First time homebuyers can save a lot of time, money and effort by being organized and prepared for all the steps in the home buying process. When you are choosing any of the Minnesota homes for sale, one of the most vital steps to take is the valuation of the home or being able to determine what the home is worth by making your own assessment.

Authors Eric Tyson and Raymond Brown of the book "Home Buying for Dummies" point out that the true value of the home doesn't only consist of the price. Value means different things to different people, so you need to identify the factors that are most important to you when searching for your ideal home. Ultimately, the value of the home is what a particular home is worth to you, and what types of benefits you will derive from this type of investment.

The first step that a home buyer can take is to review the actual dollar cost of the home and compare it to the other homes in the same neighborhood. This can be done by taking a look at the MLS listings of the specific area. Finding out what the original purchase price of the home for sale can also help, but if the purchase was not within the last 3 years, you cannot make an accurate assessment and use the original purchase price a basis for review. To use the original purchase price to aid in your assessment, see if the property has devalued or if its value has increased withing the time period since the seller bought it.

The second step that a home buyer can take is to figure out how much repair work is needed and what the cost will be. Ask yourself a few questions like "If I move in next week, what has to be done to make it livable and lovable?" or "What needs to be fixed and how much will it cost?" Sometimes, the cost of repairs is factored into the asking price but if it is not, it is to your advantage to know what the add-on expenses you may be facing in the near future.

The third step would be to project how much the property can be sold for in 5, 10, or 20 years after your purchase. This is when the location of the home becomes vital. Find out what is the average appreciation value of the real estate property of the neighborhood that you are interested in. If the trend of the property prices show that it is stable and in some years, you can make a good return on your investment, it would be to your advantage to make such an investment.

When searching for your ideal home, make a studied assessment of the different homes for sale in the various neighborhoods. The true value of your new home is not just what the actual asking price is because of the things that have to be taken into consideration, like repairs, price history, the benefits you will get from living in the area, and what the property will be worth in the future. Find out more about the new homes for sale and what neighborhoods have good appreciation rates so you can make the most out of your investment.