| Focus Your Search |
| You can whittle days off the house hunting process if you set your priorities .
Before you start your search, decide what you need, what you'd like and what you don't want.
Then you (and your agent , if you have one, ) can sort through home listings more efficiently.
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| Ask yourself: |
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Do you want a single-family home , a condominium
or a townhouse ?
A single-family home gives you more ownership, but more responsibility
too. A condominium or townhouse may include services and amenities,
but requires you to help pay community costs and make community
decisions. Think about the pros and cons before you decide. |
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Do you want to buy new or resale?
With a new home , new construction and materials may decrease
maintenance costs, but you may have fewer choices in terms
of style and neighborhood. With a resale, you generally pay
less to live in a more established neighborhood, but may have
higher maintenance costs. Think about the pros and cons before
you decide. |
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What kind of neighborhood do you want to live
in?
Think about neighborhood qualities that matter to you, such
as good schools. |
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What's your price range?
Calculate how much you can afford . |
| Consider
the local job market, too. You can expect a more competitive
real estate market if area employers are creating more jobs,
especially higher-paying jobs. If friends and coworkers have
bought recently, ask them about their experiences. |