How Do I Find the Right Home?

Take mine. I am sick of cleaning it. O.K. kidding aside (I can't move because I put up Star Wars wallpaper and refuse to take it down). Rule number one--stop concentrating on price. Find out what kind of home you truly need, discover what areas that kind of home is available in your price range and narrow it from there. There are a lot of homes on the market right now and some sellers are more motivated than others.

I know that we all dream about that really great steal, but unless you are a savvy negotiator or a cash buyer, the "great steal" usually turns out to be "the one that got away". Meet with your real estate agent the minute you have established your price range. Have them run an initial search for you pick through the available homes and narrow your search a little if there are too many to absorb. Make an appointment to spend a day together. Spend half of the day looking at resale homes and the other half checking out the models for the new home subdivisions with homes in your price range. Do not go to subdivisions alone. If you do, you forfeit your right to representation during the negotiations and the escrow process.

Once you identify a neighborhood that you like, drive through several times on different days and at different times. Find out what the neighbors are like before you move in.