{"id":230,"date":"2012-01-17T18:08:21","date_gmt":"2012-01-17T18:08:21","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/riverbankfinance.com\/blog\/?p=230"},"modified":"2012-12-10T17:46:52","modified_gmt":"2012-12-10T17:46:52","slug":"finding-the-right-home-for-you","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/riverbankfinance.com\/blog\/finding-the-right-home-for-you\/","title":{"rendered":"Finding the Right Home for You"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><a href=\"https:\/\/riverbankfinance.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/01\/Selecting-Your-Home.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-231 alignleft\" src=\"https:\/\/riverbankfinance.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/01\/Selecting-Your-Home-300x300.png\" alt=\"Finding the Right Home for Your and Your family.\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/riverbankfinance.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/01\/Selecting-Your-Home-300x300.png 300w, https:\/\/riverbankfinance.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/01\/Selecting-Your-Home-150x150.png 150w, https:\/\/riverbankfinance.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/01\/Selecting-Your-Home.png 500w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a>In the last article of our series for homebuyers we went over how to establish an actual dollar amount of what type of home you can not only afford, but will fit into your monthly budget.\u00a0 This is possibly the most difficult part for first-time homebuyers though. \u00a0Attempting to select one home out a list of hundreds to even thousands of homes found in your local area can be extremely difficult. \u00a0How do you select the right one? \u00a0Is it a big enough property to meet your needs? \u00a0How badly do you want an attached garage? \u00a0As well, how safe is the neighborhood and the surrounding area?\u00a0 Now I wish we could easily answer all of these questions that come up when selecting a home.\u00a0 Everyone has his or her own sense of taste though. \u00a0\u00a0What we can do though is supply you with the tools to accurately narrow down your home selection.<\/p>\n<p>We operate directly out of Grand Rapids, Michigan.\u00a0 So let\u2019s begin with a website local Michiganders can benefit from.\u00a0 A great website to begin your search with is that belonging to the <em><a title=\"Grand Rapids Association of Realtors\" href=\"http:\/\/www.grar.com\/\" target=\"_blank\">Grand Rapids Association of Realtors<\/a><\/em>.\u00a0 The site allows for local realtors to post their listings on the site along with their scheduled open houses.\u00a0 Many first-time buyers are looking to establish a family, which is why the site is great for selecting a home within specific school districts.<\/p>\n<p>If you\u2019re looking for a general idea of the home listings available in a given area, we have a great <a title=\"Home Search Tool\" href=\"http:\/\/riverbankfinance.com\/real-estate\/\" target=\"_blank\">home search tool<\/a> right here on our site that can help you quickly search the entire area for known listings.<\/p>\n<p>Maybe you\u2019re looking to go the route of foreclosed homes?\u00a0 A great recommendation would be <em><a title=\"HUD Homes\" href=\"https:\/\/hudhomestore.secureportalk.net\/HUD\/PropertySearchResult.aspx?sState=MI\" target=\"_blank\">HUD Homes<\/a><\/em>, which will give you a listing of all government owned properties currently available on the market.<\/p>\n<p>Many of the home-based loans people have acquired are generally run through <em>Fannie Mae<\/em>. \u00a0So you also have the option to head on over to their <em><a title=\"Fannie Mae Homes\" href=\"http:\/\/www.homepath.com\/\" target=\"_blank\">HomePath<\/a><\/em> website which will give you a complete listing of the homes <em>Fannie Mae<\/em> currently has in their possession.<\/p>\n<p>Whatever type of home you are looking for there are tons of resources online that you can use to do your home buying research.\u00a0 Before you start it would be a good idea to write two lists. \u00a0One list would include the home factors that you NEED and the other list would have home features that you WANT but could live without. \u00a0Compare each home that you find online to your list to see if it is the right home for you.<\/p>\n<h2>Need help finding a home?<\/h2>\n\n<div class=\"wpcf7 no-js\" id=\"wpcf7-f185-o1\" lang=\"en-US\" dir=\"ltr\" data-wpcf7-id=\"185\">\n<div class=\"screen-reader-response\"><p role=\"status\" aria-live=\"polite\" aria-atomic=\"true\"><\/p> <ul><\/ul><\/div>\n<form action=\"\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/230#wpcf7-f185-o1\" method=\"post\" class=\"wpcf7-form init\" aria-label=\"Contact form\" novalidate=\"novalidate\" data-status=\"init\">\n<fieldset class=\"hidden-fields-container\"><input type=\"hidden\" name=\"_wpcf7\" value=\"185\" \/><input type=\"hidden\" name=\"_wpcf7_version\" value=\"6.1.5\" \/><input type=\"hidden\" name=\"_wpcf7_locale\" value=\"en_US\" \/><input type=\"hidden\" name=\"_wpcf7_unit_tag\" value=\"wpcf7-f185-o1\" \/><input type=\"hidden\" name=\"_wpcf7_container_post\" value=\"0\" \/><input type=\"hidden\" name=\"_wpcf7_posted_data_hash\" value=\"\" \/><input type=\"hidden\" name=\"_wpcf7_recaptcha_response\" value=\"\" \/>\n<\/fieldset>\n<div class=\"ApplyFullHeader\" id=\"apply_form\">\n\t<p class=\"replaceheader\">Request Information Now!