Home » Forum » Topics

How early is too early to start going to open houses?

real estatefirst time home buyerhouse hunting
avatar
Nikolay_IT
Joined:
02.05.2021
Posts: 2179
Topic Starter
22.03.2025 23:42
My partner and I are planning to buy our first home, but we aren't quite ready to apply for a mortgage yet. We want to start getting a feel for the neighborhoods and what our money can actually get us in the current market. Is it considered rude or a waste of time to show up at open houses when we aren't planning to put in an offer for another six months? We don't want to annoy any agents, but we also feel like we need the practice to understand what we actually want.
15 replies in this topic
avatar
Denis_P
Joined:
21.05.2020
Posts: 595
17.05.2025 21:25
Honestly, go for it! It's the best way to learn what you actually like versus what looks good in photos. Just be honest with the agent if they ask.
avatar
Stasi_B
Joined:
14.05.2021
Posts: 2314
21.05.2025 21:17
In reply to a previous post
I agree with the first reply. Agents are usually fine with it as long as you aren't wasting their time with a million questions while they have other serious buyers waiting.
avatar
Krasen_K
Joined:
08.09.2020
Posts: 848
30.06.2025 20:51
Six months out is the perfect time to start. You need to see the reality of the market before you get emotionally attached to a specific house.
avatar
Brayan_Z
Joined:
07.08.2021
Posts: 63
06.07.2025 22:34
In reply to a previous post
Just don't sign anything if they pressure you to sign a buyer's agreement. Stay casual until you are ready.
avatar
Kevi_M
Joined:
21.08.2023
Posts: 1389
14.08.2025 17:02
I did this for three months before we were ready. It really helped us narrow down our 'must-haves' versus 'nice-to-haves'.
avatar
chicho_savet
Joined:
20.12.2020
Posts: 2030
27.08.2025 07:48
In reply to a previous post
Is it rude? No. Is it a waste of time? Only if you don't use it as a learning experience. Just be polite and sign in.
avatar
Brayan_Z
Joined:
07.09.2024
Posts: 1667
18.09.2025 23:03
Pro tip: If you don't want to be hounded by emails, use a secondary email address when you sign in at the open house.
avatar
simon_v
Joined:
26.07.2023
Posts: 1575
01.10.2025 13:32
In reply to a previous post
That's actually a really smart idea, I wish I had thought of that before I started getting spam from five different brokerages.
avatar
star_vulk
Joined:
25.05.2021
Posts: 1152
08.10.2025 01:44
I think it's fine, but try to go during the slower hours if possible so you can actually talk to the agent about the property.
avatar
Roman_88
Joined:
17.11.2021
Posts: 1609
09.10.2025 21:54
In reply to a previous post
I disagree with going during slow hours. If it's a busy open house, you can blend in and just look around without having to make much small talk at all.
avatar
SamoPitam
Joined:
14.07.2020
Posts: 704
13.12.2025 23:40
Don't overthink it. Open houses are public events. You are a potential future client, so they should be happy to have you.
avatar
Alisa_K
Joined:
03.10.2024
Posts: 1001
18.01.2026 21:36
In reply to a previous post
Exactly. Even if you aren't buying today, you might be in six months, and agents know that.
avatar
lubopiten_k
Joined:
31.10.2025
Posts: 2292
14.02.2026 18:02
Just keep in mind that the market changes fast. What you see today might look totally different in six months.
avatar
Marius_C
Joined:
09.09.2023
Posts: 860
26.02.2026 05:30
In reply to a previous post
Very true, use the time to watch how long houses sit on the market, not just the prices.
avatar
Brayan_Z
Joined:
28.11.2023
Posts: 253
28.02.2026 06:25
Go for it. It's a fun weekend activity and it makes the eventual house hunt way less stressful when you're actually ready to pull the trigger.

Want to join the discussion?

Log in to your account to post a reply in this thread.