and detailed information of particular neighborhoods from some of these sites that are very helpful. Check the local Chamber of Commerce and Visitors Center for information on the community.
One of the biggest requests I get from families is that they want to be in a good school district. Use the site below to find out what schools are in the area and how they are rated. Also, when you find the school that interests you, I suggest going to the school district office and the school websites to get any additional information on a particular school.
http://nces.ed.gov/ccd/schoolsearch/, http://www.greatschools.net/, http://www.publicschoolreview.com/zipsearch.php
Another question that is frequently asked is the crime statistics for the area. Please, please, please...ALWAYS check the crime statistics to make sure you are comfortable living in a neighborhood BEFORE you move. Below are some websites to check for statistics in San Diego County as well as Megans Law which has a nationwide database:
http://www.arjis.org/, http://www.sandiego.gov/police/, http://meganslaw.com/
This information, as well as google maps, or yahoo maps if you need to commute, should arm you with enough information to get your city and possibly your neighborhoods narrowed down and ready to begin your search......
NEXT.....Step #3.....finding a Realtor......
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