\n\t<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"blueBox\">\n\t<p><span class=\"wpcf7-form-control-wrap\" data-name=\"your-name\"><input size=\"40\" maxlength=\"400\" class=\"wpcf7-form-control wpcf7-text wpcf7-validates-as-required\" aria-required=\"true\" aria-invalid=\"false\" placeholder=\"Your Name (required)\" value=\"\" type=\"text\" name=\"your-name\" \/><\/span>\n\t<\/p>\n\t<p><span class=\"wpcf7-form-control-wrap\" data-name=\"your-email\"><input size=\"40\" maxlength=\"400\" class=\"wpcf7-form-control wpcf7-email wpcf7-validates-as-required wpcf7-text wpcf7-validates-as-email\" aria-required=\"true\" aria-invalid=\"false\" placeholder=\"Your Email (required)\" value=\"\" type=\"email\" name=\"your-email\" \/><\/span>\n\t<\/p>\n\t<p><span class=\"wpcf7-form-control-wrap\" data-name=\"your-phone\"><input size=\"40\" maxlength=\"400\" class=\"wpcf7-form-control wpcf7-text wpcf7-validates-as-required\" aria-required=\"true\" aria-invalid=\"false\" placeholder=\"Phone:\" value=\"\" type=\"text\" name=\"your-phone\" \/><\/span>\n\t<\/p>\n\t<p><span class=\"wpcf7-form-control-wrap\" data-name=\"your-goal\"><select class=\"wpcf7-form-control wpcf7-select\" aria-invalid=\"false\" name=\"your-goal\"><option value=\"Purchase\">Purchase<\/option><option value=\"Refinance\">Refinance<\/option><option value=\"Cash Out\">Cash Out<\/option><option value=\"More Information\">More Information<\/option><\/select><\/span>\n\t<\/p>\n\t<p><span class=\"wpcf7-form-control-wrap\" data-name=\"your-message\"><textarea cols=\"40\" rows=\"10\" maxlength=\"2000\" class=\"wpcf7-form-control wpcf7-textarea\" aria-invalid=\"false\" placeholder=\"Your Message:\" name=\"your-message\"><\/textarea><\/span>\n\t<\/p>\n\t<p><span class=\"wpcf7-form-control-wrap\" data-name=\"referer-page\"><input size=\"40\" maxlength=\"400\" class=\"wpcf7-form-control wpcf7-text referer-page\" aria-invalid=\"false\" value=\"\" type=\"text\" name=\"referer-page\" \/><\/span><br \/>\n\t\n\t<\/p>\n\t<p><input class=\"wpcf7-form-control wpcf7-submit has-spinner submit\" type=\"submit\" value=\"Submit Now!\" \/>\n\t<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"text-align: justify; color:#666666;font-size: small;\">\n\t<p>By clicking \"Submit Now!\", you consent to receive calls and texts at the number you provided, including marketing by autodialer and prerecorded and artificial voice, and email, from Riverbank Finance LLC about your inquiry and other home-related matters, but not as a condition of any purchase; this applies regardless of whether you check, or leave un-checked, any box above. You also agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use regarding the information relating to you. Msg\/data rates may apply. This consent applies even if you are on a corporate, state or national Do Not Call list. This no obligation inquiry does not constitute a mortgage application. To apply now or get immediate assistance, call us at 1-800-555-2098.\n\t<\/p>\n<\/div><p style=\"display: none !important;\" class=\"akismet-fields-container\" data-prefix=\"_wpcf7_ak_\"><label>&#916;<textarea name=\"_wpcf7_ak_hp_textarea\" cols=\"45\" rows=\"8\" maxlength=\"100\"><\/textarea><\/label><input type=\"hidden\" id=\"ak_js_1\" name=\"_wpcf7_ak_js\" value=\"13\"\/><script>document.getElementById( \"ak_js_1\" ).setAttribute( \"value\", ( new Date() ).getTime() );<\/script><\/p><div class=\"wpcf7-response-output\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/div>\n<\/form>\n<\/div>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>In the last article of our series for homebuyers we went over how to establish an actual dollar amount of what type of home you can not only afford, but will fit into your monthly budget.\u00a0 This is possibly the most difficult part for first-time homebuyers though. \u00a0Attempting to select one home out a list<a class=\"excerpt-read-more\" href=\"https:\/\/riverbankfinance.com\/blog\/finding-the-right-home-for-you\/\" title=\"ReadFinding the Right Home for You\">&#8230; Read more &raquo;<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[301,70,1],"tags":[81,78,80,82,79,83],"class_list":["post-230","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-buying-a-home","category-first-time-home-buyer","category-local-michigan","tag-foreclosed-homes","tag-home-search-sites","tag-home-value-search","tag-hud-home-search","tag-new-home-search","tag-real-estate-listings"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/riverbankfinance.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/230","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/riverbankfinance.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/riverbankfinance.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/riverbankfinance.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/riverbankfinance.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=230"}],"version-history":[{"count":8,"href":"https:\/\/riverbankfinance.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/230\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":650,"href":"https:\/\/riverbankfinance.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/230\/revisions\/650"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/riverbankfinance.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=230"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/riverbankfinance.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=230"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/riverbankfinance.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=230"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}