[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"$f22amaj9x8oyu9":3,"$ffeh0925h8cuz":38,"$fbwk2pqjjqsc7":42},{"item":4,"previous":26,"next":32},{"id":5,"slug":6,"title":7,"description":8,"excerpt":9,"contentType":10,"featuredImage":11,"bannerImage":9,"body":12,"agentsBottomLine":13,"bodyImage":9,"isInfographic":14,"categories":15,"isVideo":14,"videoThumbnail":9,"videoSource":9,"publishedAt":24,"updatedAt":25},1196,"5-tips-for-starting-your-home-search","5 Tips for Starting Your Home Search","In today’s real estate market, with low inventory dominating the conversation in many areas of the country, it can often be frustrating to be a first-time homebuyer if you aren’t prepared.","","blog","https:\u002F\u002Ffiles.simplifyingthemarket.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2018\u002F10\u002F11100548\u002F20181017-Share-STM.jpg","In today’s real estate market, with low inventory dominating the conversation in many areas of the country, it can often be frustrating to be a first-time homebuyer if you aren’t prepared.\u003C!--more-->\r\n\r\nIn a recent \u003Cem>realtor.com\u003C\u002Fem> \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.realtor.com\u002Fadvice\u002Fbuy\u002Fhow-to-find-your-dream-home-without-losing-your-mind\u002F\">article\u003C\u002Fa> entitled, \u003Cem>“How to Find Your Dream Home—Without Losing Your Mind,”\u003C\u002Fem> the author highlights some steps that first-time homebuyers can take to help carry their excitement of buying a home throughout the whole process.\r\n\u003Ch4>\u003Cstrong>1. Get Pre-Approved for a Mortgage Before You Start Your Search\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fh4>\r\nOne way to show you are serious about buying your dream home is to get pre-qualified or \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.simplifyingthemarket.com\u002F2018\u002F04\u002F16\u002Fgetting-pre-approved-should-always-be-your-first-step\u002F\">pre-approved for a mortgage\u003C\u002Fa> before starting your search. Even if you are in a market that is not as competitive, understanding your budget will give you the confidence of knowing whether or not your dream home is within your reach.\r\n\r\nThis step will also help you narrow your search based on your budget and won’t leave you disappointed if the home you tour, and love, ends up being outside your budget!\r\n\u003Ch4>\u003Cstrong>2. Know the Difference Between Your ‘Must-Haves’ and ‘Would-Like-To-Haves’\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fh4>\r\nDo you really need that farmhouse sink in the kitchen to be happy with your home choice? Would a two-car garage be a convenience or a necessity? Could the ‘man cave’ of your dreams be a future renovation project instead of a make-or-break right now?\r\n\r\nBefore you start your search, list all the features of a home you would like and then qualify them as ‘must-haves’, ‘should-haves’, or ‘absolute-wish list’ items. This will help \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.simplifyingthemarket.com\u002F2017\u002F09\u002F12\u002Flooking-for-your-dream-home-know-what-you-want-vs-what-you-need\u002F\">keep you focused\u003C\u002Fa> on what’s most important.\r\n\u003Ch4>\u003Cstrong>3. Research and Choose a Neighborhood You Want to Live In\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fh4>\r\nEvery neighborhood has its own charm. Before you commit to a home based solely on the house itself, the article suggests test-driving the area. Make sure that the area meets your needs for \u003Cem>“amenities, commute, school district, etc. and then spend a weekend exploring before you commit.”\u003C\u002Fem>\r\n\u003Ch4>\u003Cstrong>4. Pick a House Style You Love and Stick to It\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fh4>\r\nEvaluate your family’s needs and settle on a style of home that would best serve those needs. Just because you’ve narrowed your search to a zip code, doesn’t mean that you need to tour every listing in that zip code.\r\n\r\nAn example from the article says,\u003Cem> “if you have several younger kids and don’t want your bedroom on a different level, steer clear of Cape Cod–style homes, which typically feature two or more bedrooms on the upper level and the master on the main.”