When buyers first start looking at houses, I tell them not to bother with open houses yet. Check out the neighborhoods first! Ask your friends, co-workers, etc where they live and why they like their neighborhood (hopefully they like their neighborhood!), then go check it out. And I'm not talking about a drive through. Get out of your car and walk around. That's right, take at least an hour walk. Or make it an half hour walk in the day and then an half hour at night (especially at night...everything looks a little different in the moonlight.) Shop, have dinner, watch a movie, take in a cocktail...act like you live in that neighborhood.
AND TAKE A MAP. I always give my buyer clients this lovely orange fold-out map from SFAR (your real estate friends who bring you MLS) because this city map is broken down into the official real estate districts, for example Pacific Heights is 7B. That district corresponds to what you see in the MLS listing. It's a handy map to have because when you go on your walk, you might stumble across a cool street that you thought was in Pacific Heights, but actually falls in Cow Hollow, 7D---and you didn't have 7D on your list!
So, check out the neighborhoods first, then start looking for houses. It will help you stay focused and enjoy your new home inside and out. If you are not currently working with an agent, send me an email and I'll send you a map free-o-charge! Otherwise ask your agent for one. What if your agent don't have one? Well, besides being SUPER lame, he/she can order one for you.
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