How far in advance should you start looking for houses?

Question

moving out probably next spring and buying a house for the first time. when's a good time to start looking? is now too early?

Answer 1

Make you that you sell your house first before buying. Right now is the perfect time to be looking since many houses are cheap. However, it's the wrong time to be selling. My parents have only gotten 6 visitors in 3 months for a nice house in an excellent neighborhood.

Answer 2

they do not have a house, they are 1st time homebuyers...

this is historically the best time to buy a house, its a total buyers market.  sellers are forced to make their houses nicer and nicer, and prices keep falling, there is alot of competition out there right now, you are going to find a sweet deal...dont fall in love with the 1st house you see...and HAGGLE

shop school district...try and find a house, and make it The one...you will get a great deal, and if you stay in there long enough to ride out this low time in the market, youll make a killing when the market picks back up...dont try and shop for a 1st time house or interim house, find a decent one in a decent hood w good schools and plan to STAY

I would say now is a good time to shop.  this coming winter is going to be an awesome time to shop..winter is the historically low selling point of the year, theres going to be a crapload of inventory on the market at that time, and no one wants to move in the snow or middle of the school year.