How to Find Your Dream Home

Are you ready to begin searching for your dream home? Whether you’re a first-time homebuyer or moving from your existing home to something that better fits your needs today, these four steps will help you kick off and simplify your home buying process.



1. Set a realistic and meaningful budget

Before you begin your house hunt, you should establish a realistic budget. It can be hard to guess how far your money will go, especially due to recent inflation and rising mortgage rates. You need to account for the closing costs of the property, taxes and other costs associated with a new home.

 

A mortgage lender can help you realistically assess your budget during the pre-approval process. A mortgage pre-approval, which is in effect for two or three months, states that you are qualified to borrow a certain amount from the bank under specific terms. 

Smiling couple sitting in a drawn room

When you’re pre-approved for a mortgage, you’ll have a clearer picture of what you can afford to spend on a home. Then, you can limit your search to homes in your budget. It will also make you a better candidate after you’ve made an offer on a home, if you find yourself in a multiple-offer situation.


In order to get pre-approved, you’ll need to bring information about your income and assets to a lender. They will also check your credit score, and ask about how much you have saved for a down payment. Then, they’ll let you know the loan you can expect. A pre-approval is not binding, so feel free to talk to a few different mortgage lenders and compare terms.



The pre-approval process may seem like a lot of stressful paperwork when all you want to do is get out and see some houses, but it will set you up for success in your home search.

Don't forget!

If you’re moving from an apartment to a house your utility bills will likely increase, since you’ll be heating, cooling and lighting a larger space. If you have been renting, these costs, as well as your water bill, may have been included in your monthly rent. Be sure to include estimates of utility costs into your calculations when you determine how much you can spend on your new home. You’ll also want to factor in moving costs, needed renovations or repairs, set-up fees for Internet and TV service and costs associated with taking care of the exterior of the property.

2. Figure out your must-haves and deal-breakers


When you first start thinking about the home you want, it’s easy to dream big. When you begin listing all the things you’re looking for, your home may require a spacious guest bedroom, a finished basement, a kitchen with the latest features and a massive landscaped yard. And if you’re house hunting as part of a family, everyone may have their own priorities.


But try taking a step back — which elements are most important to you, and which are things you want to have but could live without? Maybe you can redo the kitchen once you move in, or you’d trade that yard for proximity to a beautiful public park.


Now, make sure you know what aspects of a home are absolute dealbreakers. If you’ve lived next to a noisy highway for years and already know you won’t do it again, don’t even bother putting homes that fit that description on your tour list.



To ensure you have a reasonable set of must-haves and deal-breakers, take everything you’ve listed from your dream home brainstorm and rank them in order of importance. Then, you’ll know your priorities when you begin touring homes and can find the house that fits your needs.

3. Consider your neighborhood options


Before you start looking at individual homes, take some time to get to know the neighborhoods you’re considering. If your circumstances allow, take a day trip to each area you’re most interested in. Don’t just stay in your car — get out and take a walk around. Figure out where you’d likely go for groceries, shopping or a meal out, and get a sense of what the trip is like. If you are moving with kids or intend to have them in your new home, do some research on the schools and on nearby places they can go for sports, arts or other after-school activities.


You don’t want to limit your options too tightly at this stage, but getting a sense of different neighborhoods you may consider may help you hone your priorities. Look back at your list of must-haves and deal-breakers to determine whether a neighborhood is the right fit for you and your family. Knowing what you like about one area or another will help your REALTOR® recommend additional places to broaden your search if needed.

4. Work with a Mainstreet REALTOR®


As you start your house hunt process, you’ll soon realize it’s a lot to manage on your own, especially if you’re moving to a new area. A Mainstreet REALTOR® can help you gain access to any of the homes for sale that match your needs, provide guidance throughout the buying process and serve as your advocate in negotiations. Whether you want to buy a new home, buy a vacation home, or find a luxury house for sale, you'll want a Mainstreet REALTOR® by your side.


When looking for a real estate professional to help you find your dream home, be sure you choose a Mainstreet REALTOR®. Anyone with a real estate license can be a real estate agent, but Mainstreet REALTORS® are held to higher standards. They follow a strict Code of Ethics set by the National Association of REALTORS®. This code protects homebuyers and sellers by guiding how REALTORS® represent their clients in every step of the process, ensuring all parties are treated fairly and with respect.


In addition to meeting this higher standard, your Mainstreet REALTOR® can contribute:


Local Expertise

Mainstreet REALTORS® work locally, and bring firsthand knowledge of the market to your home search. Sure, anyone can research home listings online, but a local Mainstreet REALTOR® will bring years of experience in a given neighborhood to help you find homes that fit your criteria. They can advise you on the best time to start looking based on the local market, and what to consider when you make an offer.


