You can only find the "perfect" house in if you know what you're looking for before you start your search. And you can save considerable time and money if you talk over the following points with your real estate agent. This will help you focus in on the best possible matches for you.

Is there a perfect location for you? Do you need to be near work or family? Do you have to be in a place where most services are within walking distance? Or do you prefer to be further away from an urban neighborhood? Luckily, there are many choices: town, country, suburban, etc. For years realtors have said the three secrets to finding a great home are location, location and location. But a perfect location for one person may not be the same for another. Let's talk and figure out what's perfect for you.

Are there certain features in a home that you must have? For instance, if you're a gourmet cook, you'll need a large kitchen. If you have children, you'll need extra bedrooms, and perhaps yard space. Perhaps there are features you would like in a home, but are not necessarily critical, like a fireplace or a finished basement. I've prepared a handy tool called a "Home Wish List" to help you sort through your preferences for home features.

What do you know about the neighborhood? "Knowledge is power," as the saying goes. You can go online and find lots of useful information about a neighborhood and even specific houses you might be considering. You'll learn about the school system, public services, the crime rate, demographics, etc. The Chamber of Commerce is a great resource for you, and will have free visitor packets available, chock full of useful information. Another great resource is the local newspaper. Visit their website and scan some month's worth of headlines. This will tell you all kinds of information about the health of the area.

It's important to work with a local realtor who is very familiar with the area. This will save you hours of search time, as she will already know about all the properties for sale. Consider interviewing several realtors. You can find names online or in the local phone book. You'll be sharing personal information with your realtor, so you'll need to feel comfortable with her.

Have you visited the neighborhood? While you can learn all sorts of things about an area online, there's nothing to replace visiting it in person, seeing what potential properties look like in context of their surroundings, checking out noise levels at different times of the day, etc. This is the only way to get a real "feel" for a place.

Have you spoken with a Loan Officer about pre-approval for a mortgage? The pre-approval process saves you a lot of time and helps you narrow your search. Your loan officer will give you a pre-approval letter that identifies the price range of homes you can afford. It's also an important tool to have on-hand to show a seller that you're a serious buyer.

If you do the preliminary work described above, you'll be in a great position to jump quickly on the perfect opportunity!

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Article Submitted By: Susanne Novak.
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