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So you’ve got a pretty good idea of the kind of house you want.  The next step, and probably the longest one, is going out and finding it. 

The place I started was realtor.com, because you can search listings without any obligation to any specific real estate agent.  Their site is very straightforward.  Enter the zip code to search in, then your minimum and maximum prices, then search away.  It will return all listings in the area, usually with photos.  You can peruse these listings until your heart’s content, but if you find anything you like, you will have to contact a realtor for more information (including the property’s address).  Sometimes if you are familiar with the area you are shopping in, you can guess where the property is located by the photo alone, but usually you will need to ask for an address.  Take note of the MLS numbers on any properties you are interested in.

Once you’ve got the numbers for a few properties, you can locate a realtor.  Every property on realtor.com has an agent associated with it, and you can use the site to contact them directly.  However, you don’t HAVE to do this.  Any realtor can get the information for you.  Ask friends and family if they know anyone good for the job.  I personally just went through realtor.com and contacted the agent for a home I was particularly interested in.  Just include the MLS numbers for each of the properties you are interested in and ask for more information.  Realtors have a private listing they can search which includes all kinds of detailed information including that much needed address.  I usually got a return e-mail within a day with a link to everything I wanted to know.

Once you have some addresses, get in your car and check these places out.  You can tell a lot just by walking around outside a place.  In fact, just knowing the address is sometimes enough to turn you off to a place, be it the neighborhood or whatever.  You save yourself and your agent time by weeding out these places first.

If a place passes the outside inspection, go ahead and ask your agent to schedule a visit to the house.  When you tour the house, don’t be afraid to ask questions about anything and everything.  Pay particular attention to how the house is heated and whether it is air conditioned. Also I always checked the circuit breakers to see their age and make sure they were new breakers and not fuse boxes.  Try to think like a building inspector and don’t get distracted by things like the color of the carpet… those things can be changed.  As long as the structure of the house is sound and the utilities are in good working order, then everything else is just gravy.

Once you’re hooked up with a realtor, you can use them to do your listing searches for you.  Good realtors will know to keep you posted on new listings in your area and price range.  Speaking of that, if after you meet your realtor in person you decide you don’t really like or trust them, go try someone else.  Don’t feel obligated to that person… they had their opportunity to impress you.

Other ways you can find houses:  Read the local classified ads, either online or in the newspaper.  Drive around and look for realtor signs in the neighborhoods you like.  Ask around and make sure people you know are aware that you are in the market.  Search online for public real estate auctions, you could get lucky and get a real deal…  just don’t forget your price limit!

I spent roughly 8 months looking for a place before I finally found one and locked it up.  Finding your new home will no doubt require your patience. Don’t get discouraged, just keep checking the listings often and eventually you will find what you are looking for.

And once you do, you’re gonna need a mortgage.  Stay tuned for part 3!