Technology makes house-hunting easier than ever

It's no secret that recent economic troubles have caused something of a "buyer's market" when it comes to real estate in the U.S. With more than 27,000,000 homes for sale as of May 2010, house hunting can be an overwhelming proposition.

Tirelessly viewing home after home, worrying about carrying costs and future repairs, and trying to learn the ins and outs of a particular market are just a few issues home buyers may encounter. Despite the hurdles, looking for a new home can be a fun process. Follow these simple tips to take the headache and confusion out of your house-hunting endeavor:

Tip: Work with a real estate agent

Certified Realtors are invaluable when looking for a new home. They know the area, are familiar with what's on the market and can help home-buying novices avoid common pitfalls. If you're hunting in a relatively competitive housing market, a real estate agent is useful for brokering deals and helping you come up with a reasonable offer. Though typical agents charge an average of 6 percent of the home's selling price, some charge less for simple consulting. Often, home sellers will pay both fees as an incentive to get their properties sold.

Tip: Always take a checklist

With so many specifications - like the number of bathrooms, gas vs. electric and square footage requirements - it's easy to forget what's important to you when you actually enter a new home. The easiest way to relieve this stress is to make a checklist with all your conditions and take it with you as you house hunt. Print your list so you'll have an instant, tangible comparison sheet in your hands when your search is complete. This step may seem unnecessary, but will come in handy when you're trying to recall the first of dozens of homes you visit.

Tip: Utilize online resources

In the last 10 years, hundreds of sites have popped up that aggregate real estate data. Using these sites can help you find homes in your area that meet your price, space and location requests. You can even set up appointments to visit homes. Another technological advancement to utilize is high-speed wireless Internet, which is available in select locations through the 4G network. Take your laptop with you on long days spent viewing homes, then use your mobile Internet to compare what you've seen with what you previously found online. You might even find other homes in the area that you'd like to visit while you're perusing the real-estate search engines.

Tip: Get comfortable

Though it may seem obvious, many people neglect to wear comfortable shoes and clothing when out looking for homes. Days spent on the search can be long and tiring, so be sure to schedule some time for snacks and discussions about what you've seen. If you have children, arranging childcare for them rather than taking them with you is advisable. It's often difficult to stay focused on the property at hand when you're worried about the safety and whereabouts of your child. Being prepared will ensure that your house-hunting experience is fruitful rather than simply exhausting.

Courtesy of ARAcontent