In today's high tech world, finding your dream home has never been easier. Between 360 degree virtual tours and online search tools, it's possible to find your dream home without ever leaving your home. And online tools and apps are even available to help you finance it without ever setting foot in a bank! Here are four ways modern tech can help you find your dream home.

1.) Broaden your search area

There was a time when the only way to find a home was to get in a car and drive around from house to house looking at homes. Unless buyers wanted to spend a month or more looking at homes, it was in their best interest to narrow their search to a very specific neighborhood. Today, however, buyers can go online and look at thousands of homes in numerous neighborhoods on websites like Zillow.com and others. They might find a home that is just beyond a neighborhood they might have previously narrowed their search to or one in an entirely different, but still acceptable location.

2.) Get immediate mortgage information

When it comes to buying a home, there are a huge number of variables that determine what you can afford and what you can't, such as down payment, mortgage rate and points. With a good online mortgage calculator you can punch in a few numbers to get a full financial picture of what the house you want will cost, as well as the ability to check with a few variables - like what kind of difference adding as little as $50 a month to your mortgage payment would make.

3.) Get the 411 on the neighborhood

It used to be that if you really wanted to know about a neighborhood, you had to talk to the neighbors. Now with apps like Safe Neighborhood and Around Me, you can find out everything you need to know about a neighborhood right from your home or smart phone.

4.) Instant communication with your real estate agent

When premium houses at a good price come on the market, they move fast. Modern tech allows you to keep in constant touch with real estate agents like Cudd Realty. From text messages to instant messaging to e-mails to phone calls, you can share listings and keep in regular communication throughout the course of your home search.

It has never been easier to find the home of your dreams. Online tools and apps abound that can help home buyers find the right home without ever leaving their own home. Even people that are not yet ready to buy a home can benefit from online tools available. It's never too early to start dreaming!

 

About the Author: Lizzie Weakley is a freelance writer from Columbus, Ohio. She went to college at The Ohio State University where she studied communications. In her free time, she enjoys the outdoors and long walks in the park with her 3-year-old husky Snowball. The information in this article is credited to Cudd Realty.