Even though a home purchase is a huge investment, people still tend to some mistakes when they buy their home. Even a person who has purchased several homes can make a few of the more typical home buying mistakes. Many of these mistakes can be avoided quite easily, however, and here’s how to get the most out of your home purchase.

You probably have read that your first step, prior to looking for homes, is to go to a lender and get pre-approved. This is a great first step. This will tell you how much money your lender will be willing to loan you and when you add this to the amount you have saved for the down payment, you get a total amount that you can spend. However, it is wise to note that you are in no way required to spend as much as you are able to get. Crunch your budget numbers and see what you are really comfortable paying each month. Be sure to figure in all of your monthly expenses as well as new home-related expenses you will incur, such as the property taxes and insurance for your home. Homeowner association dues are another expense to add in, as well.

A home is just like a person. You can’t always judge them by the first appearance. Sometimes a home is outdated but in fantastic shape with a great layout and plenty of space. You must look beyond the ugly wallpaper, the orange shag carpeting, popcorn ceilings and faux wood paneling. That can all be fixed, and the seller’s ugly furniture and knickknacks aren’t going to be there after you buy the house, so ignore them. On the flip side, a house could look beautiful and perfectly staged, but have real problems. It might not have enough rooms for you or perhaps the roof needs to be replaced. Always look past the way a place looks to really judge whether this is the right home for you.

Not only do you have to live in the house, you also have to live in the neighborhood. This is why you really need to research the location. Take a look at the homes in the neighborhood. Are they well-maintained? Generally, we visit homes in the middle of the day when a neighborhood tends to be fairly quiet. Be sure to return at night and on a weekend day to really get a sense of the true noise level. Listen for barking dogs and loud music from the garage band across the street. A busy street also can be a cause for concern, particularly if you have kids or pets. Living across from a school or just down the street from a hospital or fire station also can be disruptive. Also keep in mind how far the home is from work and services, such as grocery stores, drug stores and restaurants.

These days, there are plenty of real estate sites that can help you find homes that you might want to buy, but this doesn’t mean you don’t need a realtor. A real estate agent does much more than simply finding homes for you to consider. They help you negotiate the sales price and deal with any issues that arise during escrow. They are your advocate, ensuring that you get the best possible home at the best possible price. A realtor also can answer many of your escrow-related questions and help you find inspectors, contractors and other service providers.

If you want to get started on your Texas Hill Country real estate search, contact Nixon Real Estate. For more than 30 years, they have been finding fabulous homes for their clients. So whether you are looking for Fredericksburg real estate, Kerrville real estate, San Antonio real estate or in another Hill Country area, they can help you through every step of the home-buying process.

Pammy McGrath enjoys reading real estate blogs. If you are searching for licensed Fredericksburg real estate agents, or to find Fredericksburg homes for sale, please check out the NixonRealEstate.com website today.