Step 4: Search For Homes

Posted on January 20, 2011 by JA/LEX Real Estate in Shippensburg homes for sale Shippensburg real estate

Step 4: Search For Homes
Brought to you by: JALEX Real Estate Services

Hundreds of new and existing homes are sold in the Shippensburg area each year. There’s no shortage of housing options especially in today’s real estate market, but with so many choices the challenge becomes finding the Shippensburg area property which best meets your needs.

The Shippensburg area housing market is complicated because the stock of homes for sale is always in flux. If it were possible to have a complete list of every home for sale at this very moment in a given community, such a list would become obsolete within days as new Shippensburg homes become available and properties now for sale are put under contract or sold.

In effect, buyers are looking at a moving target in a marketplace that is never static. Because of this, it is important to know as much as possible about the choices in the market, and the way to do that is by working closely with a local Shippensburg area REALTOR® who has a good lay of the land.

What are you looking for?

A home is more than just a collection of bedrooms and bathrooms. Several properties — each with four bedrooms, three baths, and the same price — may well represent radically different designs, commuting distances, lot sizes, tax costs, interior dimensions, and exterior finishes.

Each of us is different and so it’s important to list the features and benefits you want in a home. Consider such things as pricing, location, size, amenities (extras such as a pool or extra-large kitchen) and design (one floor or two, colonial or modern, etc.).

Next, it’s important to consider your priorities. If you can’t get a home at your price with all the features you want, then what features are most important? For instance, would you trade fewer bedrooms for a larger kitchen? A longer commute for a bigger lot and lower cost?

Lastly, consider your needs in several years. If you’ll need a larger home, maybe now is the time to buy a bigger house rather than moving or expanding in the future. If you expect your income to increase, perhaps you should consider a more expensive home financed with a loan program where monthly payments increase in the future.

Where should you look?

All neighborhoods and communities have a special nature that gives them identity and value. One community may be well known for historic homes while another offers both suburban living as well as easy access to downtown office areas or the Interstate for commuters.

JALEXHOMES.COM offers hundreds of homes online throughout South Central, Pa. By any standard, it’s the largest source for property information, online in the Shippensburg area. You can look at homes to contact listing brokers, and you can also search JALEXHOMES.COM TO SEE OUR LOCAL Shippensburg listings for sale.

How do you find a house?

Some buyers like to search JALEXHOMES.COM by looking at listings on the basis of location or price; others prefer to have our professional Shippensburg area agents suggest properties; and many buyers prefer both approaches.

Regardless of your choice, it’s important to target your search. By using basic measures such as general location and affordability, you can refine your search and focus on homes that offer the most desirable features.

As a guide, you should maintain a file with information on each of the homes you like. You can print out listing pages from JALEXHOMES.COM and then make notes for each one — what you like, questions, etc.

JALEX Real Estate Services is starting Home Buyer seminars beginning this February 8th at our JALEX Home Buyer Education Center located at 128 East King Street, Shippensburg, Pa.  We are offering these seminars FREE of charge to the public from 6pm till 8pm.  Call 477-9326 to reserve your seat.