Knowing how to find Atlanta real estate will give you a head start over other home-hunters in Atlanta, and there are certain steps you can take to make the process easier. These apply no matter where you are seeking a home, and they will certainly help you in Atlanta where homes come in all shapes, sizes and prices.

Following the undernoted tips will enable you to bypass many of the pitfalls involved in purchasing a home, whether in Atlanta or anywhere else, and particularly if you are purchasing in a city or district with which you are not familiar. There are many different types and prices of Atlanta real estate so make sure that you don't make a mistake that will regret later, and think ahead using these seven tips:

1. Price and Approval
You should first of all decide on the price that you can afford and then get it approved from the lender of your choice. Many home-hunters have been disappointed after hours of work being made to nothing because their loan request was not approved. Do not overstretch yourself on price, and take the current interest rate into consideration: if this is historically low, then expect to be paying more later. If you are buying over, say, 10 years or more, you can expect interest rates to rise.

2. Look for Homes in your Price Range
When you decide on a price, you should allow yourself a limit each side, such as 10%. So your $300,000 for example should range from $270,000 to $330,000. That is because:
a) You do not want to exceed your budget by too much on a whim, because you like the property and then find difficulty in repayments, and
b) You do not want to regret purchasing a home cheaper than your budget in case you find the reason why it is so cheap, and also because you will get less when you eventually resell.

3. Get Advice on the Area
If you have children you don't want to purchase a home in an area favored by the elderly. You want other children around. You want the schools to be close by, and want to live in an area free of drugs.

4. Decide in advance on your type of home. Discuss the pros and cons of condos, lofts, apartments and regular homes. Do you want a flower garden, yard or need a garage? How many bedrooms and bathrooms? Make your decision and then go for what you have decided on.

5. Consider the geography: your workplace and how far you have to commute. Are you on a floodplain, a tornado area or are there termites around. Is public transport close by, or do you have to travel everywhere by car - even to the nearest train station?

6. What are the additional costs: home insurance, taxes, average power bills? How about any immediate moving expenses - have you put these aside?

7. Make sure you know everything included in the sale. Your new home might look fantastic, but not if all the kitchen equipment and lighting units are missing when you move in, not to mention that fountain in the yard, and the fish in the pond.

If you take all of the above into consideration, then your Atlanta real estate will be exactly what you have been looking for. Too many people looking for homes in Atlanta go for the first that meets their price range, or even worse, the first that they like, and worry about costs later. They are also foreclosed because their 5% interest rate has increased to 12% over a number of years. This is an increase in monthly repayments of $1458 on a $250,000 home loan.

Having taken all of these factors into consideration, you can now start looking for suitable homes. So what are the areas of Atlanta that you should be focusing on? Much depends on your personal needs. Thus, if you have a young family then Buckhead and East Atlanta are desirable areas, with good schools and lots of other family groups. Your kids will easily be able to make friends, and the schooling has a good reputation. Transport into the city is also very good, and all in all these areas should meet the needs of the majority of young parents.

On the other hand, if you are seeking more established Atlanta real estate, Chastain Park offers old residences at higher prices, but also a good selection of condos. Its golf courses and the prestigious Club Chastain draw many executives to move to this area, and the public schools are very good, unlike those in most areas of Atlanta where private schooling is the norm for those able to afford it.

Students will find Decatur of interest since this area of Atlanta is close to many of the City's universities, and is also well known for the recreational events and facilities. All in all, Atlanta real estate has a lot to offer people with most tastes in housing and facilities, and provided that you follow the advice provided above, you should be able to find a home to suit the needs of yourself and your family.