The Search

Finding your dream home is an exciting adventure that, at times, can also feel all-consuming. On a good day, it’s fun to swipe through listings and whiz through every open house in your area, but after umpteen hours of it—and perhaps a lost bidding war or two—it can almost drive you mad.

If you sometimes feel like you’re spinning your wheels and wandering aimlessly from property to property, we get it. House hunt burnout is real. Yet there are also plenty of smart ways to keep your stress levels and sanity on even keel.

Get pre-approved for a mortgage before you even start

Do not think about buying, do not even look at online listings until you have your mortgage pre-approval lined up.

That’s because the pre-approval letter will detail the maximum mortgage loan you’re approved for, or your instant housing budget!

Home in on the neighborhood

Find an area that meets your criteria for amenities, commute, school district, etc., and then spend a weekend exploring before you commit.

Once you’ve taken a test drive and selected a neighborhood that you know is the one, home in on listings in that specific ZIP code. This allows you to shut out a lot of the noise that can make you crazy with options.