help: house buying tips/tools

[LordSnailz]

I'm in the market of getting a new house, this is my first one so I'm really new to this ... right now I'm still trying to decide on an area ...

Is there some sort of tool out there that gives you a ranking of say, schools, crime rate, appearance, shopping, etc? Like put in a city and it will rank the various areas within that city based on some criteria? ...

I want to make sure I have decided on the area before I go out and get an agent and have him show me around ...

oh btw, this is northern cal, south bay ...


any help is appreciated!!

 

[rh71]

When I purchased a house in this county, there were county websites to reference this information... the Internet is grand... use it.

MSN Homes has demographical information as well... crime rates, schools, etc.

 

[ys]

Realtor.com

one more, MLSlistings

 

[vi edit]

http://list.realestate.yahoo.com/re/selling/

yahoo resources...look at neighborhood profiles on the left

 

[CPA]

After you find the neighborhood you want to live in and you want to buy a new home (not used), get a realtor that will pay you a percentage of the closing price. Try erealty.com or twopercent.com

 

[LordSnailz]

Originally posted by: rh71
When I purchased a house in this county, there were county websites to reference this information... the Internet is grand... use it.

I thought the internet was only limited to anandtech.com, you mean there's more? =) just wanted to get some feedback from recent homebuyers and the stuff they learned and sites they used ... beats reinventing the wheel ...

 

[LordSnailz]

Originally posted by: CPA
After you find the neighborhood you want to live in and you want to buy a new home (not used), get a realtor that will pay you a percentage of the closing price. Try erealty.com or twopercent.com

That was my plan at first, but new homes are way over my budget ... over 700k for a new home or I can commute for over an hr. for 500k houses ... looking for +40yr. $500k homes right now and 500k new townhomes ... it's sad, I'll be in an apt forever ...

 

[HomeBrewerDude]

You should check and see if your bank/credit union has any info on a first time home-buyers seminar...

Also, check to see if you qualify for any 1st-time home buyer programs....

Finally, interview 3-4 realitors b/f you pick one. Also, find a buyer's agent rather than a sellers agent.

 

[rh71]

Also check domania.com ... very useful for price / value checks and see what it was previously purchased for (if in range).

 

[ICantAffordIt]

If you're a teacher you can get super low rates in California... doubt if that helps you though...

I used MLS searching tool everyday for 2 months before we found our house.

I'd say the most important bit of advice I could give you based on my experience is to avoid Wells Fargo Home Morgtage like the plague.