Buying your first home? Here's what you HAVE to know.

Buying a home can feel overwhelming. We get it—it’s your first time going through the experience. Here are our basic tips:

Get guidance. Buying your first house can be an intimidating process. It’s one of the biggest decisions you’ll ever make and involves several factors that are out of your control: market conditions, mortgage rates, inventory levels, and more. Having a professional who commands an in depth understanding of these factors and who works as your advocate facilitates the experience.

Be clear and realistic in your search for a new home. In most areas, price range, home type, and location differ widely. It’s important to have a clearly established budget based on your ability to qualify for a loan and make monthly payments. Once you establish your price constraints, share with your Realtor a bit about your lifestyle and hobbies so that they can refine your search process.

Don’t use Zillow or Trulia. We’re a bit biased, but we feel that if you’re going to be property search engine, you should show all the properties out there. Bigger search engines will not have the same access to new-to-market homes, criteria, or standard of accuracy. Search through a trustworthy brokerage site or the MLS.

Look beyond paint and square footage. Neighborhood, price point, light, quality…all these factors should be considered above aesthetics. Paint, fixtures, and appliance can be swapped out over time and could provide a higher return on investment. Pick a house you can grow into in a community that fits your personality.