Oftentimes when people are confronted with searching for a new home, it can be overwhelming to see just how many places are on the market. While many properties may seem appealing, it is important to be able to eliminate homes that won't work for you quickly, since your time is valuable. Here are three simple ways to narrow down your home listing options. 

1. Evaluate The Average Market Price

One really simple way to eliminate listings that are overpriced is to determine what "overpriced" means for a particular area. Look up the average price per square foot in the city where you are thinking of living, and compare listings to that number. For instance, if you discover that the average price per square foot is a certain price, you could eliminate everything over the budget you set per square foot. 

2. Check the Property History

Before you put in an offer, check the property listing very, very carefully. Pay attention to prior tax valuations, and consider doing a reverse image search of the photos to see if it has been in the news or in other real estate listings. You never know, you may find that the home was at the heart of a recent crime, or that the place has been listed and sold many other times before. 

3. Have Your Agent Do Some Digging

Real estate agents have access to much more information than most private citizens could get their hands on, so sit down with a real estate agent and talk about the listings you are considering. Ask them to do a little digging when it comes to the property, either by calling the seller's agent, or by looking into details about the home's listing you may not be able to see. For instance, real estate agents may have access to prior property disclosures, which can give potential buyers information about prior events. 

Remember, if you eliminate a home listing from your personal list of potential properties, you can always bookmark it and return to it later if circumstances change. For instance, if you fall in love with a particular neighborhood, but have eliminated a home in that area because of a previous flood, you could put in an offer on the property and request a home warranty or flood coverage as part of your real estate deal. After all, owning a home is a big investment. Contact a real estate agent for more information on home listings.