Data

Mainstreet REALTORS® have access to the Multiple Listing Service, which provides the most accurate and up-to-date information on homes in your area. With it, your Mainstreet REALTOR® can find you homes that fit your needs and help you negotiate throughout the buying process.


Specialized Training

Depending on your needs, you may want to work with a Mainstreet REALTOR® with a certain specialty. Through Associations like Mainstreet REALTORS®, REALTORS® have access to continuing education opportunities in real estate. Many become certified in specialties like military relocation or working with homes with environmentally-friendly features. When you work with a Mainstreet REALTOR® with the relevant certification, you know they have experience finding exactly the type of home you're looking for.


Whatever your needs, your Mainstreet REALTOR® will guide you through how to buy a house that's right for you.


Ready to start your home search? Hire a Mainstreet REALTOR® today and take the first step toward finding your dream home.

Keep the Presents Safe: Holiday Scam Prevention Strategies

By Wesley Rusick • November 24, 2025
Imagine a holiday season with zero presents because someone emptied your bank account in the blink of an eye. Which means you can also say goodbye to that mortgage payment.

Chicagoland Housing Market Holds Steady Amid Economic Uncertainty

By Amy Robey • November 18, 2025
Chicagoland home sales remained relatively steady in October 2025, even as consumers across the country experienced increased economic uncertainty. Detached home sales increased 0.4% in October 2025 as compared to the same month last year. At the same time, detached homes under contract increased 3%, indicating a possible lift in sales activity in the months ahead. This stability in the housing market may come as a surprise given 2025’s economic volatility, and supporting data from Pew Research Center showing 3 in 10 U.S. adults say they expect the financial situation for themselves and their families to be worse a year from now. The local housing market’s stability indicates, however, that many Chicagoland consumers see homeownership as a smart financial decision regardless of the state of the economy. “The economy will always have ups and downs but savvy Chicagoland consumers realize that owning a home and building equity is always a smart financial decision, regardless of the economic climate,” said Kinga Korpacz, president of Mainstreet REALTORS®. “The sooner you can get started the better, and that means not waiting for more economic stability to buy.” The 3% increase in homes under contract in Chicagoland in October is another indicator of continued confidence among Chicagoland homebuyers but it remains to be seen whether that increase will translate to a lift in closed sales. “Certainly, anecdotally, we’re hearing about buyers who are making offers and getting cold feet given the state of the economy,” said John Gormley, CEO of Mainstreet REALTORS®. “But when people have life or family situations that mean they need to move, it outweighs the uncertainty in the economy and many buyers are able to look past it and remember that a home is always a smart investment. In Chicagoland, buyers are becoming a bit immune to the news cycle and looking inward to make the right financial decisions for themselves and their families.” While detached home sales and homes under contract increased in October 2025, average time on the market increased 10.5% as compared to October 2024. “Slower market times indicate buyers are taking their time and making more deliberate decisions versus rushing to buy,” said Korpacz. “This is not necessarily a bad thing, especially in a market with as much hyperlocal variability as Chicagoland. It means buyers can take their time to ask for expert advice from a Mainstreet REALTOR® about what is going on in the specific community where they want to buy and make a smart long-term decision.” Buyers had more flexibility to move at their own pace in October 2025 than earlier this year as the average months’ supply for homes in the Chicagoland primary metro statistical area (PMSA) increased to 2.1 months, up from 1.7 months in January 2025. “In a market like this one, it’s critical to take the time to do your due diligence with a Mainstreet REALTOR®, who can help you with everything from understanding hyperlocal market data to finding programs that provide downpayment assistance and improve housing affordability,” said Korpacz. “A home is one of the best investments you can make in any economy, as long as you are guided by expert advice and data to make a decision that is right for you and your family.” Several suburban communities saw especially significant increases in homes under contract in October 2025, making them areas to watch as we see whether that trend impacts closed sales in the months to come. Notable increases included: Berkeley: under contract homes up 166.7% in October 2025 vs. October 2024 Broadview: 133.3% Calumet Park: 150% Inverness: 150% Itasca: 225% LaGrange Highlands: 300% Lynwood: 133.3% Monee: 250% Mundelein: 105.9% North Aurora: 230% Palos Hills: 120% Get in touch with a Mainstreet REALTOR® for hyperlocal data and insights into programs that can help you get into a home affordably, even in today’s uncertain economy.
More Posts