Expert: Hans Weber, Licensed Broker Associate - 6/4/2005

Question
Hans,

We are first time home buyers and find ourselves overwhelmed with the process of where to look and how to find a good broker.  We've been using craigslist to get to know some areas in town and the area and have narrowed down our reach to several areas like bed sty in brooklyn and/or other up and coming areas.  We have two kids so we're looking for a starter home that is within a reasonable commute into manhattan and can accomodate the four of us in a $400,000 price range.  We'd be interested in two family situation, too, to help on morgage payments.

I guess my question is how dow we find a good agent in an area we don't know?  Any other advise would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks so much,

Jim

Answer
Hi Jim,

Thank you for the questions.

Your first challenge would be to find areas that you would like to live in that are in your price range.  Try my site at Coldwellbankermoves.com/hans.weber. From there you can investigate housing prices in the tri-state area.  I also have a link to Ourhometown.com to investigate towns in the area.  
Next you should visit the areas you are interested in and spend casual time there, have lunch, visit somoe parks or playrgounds.
A good way to meet Realtors without a referral is by attending open houses.  They are usually held on Sundays.  My company, Coldwell Banker, has a large selection of public open houses this coming weekend.  It is oour monthly Opportunity Knocks Open House Day.  You can visit as many open houses as you have time for and meet many brokers and agents and perhaps find one you might like to work with.  The open houses will be in all the newspapers and also on our web sites.
If you would like a personal referral from me for brokers in areas you would like to look into, please let me know.
Thanks,

Hans