Buying a home can be an overwhelming experience, and it starts with your initial search. These four sites can make that search easier and might save you money as well.
1. WalkScore.com can give you a feel for how much you might like a neighborhood and how much you can do there without getting in your car -- or if you don't drive. You simply enter a street address and the site rates the "walkability" of the area based on the proximity of things like schools, libraries, restaurants, parks and stores. There's also a ranked list of neighborhoods for the 40 largest cities in the U.S.
2. Foreclosure.com features state-by-state listings of foreclosed and preforeclosed homes available for sale. Listings come from foreclosing lenders, government agencies and corporate sellers. The site requires a paid membership to view full listings, but offers a free 7-day trial.
3. If you're buying a home, you're going to need a real estate agent, and Doorfly.com can have agents competing for your business -- and offering you money. Submit your criteria for your new home and Doorfly finds agents who are willing to give you a rebate from their commission fee in exchange for working with them. Doorfly also maintains a blog updated with news and tips for home buyers.
4. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development has posted a comprehensive guide to buying a home , from determining how much you can afford to pay to the signing of closing papers.
Back to top