Reynolds Bickerstaff Four Free Home Buying Resources
After years of saving, planning and researching, you’re finally ready to take the next step and purchase a home.
From years of experience, we at Waddell Realty know the importance of research and arming yourself with as much information as possible about the purchasing process.
You’ve heard the saying that knowledge is power. And while that’s still the case, we’ll add to this saying as it pertains to real estate and say that accurate knowledge is power.
We’ve compiled four of the best free resources that will make your home buying experience simpler, more efficient, and help guide you along the journey of finding a home you will love living in.
- REALTOR.COM VS. REDFIN VS. ZILLOW
Realtor.com, Redfin, and Zillow are websites that allow you to search available home listings for free. Each site boasts hundreds of thousands of for sale homes, with the ability to narrow down your search based on your specific needs like zip code, price, and square feet.
Whether you use Realtor.com, Redfin, and Zillow is your personal preference. Its important to identify a general area of where you want to look for a home, and determine the average cost of those homes.
The three resources also come in the form of smartphone apps, making them easy to access when you’re on the go. Realtor.com has the most accurate information, as their data directly feeds from REALTORS. It’s our source choice.
- AroundMe
A home buying resource is only as good as your ability to access it wherever you are. This makes smartphone apps an essential part of your search.
Have you ever fallen in love with a home, and wondered what kind of bars, coffee shops, restaurants, or grocery stores are around the area?
AroundMe, available for both iOS and Android, is an app that lists businesses and other attractions either near your current location, or wherever you choose. This can come in handy to determine if a home fits your lifestyle.
- ONLINE MORTGAGE CALCULATOR
Online mortgage calculators are a quick and easy way to see if your dream home fits within your budget.
There’s a bevy of online mortgage calculators that’ll do the trick – from Bankrate to Guaranty Mortgage to Mortgage Calculator. Punch in information like home value, the loan amount and terms, and interest rate to get a ballpark determination on your mortgage.
- REALTYTIMES.COM
Realtytimes.com is a fantastic resource for buyers and sellers to keep up with the real estate times. From news bites to advice from professional real estate agents, the site is a one-stop shop for your housing news.
Their market outlooks come in handy in determining when to purchase to a home. This website can literally save you money.
Do you use or have questions about an app or website not listed here? If so, I love to hear from you.