So you’re ready to settle down in a new house, but you’re not entirely sure how to find one. Instead of giving yourself a headache trolling through endless classifieds, narrow down your choices with targeted searches. Then, give your detailed preferences to a Real Estate Agent. When the perfect place appears, you can quickly bid a competitive number and, hopefully, move into your new home soon.Decide What You WantYour first step, as obvious as it might sound, is to pick the kind of house you want to buy. Much of your choice will boil down to two important aspects: location and lifestyle. Your location should be within reasonable distance of everything you love, but still in the region you want. You’ll also want to account for hobbies and social life. Do you like to kayak? You might want to consider living near a water source. Or, if you want to be with the heart of culture in a city, your decision might already be leaning you in that direction. Do you want a quiet countryside house? Look at a map of your area and decide how far you’d be willing to commute and what kind of country you want to see when you look out the window.If you prefer the heart of the city, do some research on new development complexes with homes for sale. There maybe a house that’s not quite finished and, therefore, not listed. You’ll have a higher chance of getting a winning bid and a better asking price.Get a Real Estate AgentSpeaking of getting a better price, you’ll most certainly want to recruit a real estate agent to help you narrow down the list of homes for sale. Realtors have a vast array of resources at their disposal. They’ll know all the properties that might fit your particular preferences. Make sure you’ve described these preferences in detail and know what aspects of your new property you are willing to compromise.It’s important to also take the time to tour potential houses on a regular basis. Even if you’re relatively sure you won’t buy the property, it can still be a great opportunity to see new features, amenities, and locations that peak your interest. This will also help your realtor quickly narrow down a truly excellent choice.Act QuicklyWhen that great option finally does appear in the list of homes for sale, you’ll want to bid right away. Consult your realtor for advice, but usually they will already have a good number in mind. Another plus of having a real estate agent in the first place is that they can often sway the asking price in your favor by as much as 20%. This could save you thousands of dollars.As a final note, if you don’t win your first attempts at bidding, make sure not to overstretch yourself. There are plenty of properties available, and you’re bound to find several that meet your qualifications. You’ll be happier, in the end, with a house that you can afford.