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Finding your home

Start here if you're touring homes, working with an agent, or ready to take the next step

The neighborhood sold me, not just the house

Learn how to find a home within your budget, evaluate properties with confidence, and choose a neighborhood that fits your lifestyle and goals.

Here's what this page covers:

  • Finding homes within your budget
  • Evaluating a house
  • Choosing a neighborhood
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Let your budget lead your search

Now that you know you’re ready to buy and have a budget in mind, it’s time to find a home that’s right for you. Search homes for sale, and filter by price, neighborhood, school ratings, and more.

Search homes

Our advice: Take a real estate agent along for the ride

The right agent is more than a guide. They can help you spot potential issues, uncover opportunities, and move through the homebuying process with less stress and greater confidence.
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Where you live shapes how you live

Home shopping tips

When touring a home, it’s easy to get distracted by charm and beauty. Our checklist keeps your focus on what matters most.

Home tour essentials:

  • Test faucets and outlets
  • Look for cracks in ceilings and walls
  • Water stains
  • Signs of mold
  • Peek in the attic or basement
  • Check doors and windows
  • Roof condition
Good signs in a neighborhood

Spend a day like you already live there. Run some errands. Walk around at sunset. Sit at a coffee shop and people-watch.

Some other things to look for when you visit:

  • Commute times
  • Access to groceries
  • Schools
  • Future economic possibilities
  • Distance to healthcare
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Evaluate a house like a pro

Here’s what you should keep in mind to confidently evaluate a potential home

Inspection

Home inspections can help you understand the condition of a home before you buy. Keep in mind that most homes, especially older ones, will have some issues. Work with your real estate agent to review the inspection report and determine which findings are significant and which are typical maintenance items. Focus on issues that could affect safety, major systems, or future repair costs, rather than expecting a perfect report.

Appraisal

A home appraisal is an independent estimate of a home's market value. During the mortgage process, lenders use an appraisal to help confirm that the home's value supports the loan amount. If the home appraises at or above the purchase price, the transaction can typically move forward as planned. If the appraisal comes in lower than the purchase price, you may need to renegotiate with the seller, increase your down payment, or explore other options with your lender.

How do an appraisal and inspection differ?
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You're not doing this alone

We're here for you with answers, tools, and a team of people who've got your back at every turn.

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Puzzled by the process?

Attend our events

Join other first-time homebuyers at an event near you.

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Ready to continue your journey? Here's what's up next:

Buying your home

From offer to keys, this guide walks homebuyers through every step of the home stretch, helping make the final stages of buying a home feel clear, manageable, and within reach.
Learn more

Other steps

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