There’s no one “right way” to go about finding a home. But here are a few tips that may make the process a little easier and remove some of the anxiety associated with making what is, for most people, their largest single purchase in life.

•  The first thing to do is determine how much you can afford and what type of home you want or need. Draw up a wish list. This would include the size, number of bedrooms, location and special features such as a garage, patio, fence, dishwasher, hot tub etc
•  You’ll also want to consider such things as proximity to schools, community centres, sports facilities, public transportation, hospitals, libraries, shopping areas and your workplace.
•  There are different ways to find the right home. First, there are many local magazines and brochures dedicated to advertising available properties. Most newspapers also have a real estate section.
•  Quite often people will drive through certain neighbourhood, looking for properties for sale. This is a good idea if you already know where you want to live, or a friend or family member has recommended a neighbourhood, and may help you quickly find a suitable home.
•  Many people in Australia also get in touch with a real estate agent or builder when they are thinking about buying a home. They are trained to help you find a suitable home, and to assist you when you are ready to buy.
• The Internet has become an indispensable tool when searching for properties in Australia. E.g. the primary website in Western Australia is http://reiwa.com.au/. It is run by the Western Australian real estate institute (REIWA). Hundreds of thousands of properties can be found there, and it is possible to narrow searches by location, price, type of house, and features.
• Most information you will require for each home listing is available on Western Australian real estate institute website, often including photos or video of the home’s exterior and interior.