You, along with the people who are assisting you, should spread the word that you are in the market for a house. Ask your friends and acquaintances to be on the lookout for a suitable house. Give as detailed a description as possible of your ideal home and neighborhood.

Walking or driving around in neighborhoods that you and your team have identified can be worthwhile. You may spot a "For Sale" sign on the perfect house. This is a particularly good way to find houses being sold by the owners.

Check bulletin boards in local restaurants, health clubs, places of worship, food co-ops, supermarkets, laundromats, barbershops, or hairdressers, or other places that are frequented by large numbers of community members. The Internet also has a large selection of real estate listings.

Check the real estate classified ads in your local newspapers daily for new listings. Often there are special weekly "pull-out" home real estate sections featuring homes in your area. "Open houses" are also announced in the real estate section. You can do some initial shopping and price comparison by spending weekend afternoons looking at houses being displayed by real estate sales professionals. If you are already working with a real estate sales professional and you attend an open house, make the person in charge aware of this. Weekly or monthly "Shoppers’ Guides" for people who are in the market for a house are usually free and can be found in supermarkets, laundromats, and on newsstands. Included in these "Shoppers’ Guides" will be homes being sold by owners choosing not to use a real estate sales professional.

Some buyers take advantage of foreclosure sales. A foreclosure results when a homeowner is unable to pay the mortgage. The lender takes the house back and resells it in order to recover the money it loaned. Often these homes are sold for a price that is lower than the market price would be. Contact specific lenders in your area to obtain a list of properties that have been foreclosed upon. In addition to bank foreclosures, there are a number of different government foreclosures which may be available. These include foreclosures by organizations such as the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), the Federal Housing Administration (FHA), Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), Rural Housing Service (RHS), the United States Marshall’s Office, and Fannie Mae. To obtain information about these foreclosures, contact the specific agency’s office in your area.

If a homeowner dies and there is no spouse or other family member who wants to live in the house, then the person’s estate may sell the house. Estate sales are typically advertised in the newspaper.

Local housing organizations may also be helpful as you search for a home. Contact the Housing Finance Agency and the Public Housing Authority in your area. They may have a lead on a particular house or they may have some helpful advice.

In many states, specific programs or groups have been established to help people with disabilities purchase their own homes. Many of these programs are affiliated with the National Home of Your Own Alliance, a technical assistance center that offers advice and training to a number of organizations around the country. In addition to providing direct assistance to people who want to purchase homes, these organizations may be able to make referrals to real estate brokers and housing counselors who are experienced in assisting with the unique issues discussed in this guide.

To learn more about these programs, contact the independent living center in your area or the state developmental disabilities council, usually located in the state capital. Further information can be obtained by contacting Fannie Mae HomePath Services at 1-800-7FANNIE (or 1-800-732-6643) or the National Home of Your Own Alliance at 1-800-220-8770.

Although the sources we mentioned above will get you started, perhaps the most effective way to shop for a house is to consult a real estate sales professional (referred to as an agent or broker). An agent can provide a vast array of services, including the following:

• help you determine how much you can afford to spend on a house;
• use your list of features for an ideal home, generate a computer printout of houses that meet your specifications;
• show you houses that meet your requirements;
• provide you with information about a community, including the prices and features of houses in the area, the location of schools, property tax rates, unusual building code regulations, and availability of community services;
• assist in locating foreclosures;
• present your offer to the seller; and
• advise you regarding mortgage lenders, real estate settlement agents, professional home inspectors, and title companies. (We will describe the roles of these people in greater detail later in this chapter.)

How do you select such a person, and what services can you expect? If you know someone who has recently bought a house, ask that person for a referral. Try to find an experienced agent or broker who works primarily in the locale in which you are interested. Be sure the person has access to a computerized multiple listing service (MLS). This is an electronic system that can generate a list of houses that match your requirements.

If specific accommodations, such as a portable ramp, are required in order for you to look at houses, be sure that the real estate agent knows exactly what you need before you begin to shop. If you and the agent are well prepared, it will save a lot of time and frustration for everyone.

The relationship between a home buyer and a real estate sales professional is unusual because you typically pay nothing for the agent’s services. Instead, an agent is paid by the seller and often represents the seller’s interest in the transaction. The agent’s fee, or commission, is usually a percentage of the selling price of the house.

In many areas of the country, it may be possible to find a real estate sales professional who will act as a buyer’s agent. This means the real estate professional will represent your interests. However, you must determine how such an agent will be paid. In some cases, the buyer is charged a commission by this agent. In another scenario, the buyer’s and the seller’s agents will split the commission paid by the seller when the house is sold.

Listed below are some tips for working successfully with a real estate sales professional:

• When serious about buying a house, it is definitely to your advantage to look at as many houses as possible. Be as specific as possible about what you’re looking for. By completing Worksheet 1, developing your list of qualities for an ideal house, and using the other suggestions in this chapter, you will make the best use of your time, your planning team, and the agent’s time.

