Starting your search for a new home can feel overwhelming. As a buyer, it is important to first determine what you need and then want in a home. Here are some free checklists that can help you decide what you want in a home. But, once you know what you want, where do you go to find it?

According to the 2021 NAR Home Buyer and Seller Generational Trends report, here are the top five places buyers go to find a home.

  1. The Internet Fifty one percent of buyers use the internet to find the home they purchased. It’s a great way to see all the homes that are available in the area you are searching. With pictures and videos of the home, it is an easy way to narrow down your search and determine what homes you want to see in person. Keep in mind that the photos and videos you see online are not going to show you what is around the home. Sometimes, buyers will find a gorgeous home, but it is on a busy street not suitable for young children who want to run and play outside, so viewing homes in person is the only true way you can get a feel for the neighborhood.
  2. Real estate agent Twenty eight percent of buyers found their home through a real estate agent. This means that an agent suggested a home the buyers hadn’t considered or knew of a new listing that fit the needs of the buyers. When touring homes with a Realtor® don’t be afraid to be clear and concise when discussing what you like and don’t like in a home. This helps your Realtor® understand exactly what you want.
  3. Yard or open house While most people find their home through the internet or their agent, seven percent found one through a yard sign or open house. Perhaps while driving through a neighborhood, the buyer spotted the perfect house for them or while going to an open house.
  4. Friend, relative, or neighbors Sometimes, in this case six percent, of buyers found their home through someone they knew. Maybe, a relative sold their home to the buyer or a friend told them of a home that was for sale. In either case, that friend or relative definitely has earned an invite to the next Thanksgiving dinner.
  5. Home builder For some buyers, building their own home is a way to get everything they want in it. In this case, meeting and working with a home builder and the builder’s agent is a way to find their home.

No matter how you found your home, it is important to have a great Realtor® working for you. Your Realtor® will help you navigate the entire home buying process ensuring that the home you found is the one you are able to purchase. Interested in working with such an agent? Contact me, Sean Jones, at 540-360-5166 to start your home search.