House Hunting in New Jersey: 5 Tips for Getting Started
- In FAQs / New Jersey / Real Estate
Whether you’re a longtime NJ resident or you’re new to the state, it can be overwhelming to start your house-hunting process.
Tips for House Hunting in New Jersey
Some things that you’ll want to do before you start your house hunt include:
- Get a clear picture of your finances, so you know how much house you can afford (figure out what are your monthly payments including your potential mortgage, HOA fees, and other carrying costs).
- Assemble your team: identify your real estate agent and your attorney (in states like NJ and NY, an attorney is essential to your real estate sales and purchases).
- Get to know the market and how fast properties go, especially in the communities you’re interested in. Each town may have different market dynamics, with more competition or more relaxed marketplaces.
- Develop a sense of your own tastes: what types of homes do you like? Ranch style, condos, Victorians, new construction? What will you prioritize? School districts, parks and green spaces, access to transit?
- Visit lots of properties and start to make your short list!
Where to research homes in New Jersey
To get you started, here are a few websites that we like to use to understand what’s on the market:
- Realtor.com: Get to know the towns and set up searches for properties on the market with the official website of the National Association of Realtors.
- Zillow.com: Want to understand not only currently available properties but also the property values and histories of nearby properties? Zillow is a useful tool for people who like to dig in.
- StreetEasy.com: If you’re specifically trying to purchase in the environs of NYC (including Hoboken, Jersey City, Bayonne, Union City, etc.), be sure to check out StreetEasy, which includes useful articles and forums, in addition to listing functionality.
- Niche.com: Want to explore different townships and their features? Check out Niche.com for more information about communities, read reviews of residents, and explore what they have to offer.
Once you’ve made an offer on your future home, you’ll want to reach out to an experienced attorney to help shepherd you through the final stages from contract to closing.
With more than 30 years of experience, Law Offices of Fong Joe Hou has helped thousands of people purchase and sell their homes and other properties. Ready to discuss your real estate transaction? Reach out to us by clicking here.