very different home search experiences to prove that getting to homeownership does not follow a one-way path. Her first example is Becky Davis and her husband, who checked out just one home — yes, only one — before making an offer and then purchasing it. This isn’t standard, but it does happen. How do these buyers know that something better isn’t out there?
Davis says the secret was doing a thorough vetting job online.
She’s quoted as saying, “In reality we searched for about three years. We would first search the listings and find things in our price range, and that met our requirements. Then we would do extensive research online about the place like the taxes, and check out Google Earth to see how the home was situated in relation to the neighbors. Then, if we still liked what we saw, we’d compile a list and do a drive-by.” They came prepared; it wasn’t as if something magical happened and they randomly found the house of their dreams. They did some online grunt work first. This led to them cruising by a house for sale in Fremont, NY, after doing their research on the property, which led to them taking a look inside, which led to them contacting the real estate agent, which ultimately led to an offer and purchase. “Doing thorough research online can really help you narrow your options — and save you time and effort,” writes Sager. Other buyers need — or want — to look at a lot more homes before they find “the one,” and sometimes this process can take not only months, but years. Such was the case with Steven Eliades, as reported by Sager on Realtor.com. “I looked at houses for years. You name it, I looked
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