• If you feel you are being "steered" by your agent to (or away from) particular neighborhoods, you should report the problem to the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), the agency in charge of enforcing the Fair Housing Act. The Fair Housing Act prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, religion, age, national origin, receipt of public assistance funds, sex, marital status, or disability. You may also want to file a complaint concerning the agent responsible with your local Board of Realtors as well as your local HUD field office.

Above all, you should feel comfortable with your real estate agent. If you do not feel that your needs are being met, you have the option of selecting another agent.

A recent survey showed that on average, home buyers look at 15 houses before choosing one. It is critical to have someone you trust accompany you when looking at houses. Most homeowners say that having another person with them was extremely helpful to sort out which home was best for them. A second person will look at each house based on their unique experiences. Because it will not be their home, they may be able to view houses more objectively.

Later on, as you begin to contrast houses that you have seen, it will be beneficial to have this person (or people) help you compare notes and remember details. Comparison shopping is a necessary part of the home-buying process; therefore, approach it objectively and consider these tips.

After you have looked at a number of houses, they may begin to blend together and become a blur in your mind. This is why it’s helpful to keep a record of each house you see. You want to be able to compare features and prices of all houses you have seen. Using a preprinted form such as Worksheet 2, "House evaluation checklist," can help you stay organized and remind you of details you will want to remember about each house.

Note your observations about the interior and exterior of each house, including your first impressions. Make sure that you are judging the house itself and not the seller’s taste in decorating or housekeeping habits. Taking pictures, especially if you have a camera which gives you instant photographs, may also be helpful for at-home comparisons.

Learn to look critically at every house. Rate houses based on your own needs. Ask yourself the following questions: Is this house located in your ideal neighborhood? Does it have most of the features of your ideal home? How close will you come to having your ideal assistance in this house? Don’t be afraid to ask questions of the agent and the owners. You should expect satisfactory, straightforward answers.

Start with what you can see from the outside: the size and age of the house, its general condition and outside upkeep, the lot size, and landscaping. Inside, you may want to make a drawing of the floor plan. How many rooms and baths are on each floor? Is there enough storage space? Is the basement finished? Are there built-in appliances? Is the kitchen designed to be a functional work space? Could it easily be made accessible? Is there central or room air conditioning? Does the basement flood or the roof leak? Are there obvious water stains on the ceilings or walls? Is the paint and/or wallpaper in good repair? Does the flooring appear to be in good shape? Flush the toilets and turn on the shower to see that they are in working order. Are the faucets dripping? Note whether there is evidence of pests, such as ant or mouse traps, or other poisons to kill insects.

Whether the house is new or old, both the quality of the building materials and the craftsmanship, as well as the condition, are important considerations. Is the house well insulated? Are the windows energy efficient? Is the house heated with electricity, oil, gas, or a heat pump? Electric heat and heat pumps can be much more expensive than oil or gas. Is the roof in good condition? Does the house appear to have been well maintained? Most home buyers will not be able to answer these questions themselves. A qualified home inspector will examine the house and give you a detailed report on the condition of the house.

Are the plumbing, heating and cooling, and electrical systems all in good working order? Or does the house need to be rewired and re-plumbed and a new furnace installed? What type of fuel is used for heating, and what is the approximate cost per month and year? How much do other monthly utilities cost?

The Multiple Listing Service (MLS) printout provided by the real estate sales professional will include the asking price. The MLS sheet will also include the following information that can be helpful to you if you decide to make an offer on the house:

• the age of the house;
• the number of rooms;
• the size of each room in square feet;
• the type of siding, windows, roof, foundation, wiring, plumbing, heating system;
• how water is supplied and the type of septic system;
• the amount of property tax;
• whether appliances are included;
• when the house will be available for occupancy;
• the size of the lot; and,
• what type of zoning governs the area.

The MLS sheet also includes a section for additional remarks. This may include any information that the sellers want to impart. This could include comments about the neighborhood, special features of the house or lot, newly installed appliances, or recent renovations.

After you’ve looked at a number of houses, you will begin to have an idea of homes available in various neighborhoods and which areas you prefer. The more houses you look at, the more knowledgeable you will become, and the better able you will be to tell whether the asking price is high or low.

When you find a house in your price range that you like, you will still want to proceed cautiously and calmly. No matter how perfect the house may seem, don’t make a decision without going back at least once to take a closer, more critical look at the house. Keep in mind that a lower-priced house may need major repair work. Be sure to have an inspector look it over.

It is a good idea to have others whose opinions you trust look at the house. These may be people from your planning group, your facilitator, or perhaps someone you know who has purchased one or two homes. You should also invite someone who is knowledgeable about construction to take a look at the house. Ask the members of your planning group whether they can recommend such a person.

Visit the neighborhood at different times on different days. Are weekday evenings as quiet as Sunday afternoons? Talk with your prospective neighbors. Although it may be tempting, don’t jump into an offer out of fear that another buyer will grab the house while you’re investigating. Never sign papers or put a deposit down on a house without careful consideration and discussion with your planning group.