Read These Expert House Hunting Tips So You Can Search With Confidence
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Buying a house is one of life’s biggest milestones, but as exciting as it is, it can be overwhelming, too. It’s easy to get bogged down by the minutiae of the process—from endlessly scrolling through listings to debating what to offer on your dream home—and it can feel like you’re making high-stakes decisions without a roadmap. But before you get wrapped up in things like curb appeal, kitchen renovations, or how old a water heater is, it’s important to pull back and look at some house hunting tips holistically to understand what you truly need in a home—that way, you’ll know it when you find it.
Whether you’re a first-time buyer or a current homeowner returning to the market, having a thoughtful and expert-backed approach to house hunting can help you narrow your search, avoid common mistakes, and feel more confident throughout the process. Ahead, learn professional advice for house hunting that will simplify the game and find you signing on the dotted line in no time, with keys to your dream home in hand.
Where to Start
Setting up alerts on your favorite real estate app may seem like progress, but experts agree that’s not where your house hunting journey should start. Before you can get serious about purchasing a home, you need to get your financial house in order, and that starts with a mortgage. “Most first-time home shoppers are doing it all backwards,” says Amanda Pendleton, Zillow‘s Home Trends Expert. “They start by scrolling Zillow late at night, fall in love with a home, and suddenly find themselves scrambling to get financial documents together, secure a mortgage, and hire an agent. By the time they’re ready, that dream home is long gone. Or worse, they’re overpaying for their mortgage or the home itself.”
Instead of stressing yourselves out with a mad dash after finding your dream property, set up for success ahead of time by getting preapproved for a mortgage. Doing so also means you’ll have a better grasp on your finances as a whole—you’ll gain awareness about your credit score, learn the pricing search parameters you fall within, and have a tentative number to save for a down payment.
From there, do some research to vet and interview real estate agents in the area to find one that you click with. You want someone knowledgeable about the town (or towns) you’re looking to buy in, and an agent who respects your wishlist and can deliver listings accordingly. Together, you can iron out your priorities when it comes to house hunting (like a certain commute distance from your job or a common home feature, like a finished basement), so you can go into scrolling—and eventually showings—with a clear picture of the type of property you want to commit to.
How to Choose a Neighborhood
If you don’t already have your heart sold on a specific town or neighborhood, now would be a good time to come up with a short list. Casting a wide net while house hunting is great, but you should have at least a few parameters in place to help guide your search towards properties you’ll actually see potential in.
“Start with your non-negotiables: commute time, walkability, proximity to the coffee shop or yoga studio you’d actually use,” suggests Pendleton. “Once you’ve narrowed your options, spend a day living in that neighborhood. Grab lunch, walk around, and notice how it feels at different hours. Think five to ten years ahead: Is this a great place for right now, or will it be a great place for your life a decade from now?”
Narrowing in on a list of two to three potential neighborhoods will go a long way towards guiding your home buying search in the right direction. If your dream area is financially out of reach, ask your realtor to suggest up-and-coming parts of town that boast a similar vibe, granting you value without sacrificing the conveniences you desire.
Types of Houses
Gone are the days when you’d snag a “starter home” only to upgrade to something bigger and better in a few year’s time. With an ultra-competitive housing market and a fluctuating economy, homeowners need to prepare for the long haul in their chosen home, making finding the right property—and the right type of house—more important than ever.
“A home purchase has always been a long-term investment, but today’s buyers need to commit for years, sometimes decades, for the purchase to pencil out financially,” explains Pendleton. “Make sure you’re buying a home that fits your life today and where you’re headed. Don’t panic-buy something that only partially meets your needs.”
While aspects like architectural style can be very individual and vary from buyer to buyer, home type is something you should figure out before getting too serious on your house hunt. Option different scenarios to see what type of house best suits your needs both in the moment and in the years to come. Some popular options include:
Single Family Home
Typically a standalone residence on a private lot, single-family homes are designed to be occupied by one household. This type of home will not share walls, floors, or ceilings with neighboring homes.
Multi-Family Home
A multi-family home can be a great option for anyone seeking out multi-generational living, an income property, or homeowners looking to offset their cost of living with renters. Traditionally, multi-family homes contain two or more distinct living units within a single structure, like a bottom and top floor that each boast their own kitchen, bedrooms, and bathrooms.
New Build
A new build is a home that has recently been completed, or one that is actively under construction, likely through a general contractor or investor. In some instances, you may be able to purchase a new build still under construction and customize the finishes, especially if you’re buying into a planned community.
Apartment
An apartment is a residential unit located within a larger building that contains multiple homes. Apartments can range drastically in size and square footage, and are often the preferred type of home in larger cities like New York, Chicago, or Miami.
Condo
A condominium or condo is a privately owned individual unit within a larger building or community. Condo dwellers are usually part of an HOA (homeowners association) that takes care of common areas within the community. Usually this convenient upkeep comes with an additional HOA fee.
Co-op
Often encountered when purchasing an apartment or condo, a co-op—also known as cooperative housing—is a type of property ownership where buyers purchase a “share” of a larger building rather than owning an individual unit outright. Oftentimes, co-op properties are subject to board approval and additional rules that may deter some buyers.
Attached Home
An attached home is a property that shares at least one wall with a neighboring unit. Most commonly, this type of home is referred to as a townhouse, row house, condo, duplex, or brownstone.
Second Home
Buyers who are looking to purchase a second home, either as an investment property or a vacation home, may be subject to different regulations when it comes to their mortgage rate, insurance costs, taxes, and more.
Vacant Lot
A vacant lot is an undeveloped piece of land that’s up for sale. As a buyer, you’ll want to confirm that the plot you’re interested in is zoned for residential building and have a good grasp on any additional costs associated with building, including adding sewage pipes, electric, and more.
House Hunting Checklist
Below, you’ll find a comprehensive list of what to keep an eye out for when you’re house hunting, including common features to look for as you walk a property.
The Home
- Exterior design
- Interior style
- Floor plan
- Number of bedrooms
- Number of bathrooms
- Garage or parking
- Lot size
- Square footage
The Features
- Updated appliances
- Fireplace
- Security system
- Pool
- Deck space
- Playroom or office space
- Landscaping
- Finished basement
- Wellness upgrades (a home gym, sauna, etc.)
- Central air
The Neighborhood
- Walkability
- Traffic levels
- Noise levels
- Community activities
- Nearby amenities
- Nearby school options
- Proximity to work, family, school, etc.
- Nearby home values
- General neighborhood upkeep
With these house hunting tips and home buying pointers, you’ll be better prepared and better informed, so you can look for (and find!) a home you’ll love not just right now, but for years to come.
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Alyssa Longobucco
Alyssa is a freelance writer, editor, and stylist with a background in interior, food, and lifestyle content. The recent recipient of an interior design certification, she has over a decade of experience in the digital and magazine industry helping readers digest design trends and providing actionable expert advice for creating a home and life they love.
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