Home Buying Process	|	Program Search	|	Consumer Issues	|	Education	|	About	|	Home
Can I be a homeowner? Finding a home Making an offer on a home Applying for a loan Inspections The closing process Real Estate loan glossary		Search for a Program List all Programs Non-profit Providers		Your credit Predatory lending Finding a healthy home

Finding a Home

Looking at homes

What kind of home do you want to buy -- new or old? Do you want a detached single family home, a townhouse, or a condominium? There are many types of homes to choose from. What's important is what is best for you.

Where do you want to live? How close to schools, your job, a grocery store, or public transportation do you want to be? Do you want a yard or would you prefer not to have a lawn to take care of? Knowing the answers to these questions will help you and your REALTOR® narrow your search for a home.

Make sure that any special requirements you have -- such as parking, access to bus service, air conditioning, or wheelchair accessibility -- are part of the property you want to purchase.

When looking at homes, keep track of what you like and dislike about each home that you visit. You may want to put together a list of "what is required" and "what you would prefer". Sometimes taking a picture of each home you visit helps recall other features of the property. REALTORs® may also provide photos of the properties you visit.

When you find a home in your price range and you want to buy it, visit the neighborhood at various times to get a more complete understanding of its activity. Talk with your prospective neighbors about what it's like to live in the area. Take a day and commute to your job from the area. And look at the home more critically -- you may discover flaws you hadn't noticed during your first visit.