All rights reserved. Home Ownership Home ownership is still the American dream. Homes are almost always purchased through real estate brokers and financed by financial institutions through mortgages. If you wish to purchase a home, you must first decide how much you can afford each month for mortgage payments, taxes, maintenance and utilities. Once you determine your price range, you'll have to consider neighborhood, convenience, quality of the schools, and whatever other factors are important to you.
Owners selling homes directly advertise by putting signs on their property or in newspapers.
Brokers advertise also. Internet real estate advertising has become common. Just like a used car, the home you look at may seem perfect but still have hidden defects and structural flaws, or need major redecorating once the family in the home moves all their furniture and fixtures out. You should look carefully for structural decay, areas that need paint, termite damage, worn wiring and rusting plumbing. With such a critical purchase, it pays to know as much as possible.