Whether for work, for family or just for a change, you have made the decision to relocate to the Atlanta area. However, the task of finding homes for sale in metro Atlanta can be daunting at best — not because of the scarcity of homes, of course, but because of the vast number of options. And if you’ve never purchased real estate before, that piles on the stress and uncertainty of being a first-time homebuyer. How do you narrow the search so your house hunting does not turn into a needle-in-a-haystack scenario? Here are a few tips that may help.
Determine your maximum budget, or budget range
You can refine your search significantly simply by restricting your search to a specific budget range. If you have not gotten pre-qualified or pre-approved for a loan yet, talk to a mortgage broker to do so. Most MLS search engines will allow you to input a price range, so knowing how much home you can actually afford will make the selection easier to navigate. For even better results, choose a minimum price, as well.
Make a list (two of them, actually)
We typically recommend that home buyers create two parallel lists — a list of “must-haves” in a home and a “wish list” of things they would like, but could do without. The goal is to find a home that ticks most or all of the “must-haves,” and as many items as possible on your wish list, without exceeding your budget. Examples of must-haves might be a certain number of bedrooms/bathrooms, garage, enclosed backyard, etc. (Wish lists can be as diverse as your imagination allows.) The advanced search function on our website allows you to narrow the search by specific amenities. Try it and see what comes up!
Narrow it down to a few neighborhoods
Atlanta is a city of many neighborhoods, and each has its own unique character and sense of style. For example, some intown neighborhoods are quite attractive to artistic personalities; some are convenient for entrepreneurs and corporate up-and-comers, while others are great neighborhoods for families with children. Do a bit of research on the neighborhoods in metro Atlanta, and narrow your focus down to homes for sale within two to four promising neighborhoods. If you do not find what you are looking for, you can always expand the search outward from there. For a great starting point, check out our 2017 Atlanta Neighborhood Guide for New Homebuyers.
Hire an experienced agent
Of course, your best ally for finding the best homes for sale in metro Atlanta will be a local real estate agent with plenty of neighborhood insider experience. At Atlanta Fine Homes Sotheby’s International Realty, our agents are highly knowledgeable of the Atlanta market and can provide plenty of insight to help you find your perfect Atlanta home. To learn more, call us today at 404.237.5000.