Heather Neuner

The total number of properties you may look at will depend on several factors, such as your budget and the housing availability in your area. In general, real estate agents recommend that homebuyers look at several properties before making a decision, but there is not an exact number. Most people look at 10 homes, at a minimum, so they can compare them. However, you may find the dream house with more or fewer searches.

When it comes to the best home buying tips, there are different ways to search for properties. Statistics from the National Association of REALTORS® reveal that 51 percent of buyers searched and found their homes on the internet, while 30 percent used real estate agents. Other ways to search for homes include asking friends, relatives, neighbors and homebuilders for help. A small percentage of homebuyers used newspaper advertisements and yard or open house signs to search for homes.

Although a pre-approval is not one of the required steps to buying a house, it can certainly help you stand out in a competitive market with many buyers. A pre-approval can show sellers that you’re serious and capable of getting a mortgage, so they may be more likely to accept your offer.