At Q Pro Realty, we know how exciting it is to buy a home. You’re making plans for the future, choosing a home in an area that appeals to you, and investing in one of the safest methods for acquiring wealth.

At the same time, the event can be a daunting experience if you don’t have sound knowledge and understanding of everything that’s involved.

Here are a few tips to help with your house hunting decision:

Be clear about your needs
Factors such as house cost, neighbourhood, lot size and special features play a big role in your decision. Determining which features your new house absolutely must have and which features you could live without is your first step in the home buying process.

Investigate the market
Supply and demand can vary widely across the nation, across states and even across neighbourhoods. The ups and downs of your local housing market can affect how much bang you get for your buck. But whatever the state of the market, astute home buyers can tailor their buying strategy to take advantage of current market conditions. Learn more about buyers, sellers and balanced markets.

Know what incentives are available
If you are a first time buyer, make sure you know what incentives are available to help you get your foot on the first rung of the property ladder. Owning a home definitely has its advantages.

Determine your price range
Before you hit the streets you need to know what you can afford to make the most of your house hunting experience. It’s important to calculate what monthly mortgage payment you can afford. Knowing your affordable price range will focus your house hunting and will save you time and energy.

Get pre-approved
If you get mortgage pre-approval for home financing you will save time and increase your comfort level when shopping for a home.

View potential homes
It may seem obvious, but it is important to view the homes you are interested in as photographs never tell the whole story. Your agent can help you find the perfect home when you’re ready to take the plunge and start visiting homes for sale.

Choose your agent carefully
During the home buying process your real estate agent will act as your eyes, ears and voice. Feeling assured that you are receiving the best advice is paramount to making a real estate investment.

Your agent will help you find the best homes you can afford in your areas of choice and will guide you through the sometimes complicated home buying process and around common pitfalls in the world of residential real estate.