\u003C\u002Fem>\r\n\u003Ch4>\u003Cstrong>5. Document Your Home Visits\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fh4>\r\nOnce you start touring homes, the features of each individual home will start to blur together. The article suggests keeping your camera handy and documenting what you love and don’t love about each property you visit. They even go as far as to suggest snapping a photo of the ‘for sale’ sign on the way into the property to help keep the listings divided in your photo gallery.\r\n\r\nMaking notes on the listing sheet as you tour the property will also help you remember what the photos mean, or what you were feeling while touring the home.\r\n\u003Ch3>\u003Cstrong>Bottom Line\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fh3>\r\nIn a high-paced, competitive environment, any advantage you can give yourself will help you on your path to buying your dream home.","\r\nIn a high-paced, competitive environment, any advantage you can give yourself will help you on your path to buying your dream home.",false,[16,20],{"id":17,"name":18,"slug":19},5,"For Buyers","buyers",{"id":21,"name":22,"slug":23},11,"First-Time Buyers","first-time-buyers","2018-10-17T10:00:55Z","2018-10-11T11:34:07Z",{"id":27,"slug":28,"title":29,"featuredImage":30,"publishedAt":31,"contentType":10,"isVideo":14},1195,"baby-boomers-are-downsizing-are-you-ready-to-move","Baby Boomers are Downsizing, Are You Ready to Move?","https:\u002F\u002Ffiles.simplifyingthemarket.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2018\u002F10\u002F01171923\u002F20181030-Share-STM.jpg","2018-10-16T10:00:11Z",{"id":33,"slug":34,"title":35,"featuredImage":36,"publishedAt":37,"contentType":10,"isVideo":14},1197,"is-the-increase-in-inventory-a-bullish-or-bearish-sign-for-real-estate","Is the Increase in Inventory a Bullish or Bearish Sign for Real Estate?","https:\u002F\u002Ffiles.simplifyingthemarket.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2018\u002F10\u002F10132805\u002F20181018-Share-STM.jpg","2018-10-18T10:00:21Z",{"cover":39,"open":40,"shareSpread":41},"https:\u002F\u002Ffiles.keepingcurrentmatters.com\u002FKeepingCurrentMatters\u002Fcontent\u002Fimages\u002F20260603\u002F2026-Summer-Buyers-Guide-Cover-original.png","https:\u002F\u002Ffiles.keepingcurrentmatters.com\u002FKeepingCurrentMatters\u002Fcontent\u002Fimages\u002F20260603\u002F2026-Summer-Buyers-Guide-Spread-original.png","https:\u002F\u002Ffiles.keepingcurrentmatters.com\u002FKeepingCurrentMatters\u002Fcontent\u002Fimages\u002F20260603\u002F2026-Summer-Buyers-Guide-Magazine-original.png",[43,47,48,52,56,60,64,65,69,73,77,81,85,89,93,97,101,105,109,113,117,121,125,129,133,137,141,145,149,153],{"id":44,"name":45,"slug":46},1,"Uncategorized","uncategorized",{"id":17,"name":18,"slug":19},{"id":49,"name":50,"slug":51},6,"For Sellers","sellers",{"id":53,"name":54,"slug":55},7,"Foreclosures","foreclosures",{"id":57,"name":58,"slug":59},8,"Infographics","infographics",{"id":61,"name":62,"slug":63},9,"Home Prices","home-prices",{"id":21,"name":22,"slug":23},{"id":66,"name":67,"slug":68},34,"Senior Market","senior-market",{"id":70,"name":71,"slug":72},35,"Mortgage Rates","mortgage-rates",{"id":74,"name":75,"slug":76},38,"Move-Up","move-up",{"id":78,"name":79,"slug":80},41,"For Sale by Owner","for-sale-by-owner",{"id":82,"name":83,"slug":84},42,"Featured","featured",{"id":86,"name":87,"slug":88},45,"New Construction","new-construction",{"id":90,"name":91,"slug":92},52,"Luxury \u002F Vacation","luxury--vacation",{"id":94,"name":95,"slug":96},53,"Rent vs. Buy","rent-vs-buy",{"id":98,"name":99,"slug":100},80,"Time-sensitive","time-sensitive",{"id":102,"name":103,"slug":104},81,"Outdated","outdated",{"id":106,"name":107,"slug":108},147,"Internal","internal",{"id":110,"name":111,"slug":112},148,"Do Not Autopost","do-not-autopost",{"id":114,"name":115,"slug":116},320,"Inventory","inventory",{"id":118,"name":119,"slug":120},321,"Agent Value","agent-value",{"id":122,"name":123,"slug":124},322,"Affordability","affordability",{"id":126,"name":127,"slug":128},323,"Buying Tips","buying-tips",{"id":130,"name":131,"slug":132},324,"Downsize","downsize",{"id":134,"name":135,"slug":136},325,"Economy","economy",{"id":138,"name":139,"slug":140},326,"Equity","equity",{"id":142,"name":143,"slug":144},327,"Forecasts","forecasts",{"id":146,"name":147,"slug":148},328,"Selling Tips","selling-tips",{"id":150,"name":151,"slug":152},339,"Expired\u002FWithdrawn\u002FCanceled","expiredwithdrawncanceled",{"id":154,"name":155,"slug":156},340,"Price It Right\u002FOverpricing","price-it-rightoverpricing"]