Step 6 – Evaluate Available Houses

You can start your house-hunting by circling all the ads for homes in the real estate section of the newspaper that are in your price range. Then you can get into a car, go for a ride, and drive by the houses for a quick look. Make a note of the ones that look nice from the street and are located in the neighborhoods where you might want to live.

You can look inside and around the houses that you like by attending open houses. These events are free, open to the public, and sponsored by the seller or the seller's real estate agent. If you attend an open house, the seller's agent may ask you to sign a registry. Do not sign anything. Your signature may obligate you to utilize the services of that agent if you decide to buy the house at some time.

At this stage, though, you are not ready to buy. You are simply doing research--you know, looking around . Walk in, walk through, and walk out. For now, just get a feel for what you like.