This is the second of a series of posts aimed at educating first-time homebuyers in the Rochester area about the home buying process. I've worked with many first-time buyers who are interested in becoming homeowners but have no clue where to begin. This series will explain the steps to homeownership, as well as giving first-time buyers tips to help the process go as smoothly as possible!
If you missed it, take a look at my post on the first step of the home buying process, Establishing Financing.
Step 2: Find the Right Home
The first step in finding the home of your dreams is to decide on your desired location and the characteristics you want in your home. You'll want to focus on features such as:
- Style of the house (ranch, colonial, etc.)
- Number of bedrooms and baths
- Garage? Attached or detached?
- Size of the lot
- Basement? Finished or unfinished?
These are just a few examples. See a more complete list of features on Freddie Mac's Wants vs. Needs and Neighborhood Wants vs. Needs worksheets. These are great resources I often recommend to my buyers.
Speaking of wants vs. needs, the next thing you will want to do in your home search is decide which features are most important to you in your future home. Unfortunately, not every home you see is going to have every feature you would prefer, so it helps to figure out which features you can't live without and which are just "icing on the cake". Your agent will also help you determine which features are realistic in your price range.
Once you know what you're looking for, your agent will take you on a tour of homes that meet your criteria. A buyer's agent in the Rochester area can show you any homes in the multiple listing service, not just her own! So, rather than calling the listing agent directly, make sure you inform your buyer's agent about homes that interest you. That way you always have someone there looking out for your best interest.
Once you find the house that's right for you, you're ready to put in a purchase offer. See how an offer is submitted and what it entails in the next segment!
P.S. This is just the tip of the iceberg. I frequently team up with Tracy Martinez from Five Star Bank to offer FREE home buying seminars to Rochester-area homebuyers. If you're interested in learning more, give me a call at (585) 455-5524 to find out when and where our next seminar will be held!
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