Dan Gainor
2007-05-08 07:00:00.0
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BALTIMORE -

The online world gives you the ability to find exactly what you want in a relationship. You can pick age, size and appearance without ever leaving your home.

I’m not talking about online dating. I’m talking about a much more involved relationship.

House hunting.

I am in the midst of a great house hunt — looking to turn renter flexibility into a serious long-term commitment.

Realtors always talk about “location, location, location” being important in home buying. But it’s not just geography that’s key. It’s being in the right place at the right time.

In a buyer’s market like we have now, that means looking for a house without having to sell an existing residence. But timing is only part of what you need. Information is essential.

I’m trying to be a knowledgeable buyer. I know pretty much what I want and where I want to be.

In Realtor parlance, that makes me a pain in the butt. There are literally thousands of homes I won’t even go inside and examine. They might be marvelous, but they aren’t what I want.

Since it’s springtime, I am not alone. Home sellers try to time their moves to coincide with summer vacation, so children can adjust before a new school year and parents can readily take time off for the big move.

Buyers adapt, and there are thousands of us flocking to Maryland real estate offices and Web sites, trying to pick our ideal homes amid all the media hype about interest rates, subprime mortgages, the economy and more.

Even in a slower market, the best homes and the best prices command attention.

I’ve seen some homes disappear almost instantly. Others languish. Some sit almost on top of major interstates or demand prices laughably high.

There are even houses empty for months where the price remains unchanged.

This is where the rubber meets the road. I spout off once a week with my opinion. Now I get to see if I can apply some of this to my own life. To paraphrase former Speaker of the House Tip O’Neill, all economics is local.

In other words, be smart. There are actual checklists to use to make sure you don’t miss anything when undertaking your hunt.

First came the credit reports. I even surprised a potential lender with an unusually high score. Check. Then came preapproved financing. Another check. (One lender offered me almost enough to make an offer on Camden Yards. I am not working with that lender.)

Interviewing brokers followed. Thankfully, I found one with the patience of Job and part of a well-organized team.

That’s just the beginning. Now, with the help of the Web, I check houses every day — ruling out one after another before even hitting the road.

Like many buyers right now, I’ll take my time, look for a good deal on not just a house, but a home. Until then, home is where … someone else’s stuff is.

Dan Gainor is The Boone Pickens Free Market Fellow at the Media Research Center’s Business & Media Institute, a career journalist and media commentator. He can be reached at gainorcolumn@gmail.com