Summary: The Do’s and Don’ts of Property Search in Northern Virginia
- Identify wants vs. needs in a home.
- Know your budget and get mortgage pre-approval.
- Use filters during online property searches to narrow results.
- Don’t wait for the perfect home—compromise to a reasonable level where necessary.
- Work with a reliable real estate agent for guidance.
Is your plan to live in Northern Virginia for several years? Or do you want to put down roots that last a lifetime? Either way, choosing the right home is the single most important decision you’ll make.
For most people, their home is where they spend the most time out of any single location. It should be comfortable, safe, and suited to the needs of the people who live there. A home is a place to enjoy time with family and friends, raise children, relax, and, thanks to telecommuting, even work and build a career.
That means finding the right home is crucial. However, the property search process can feel overwhelming and confusing. Here’s our advice for making your property search in Reston, VA, and across Northern Virginia a little easier.
Know the Difference Between What You Want and What You Need in a Home
We all have certain things we want in an ideal home. Whether it’s a specific style of kitchen, a pool, a particular floorplan, or something else entirely, we all have our preferences.
There are also practical things that we need. If you have children or live with elderly relatives, you likely need a bedroom for each of them, along with you and your spouse. You might need to be in a specific school district, and if you don’t work from home, you’ll want a location that’s convenient for commuting.
Understanding the difference between wants and needs helps you narrow down your property search without making it too restrictive. So, sit down, think it through, and make two lists: What do you truly need in your new home, and what do you want?
This makes it easier to look up properties online and decide which ones you want to see in person. It also helps your real estate agent suggest properties that are the right fit for you and your family.
Know What You Can Afford in a Home
One of the easiest ways to narrow down your property search is to know your budget. Excluding homes that fall outside of your price range —whether too low or too high— reduces the number of listings you and your agent need to consider.
So, how much home can you afford? A mortgage calculator, like the one offered by Realtor.com, can help you estimate your monthly mortgage payments.
Mortgage pre-approval takes this process a step further. With pre-approval from a lender, you’ll know what you can afford, and you’ll show sellers that you’re serious about buying a home. In a fast-paced real estate market like Northern Virginia’s, mortgage pre-approval is a must.
For Online Property Searches: Use the Filters
At the beginning of your home-buying journey, you may want to browse all the properties available in a given ZIP code or town. There’s nothing wrong with casting a wide net early on.
However, when it’s time to really focus on finding the right home for you and your family, it’s best to narrow down your search. In our property search tool, you can set the price range and the number of bedrooms and bathrooms to refine your options.
Once you’ve entered that initial information and brought up the list of matching properties, you can refine your results even more. Just click on “Modify Search” at the top of the frame to adjust your criteria.
Don’t Hold Out for an Absolutely Perfect Home
We’ve already discussed the importance of distinguishing between what you want and what you need in a home for an easier property search process.
Here’s another key reason why that distinction is so important: An absolutely perfect property—one that checks off every box on your list—may not be available. A reasonable amount of compromise is often in hot real estate markets.
The good news is that when you purchase a home, it’s your property. You can—and should—make changes to transform it into your truly perfect home. Many of the things you want in a home can be addressed after the purchase. Just ensure that the homes you consider buying meet your needs.
Find a Real Estate Agent You Can Count On
Nikki Lagouros is committed to supporting buyers throughout the purchasing process in Northern Virginia, from the initial property searches to closing on a home. With experience in both real estate and construction, a focus on market data, and a friendly approach that aims to make buying a home stress-free, Nikki is here to help!