Technology Tools That Can Help Michigan Homebuyers
Technology has truly come a long way and has significantly changed the home buying experience. Today, instead of your real estate agent driving you to different properties, all you need is a handheld device and an internet connection and you can view hundreds of properties.
In addition to apps and websites that provide real estate listings, there are a some other technology tools to help you find the right home. Keep reading to learn how you can put these tools to use when shopping for a home.
Google Maps
Google Maps is service that provides geographical information about places all around the world. More than likely you have used Google Maps to find directions to your travel destination. But did you know you can use it to help you hunt for homes? You can use this tool in several different ways.
For example, type in your desired home’s address and calculate the distance to your place of work, schools, airport, shopping and more. This can help you get a better idea of daily commutes.
You can also use what is called the street view feature in Google Maps to see the property as if you were actually driving through the neighborhoods. This can really save you time as you can get a good feel for the community before you actually drive to the location.
Local Property Search Tools
Property records can be a valuable tool in your arsenal when you are making an offer on a house as you will have a better understanding of a seller’s position in the market.
Most counties and cities have property records available online allowing you to view recent sales of the property and the assessed value all from your couch. No more driving to a courthouse and paging through property records.
School District Rating Sites
If you are a buyer with school-age children, the school district will typically have a big impact on where you buy a home. You want your children to attend schools that are safe and provide means for their enrichment. You could drive to the schools in person. But before you make the drive, you may want to check out online rating sites such as greatschools.org before you even leave the house.
Digital Camera or Smartphone
If you are actively looking for a house, you are may be viewing several homes just in one day making it easy to confuse the different properties. Try taking pictures of the homes with a digital camera or your smartphone. You will want to take photos of both features you like and potential concerns.
If you are searching online instead of going to open houses and viewings, you can use the same note taking approach by taking advantage of Pinterest. Pinterest is a website that allows you to save or “pin” items of interest online and organize them.
Mortgage Calculator Websites
If you are shopping for a home, you are more than likely going to need to finance it. There are plenty of online mortgage calculators that can determine your monthly payment, including homeowners insurance and PMI. Most calculators will allow you to enter in your income and debt to determine what price you can afford.
Buying a Home? Looking for a Michigan Mortgage Expert?
We hope this article helped you learn more about the technology tools that are available to assist you with the home buying process. If you have any other questions about mortgage lending, Julie Krumholz is a Michigan mortgage expert with over 30 years in the mortgage industry. Contact Julie from Superior National bank today at: 586-382-5482.
