To start the process, you must determine what you can afford. Your desires and needs will be tailored around what you can afford. It is recommended to get qualified and approved with a loan officer. Once you know how much house you can afford, then it's time to decide how you want to spread those dollars.

You also must decide where you would like to live. This may not always fit into the affordable price range you've come up with. Buyers should make a checklist of what they want, including; location, number of bedrooms and baths, square footage, proximity to schools, public transportation or other frequent destinations, then list your priorities. Also, buyers should consider whether they are willing to renovate and if so, how much work and money they want to put in it.

Determine out how much cash you have to put toward buying your home. Then decide how much time and effort you are willing to do in order to make a not-quite-perfect house into a home you really can treasure.

After you have made some decisions on location and affordability, engage the services of a real estate professional to lead you down the unpaved road to home ownership.

  Shopping for a Loan
  Earnest Money
  Mortgage Application
  Inspecting a New Home
  Imagine You Live There
  Pre-Qualified? Pre-Approved?
  Title Insurance
  Prorations
  Closing Day Details
  Choosing a Home Inspector
  Homeowner's Insurance
  Scheduling Your Closing