Use these questions to help make your very own list of housing requirements and help narrow your home search.

1. 20 Questions
to Ask to Find Your
Dream Home

2. 1
Are you pre-approved
for a mortgage?
Getting pre-approval from a lending institution will give you confidence and let
sellers know you’re serious. You will need to authorize a credit check and compile
a list of your income and debt.

3. What’s your price range?
Only looking at homes within your price range can help prevent a broken heart
or getting in over your head.
2

4. Are you willing to do
extra renovation?
How much elbow grease and TLC are you willing to pour into your new home?
Or are you just looking for move-in ready?
3

5. Suburban, urban or rural?
Do you envision a little white picket fence and a garden, or your very own small
sliver of sunlight in the best building downtown?
4

6. What part of the city do you
want to live in?
If you’re moving for a job, be sure to determine which neighborhood
or suburb is best suited to your lifestyle.
5

7. Do you want easy access
to highways?
If you commute or travel frequently for work, quick access to
highways and a good airport are probably high on the priority list.
6

8. Are there suitable
schools nearby?
If you have kids or are planning to, be sure to research local options.
7

9. How important is the view?
Are you willing to sacrifice space for a view of the mountains or beach?
8

10. Can you sleep easily
with traffic noise?
Proximity to traffic, construction noise and emergency response
stations may be a big factor in your sleep and sanity.
9

11. One-story, two-story,
house or condo?
If you work from home, a two-story home may help you delineate space
more easily, while a cozy condo may suit a couple just fine.
10

12. Could you live in a
historic home?
Historic homes offer extra charm but often bring extra challenges,
such as oddly sized windows and old plumbing.
11

13. How many bedrooms?
Do your children have separate bedrooms or share? You may consider
looking at homes with a spare bedroom to grow into.
12

14. How many bathrooms?
While modern homes with more than one bathroom are the new norm,
older homes may have only one bathroom in the house.
13

15. Want a guest room?
They can also be transformed into offices, home gyms, or craft/hobby spaces.
14

16. Hardwood or carpeted floors?
If you have pets or allergies, this is an important consideration.
15

17. What architecture styles
do you like best?
Some areas of the country have a more specific aesthetic than others.
16

18. Do you need any special
features for your pets?
A large outdoor area in the backyard or dog park within
walking distance may be high on your list.
17

19. Do you need wheelchair
access or limited stairs?
A wheelchair-accessible home or one with limited exterior and
interior stairs can make life much easier.
18

20. Do you need a space for a car,
or is street parking sufficient?
If you have more than one car or have guests frequently, a garage or
dedicated parking may be a priority.
19

21. How important is walkability
to you?
Being able to walk out your door and have the city’s best offerings at
your feet can help you choose the right neighborhood for you.
20

22. Download all 20 questions,
plus a simple checklist to help
find your dream home:
Your Dream Home Checklist