House hunting can be fun !

You and your family can explore new neighborhoods, visit many different kinds of homes, and compare features and lifestyles. Take your time. The more homes you see, the easier it will be to tell if the house you decide on is built well; if it has been taken care of, and how it compares to other houses in the same price range.

Exploring on Your Own
Read the newspaper real estate section. In most areas, Sunday is the best day to check the newspaper classified ads. The ads are designed to give you just enough information to get you interested. However, they usually leave out something important like the address or the price, so that you will call. If you are already working with a real estate agent, be sure to mention it when you call. If the listing agent tries to tell you that you can only buy the house through her, which is probably not true. Call your own agent right away.

Check real estate shopping guides
These booklets are often found in supermarkets and malls and in sidewalk boxes. They usually have pictures of the houses and are a good way to compare prices and features. Many local cable television stations have programs featuring homes for sale.

Visit open houses
When a house has an open house sign in front, it is an invitation to go in without an appointment and look around. The listing agent or the owner will be there to hand out information about the house and answer questions. If your agent is not with you, mention that you are already working with someone.

Visit new home subdivisions. Even if you don't think you can afford a new home, it's a good idea to check out all of the new construction in your area. With flags, balloons, and refreshments, new homes are fun places to visit. You can also learn how houses are built by looking at the ones that are under construction and begin to appreciate the value of landscaping when you see all those bare lots and figure the cost of grass seed, trees, shrubs, patios, and fences.

Look for foreclosed homes
When a borrower stops making mortgage payments for several months, the lender is sometimes forced to foreclose on the loan and sell the property to repay the money owed. Lenders call foreclosure homes real estate owed or REO. Lenders are anxious to sell houses because they cost a lot of money of to take care of. Often you can get a good deal if you buy from a lender. It may offer to give you a lower interest rate loan in order to sell a property more quickly.

Often REO property has been neglected and will need repair, so REO is often sold "as is." Be sure to make a property inspection a contingency of your offer. Some agencies, like HUD, require you to do all of your inspections before you make an offer.