Places to Find Houses For Sale

Looking for a home can be fun. But it also can be exhausting. You may have to look at many homes before you find the one you want.

Narrow your search by determining the price, location and specific qualities you want. Tour as many houses as you need to find the one that makes you happy.

To find houses that meet your requirements:

• Check Real Estate Ads
  Friday and Sunday are the best days for finding real estate ads in newspapers. The ads -- placed by developers, homeowners and real estate agents -- usually are arranged by type of home and location. The information is limited, and the ad may not include a picture. But real estate ads are a good place to start if you don't know what you want or want to find several houses at once.
• Access the Multiple Listing Service
  The Multiple Listing Service (MLS), a database of homes for sale in a particular area, lets you search for homes quickly by location, type, amenities and price. Because the local Board of Realtors compiles the MLS, it contains only houses represented by agents, and only real estate agents can access the service.
• Pick a Neighborhood and Drive Through It
  If you know the neighborhood in which you want to buy, take a drive and look for for-sale signs. The MLS database excludes houses for sale by owner, and they may be difficult to identify in the newspaper.
• Talk to Friends
  Friends and co-workers may know owners who are considering selling or have a house on the market.
• Go to Open Houses
  Many sellers and agents conduct open houses on Saturday and Sunday. You can walk through an open house without setting up a formal tour with a real estate agent.

The home tour
Set up appointments with sellers or their agents once you've found houses to investigate. Take a drive around the neighborhood and note the condition of neighboring homes and the convenience to work, shopping and schools.

Feel free to ask questions when touring the home. The more information you can get during the tour, the better position you will be in when you make an offer and negotiate. Be prepared to make an offer soon after touring the house if you think it is a hot property. You're competing with other buyers for good deals, and a house in good condition at a reasonable price may go quickly in a seller's market. Some questions that can help you determine if a quick bid is wise:

• Time on the market. You may have more time to make an offer if the house has been on the market for a month or more.
• Price. A house priced lower than similar houses is likely to go quickly. A low price could also mean the house is in bad shape.
• Previous offers. Owners of popular houses often receive two or more offers. You may be able to make a better offer if the seller hasn't already accepted a bid.

Take your time if you believe a property isn't likely to sell quickly. Feel free to visit a house more than once to make sure it's the right one. Once you make an offer and it's accepted, you are legally bound to buy the house unless an unexpected problem arises, such as an unfavorable inspection or failure to secure financing.