At Heartland Homes, we understand that building the home of your dreams can seem overwhelming - especially if you have never built a home before. That is why we will continue to create additional educational content here for you to browse at your own pace.

The Basics:

Location, location, location! This age-old rule is still the most important. Make sure the location fits the needs of your family, but also make sure to take the desirability of the area as well. Nothing impacts the value of your home more.

Build only with someone you trust! Not sure where to begin? Ask current home owners about their experience. Would they recommend the builder? Don't overlook the importance of the builder's reputation. You are about to make a very large purchase - don't sacrifice peace of mind for any price.

Options or Custom Changes? Every builder will have several options for you to chose from in their floor plans, but those options have been pre-determined by the builder. They are mass produced solutions, and not custom changes made to match the unique needs of your family. How much are you willing to compromise on such a large purchase? Why should you have to?

Advanced Topics:

The Seller's Edge - How to prepare your current property to sell for top dollar. (Coming online 1/15/09 - Booklet available in model homes NOW!)

The Buyer's Edge - Advanced guide to help you learn what's most important in new home construction. (Coming 2/15/2009)

Recommended Links:

www.Realtor.com - The #1 online source for real estate listing information. Find information on used homes anywhere in the country!

Realestate.yahoo.com/Pennsylvania/Pittsburgh - A local snapshot of the Pittsburgh market from Yahoo!

www.Trulia.com - A fantastic online resource to really dig deeper into local trends and connect with the local real estate market.

www.Zillow.com - Another good tool - similar to Trulia but not quite as popular. It does have a few nice features that Trulia does not.