Thinking About Buying Your First Home in Mountain View, Arkansas? Here Are My Top 20 Tips

Written By Amy Turpin

Buying your first home is such a huge moment — exciting, a little overwhelming, and full of possibility. And if you’re looking at Mountain View, Arkansas… well, I’m already excited for you. This place is special. It’s beautiful, it’s peaceful, and the community here is something you really don’t find just anywhere.

But Mountain View is also a rural town, and buying a home here can look a little different than buying one in a big city. There are things you’ll want to think about ahead of time so you feel confident and prepared from start to finish.

So here are my top 20 tips for first-time homebuyers in Mountain View — straight from someone who lives here, works here, and spends her days showing every little backroad and hillside this town has to offer.

1. Know Your Budget Before You Fall in Love With a House

Mountain View has a wide range of home and land options, but prices can still surprise you. Talking to a lender early sets you up for success.

2. Get Fully Pre-Approved

This isn’t just a quick online form. A solid pre-approval makes your offer stronger and keeps you from wasting time on homes that won’t work with your financing.

3. Look Into Rural Loan Programs

Since we’re a rural area, you might qualify for:

  • USDA

  • FHA

  • VA
    These programs can mean lower down payments or easier qualification.

4. Think About How Much Land Fits Your Lifestyle

Everybody loves the idea of having land… until they realize how much fencing, mowing, and upkeep it can take. Be honest with yourself about what you want and what you’ll maintain.

5. Check Out the Road Situation

Some of our prettiest properties sit at the end of roads that are… let’s just say “adventurous.”
Is it county maintained?
Do you need 4WD?
Is access shared?

It matters more than you’d think.

6. Ask Whether a Recent Survey Exists

Not all rural properties have them. Surveys help you know exactly what you’re buying — especially if the property has odd boundaries or multiple structures.

7. Understand Septic Systems

A lot of homes here aren’t on city sewer.
Know:

  • The age

  • The condition

  • Whether permits exist

  • When it was last pumped

8. Test Well Water If the Home Has One

Check flow rate, water quality, filtration systems — all of it. Wells are wonderful when they’re in good shape.

9. Ask About Mineral Rights

This comes up more often with acreage. Sometimes minerals convey, sometimes they don’t. It’s better to know ahead of time.

10. Double-Check Flood Zones

Even though Mountain View is full of hills and higher ground, some properties sit near creeks or bottoms. Flood zones affect insurance and financing.

11. Look at Internet Options Early

This is a big one.
Different areas have different providers. If you work from home, you’ll want to make sure you can get the speed you need.

12. Heat Sources Matter

Out here, you’ll see a lot of:

  • Propane

  • Mini-splits

  • Wood heat

  • Heat pumps

Ask how old the systems are and get a feel for average utility costs.

13. Check Property Restrictions

Some land here has zero restrictions. Others may limit:

  • Livestock

  • Nightly rentals

  • Mobile homes

  • Additional buildings

Just make sure the property fits your plans.

14. Think About Resale Value

Even your first home should be a smart investment.
Location, acreage, and condition will always matter.

15. Get a Home Inspection — Please Don’t Skip This

Inspections catch the things you can’t see. Foundations, roofs, crawlspaces, pests — all the stuff that can cost you later.

16. Talk to Your Insurance Agent Before You Go Under Contract

Things like wood stoves, roof age, and distance from a fire station affect pricing. A quick quote can save you headaches.

17. Visit the Property at Different Times of Day

Morning traffic, evening light, weekend noise, drainage after a rainstorm… all of these can change your opinion fast.

18. Be Ready to Act When You Find “The One”

Mountain View might be small, but good homes — especially in that sweet spot under $300k — move fast.

19. Work With Someone Who Knows the Area

Mountain View real estate is its own world. You want someone who understands wells, septics, land boundaries, backroads, and how rural lending works. (And yes — I’d love to help.)

20. And Finally… Enjoy the Process

Because buying your first home in Mountain View isn’t just about choosing a house.
It’s about choosing a lifestyle.
A community.
A place where the pace is slower, the outdoors are beautiful, and people genuinely care about each other.

You’re about to step into something really good — and I’d be honored to help you every step of the way.

Amy Turpin
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