806 West Montgomery St, Creston, Iowa

Looking for your dream home in a great neighborhood??  LOOK NO LONGER!! This gorgeous 3 bedroom, 2 bath home is boasting with beautiful woodwork from trim, doors to floors.  With 2 fireplaces, beautiful built in hutches and bookshelves, large family dining room that’s open to the kitchen. Basement large enough for your pool table and bar area to entertain. Finished attic for more storage space. A 1 car garage and small deck finish out this smaller low maintenance yard.

No one wants to miss out on their dream home. Even if your home purchase is a year away, you can jump-start the process. Here are some house hunting tips so you’re prepared when the right opportunity jumps at you.

Get pre-approved for a mortgage
Tracking every house you find online is exciting, but it can be disappointing if you don’t know your budget or the type of financing you can qualify for.

Start your house hunting by getting pre-approved for a mortgage. Being pre-approved gives you an idea of what a bank is willing to loan you, and it shows sellers that you are ready to commit. Remember, just because a lender approves you for a certain amount doesn’t mean you should spend that much on your house. See our guide on how to determine how much home you can afford.

A larger down payment can mean a lower monthly payment since you’re borrowing less, and it can give you an edge in highly competitive markets. In many cases, you can spend less than the recommended minimum 20 percent on a down payment if you pay for property mortgage insurance.

→ Home shopping? Learn how we make buying a house easier.

Know where you want to live
Your location determines which school your children attend, the length of your commute, how far you’ll travel to a grocery store, and possibly where you’ll socialize — in other words, where and how you’ll live your life.

Consider the type of neighborhood you want. Do you prefer a large gated community, a cozy area with tree-lined sidewalks for your daily jog, or grand acreage with no neighbors? a big space with a deck and a Epoxy Flooring system to entertain ? Think about the lifestyle you want. Do you want to be surrounded by nature or live near bars and restaurants? Are there bike lanes? Is there sufficient street lighting?

If you know someone who lives in a neighborhood you like, ask that person for insight. Check out websites like NeighborhoodScout and StreetAdvisor for stats and reviews by locals about their neighborhood.

Few houses or neighborhoods have everything — the perfect location, feel, community, schools, and pricing. But the earlier you start weighing pros and cons, the more time you’ll have to decide what is most important to you about your home’s location.

Bring your belongings and move right in!!