While your opinions on the type of home you want to own may change during the home buying process, use this easy checklist to help you prioritize and make the shopping process less time consuming.

How close do you need to be to: (a) public transportation _______ (b) schools _______ (c) airport _______ (d) expressway _______ (e) neighborhood shopping _______ (f) other_______?
What neighborhoods would you prefer?__________________________
What school systems do you want to be near?______________________
What architectural style(s) of homes do you prefer?__________________
Do you want a one-story or two-story house?______________________
How old a home would you consider?___________________________
How much repair or renovation would you be willing to do?____________
Do you have special facilities or needs that your home must meet?________
Do you require a fenced yard or other amenities for your pets___________

Prioritize each of these options into
Must have Would prefer

Yard (at least_______________
Garage (size________________
Patio/Deck Pool_____________
Bedrooms (number___________
Bathrooms (number__________
Family room_______________
Formal living room___________
Formal dining room___________
Eat-in kitchen_______________
Laundry room Basement________
Fireplace___________________
Spa in bath_________________
Air conditioning______________
Wall-to-wall carpet____________
Hardwood floors______________

Reprinted from REALTOR® Magazine Online by permission of the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®Copyright 2005. All rights reserved. www.REALTOR.org/realtor