Buying a House Has Changed

Five years ago, a buyer spent 3-4 weeks looking for a home and saw 15-20 homes. But, today, it is taking alot longer due to the increased inventory. So here is some advice on how to speed up the process:
Do enough looking to get to know our local market. Adjust your expectations - meaning be sure what you are looking for exists in our market.
Let your emotions help you. By only looking at price and condition, you may feel that a "better deal is out there" and keep on looking. However, it is the place where you and your family will be living. Bring the feelings into the decision. Is this a good place for us to ...raise our kids, etc.
Decide if a distressed property is really right for you. Foreclosures and short sales offer buyers great value when it comes to price per square foot, but they often have their own limitations. Foreclosures often have serious condition issues and are almost always sold "as is," meaning the seller will make no repairs. Then, you, the buyer, may need to carry out extensive repairs after the purchase. Short sales, generally with better conditions, can take months to close. And many times, the transactions fall apart because the lender, seller and buyer can't agree.
Don't focus too heavily on price. By price concentation, you may fail to consider the other benefits of buying - the tax deductions you'll get when you own rather than rent, the amazingly low interest rates now available and the benefits of living in a home and community that fit your family.
Be ready to negotiate. Make an offer that you are comfortable with. At worst the seller won't negotiate. But in this market, that is unlikely. Sellers do not want a viable buyer to walk away. In this market, the sellers have been doing the most compromising.
Don't let negative comments about the housing market scare you off. Don't lose sight of the many positives in the current market - the fact that home affordability is at its highest in decades and investors are flocking into the market to snap up bargains in all-cash purchases. Keep your eyes on the numbers that directly impact you - property prices, interest rates and how that translate into monthly payments.