First Time Home Buyer

"You should buy a home".

That's what you've been hearing from friends and family, right?

So, by now you have likely already weighed the benefits and choose that home ownership was the best decision for you. That's a major barrier now passed. You are focused and certain.

Defining Search Parameters for a First Time Home Buyer

Almost 80% of all home searches today begin on the Internet. With just a few clicks of the mouse, home buyers can search through hundreds of online listings, view virtual tours, and sort through dozens of photographs and aerial shots of neighborhoods and homes. You've possibly defined your objective and have a pretty good idea of the type of home you want. By the time you get to your real estate agent's office, you are halfway to home ownership.

How Long Should It Take to Buy Your First Home?

In seller's markets, often only one home is shown. After all, how many homes does one family need? A few buyers will look for years, but buyers who do that aren't motivated. A motivated buyer will find a home within two weeks. Good real estate agents will listen to your needs and wants, and arrange to show only those homes that fit your particular parameters.

How Many Homes Will a Home Buyer See?

Studies show that your memory drastically improves after consumption of carbs and slows upon consuming sugar. So, lay off the soft drinks and have a hearty meal of carbs before venturing out to tour homes. The average number of homes that a buyer sees in one day is seven. Any more than that, and the brain is on overload. Therefore, don't expect to see 20 or 30 homes; although it's physically possible to do so, you probably will not remember specific details about any of them.

How a First-Time Home Buyer Can Rate Inventory

Bring a digital camera and start each series of photos with a close-up of the house number to identify where each group of home photos start and end.
Take abundant notes of unusual features, colors and design elements.
Pay attention to the home's surroundings. What is next door? Do 2-story homes tower over your single story?
Do you like the location? Is it near a park or a power plant?
Immediately after leaving, rate each home on a scale of 1 to 10, with 10 being the highest.

View a second time your top choices before buying that first home

After viewing homes for a few days, you will probably instinctively know which one or two homes you would like to buy. Ask to see them again. You will see them with different eyes and perceive elements that were ignored the first go-around. At this point, your agent should call the listing agents to find out more about the sellers' motivation and to double-check that an offer hasn't come in, making sure these homes are still available to purchase. Buyers should choose the home without interference, real estate agents are required, however, to point out defects and should help buyers feel certain that the home selected meets the buyer's search parameters.