1. Establish Your Budget: Before you start shopping for a home, determine what you can, and are comfortable, spending. Make sure you leave enough room in your budget for additional costs such as maintenance, taxes, furniture, and more. 2. Get Pre-Approved for a Loan: To get pre-approved for a loan, you’ll need to provide information such as your credit score, income, assets, debts, and employment history. Once you’ve been pre-approved, you’ll have a better idea of how much you can afford and your lender will have an idea of how much you are likely to be approved for. 3. Hire a Reputable Realtor: Choosing the right real estate agent is key in the home buying process. Your real estate agent will be essential in finding you the right home and negotiating with the seller. Make sure you pick someone with experience and you are comfortable working with. 4. Do Comprehensive Research: Before making an offer on a home, research the area you are looking in and the area of the home you’re interested in. Investigate the schools, crime rates, what public transportation is available nearby, and more. 5. Have a Home Inspection: Before closing on the home, it is important to have a home inspection done. During the inspection, any structural deficiencies and pests will be identified. Make sure all repairs are completed before closing on the home. 6. Don’t Forget Maintenance Costs: Once you’ve moved in, it’s then time to start planning for ongoing maintenance costs, such as landscaping, repairs, taxes, and more. Plan to include a monthly amount in your budget to cover such costs. 7. Create a Timeline: The time it takes to close on a home often varies depending on the situation. Make sure you are familiar with all the steps in advance and create a timeline to ensure everything is in order when it comes time to close. 8. Stay Organized: Keep all your home buying documents in one place. Document everything, from loan approvals to contracts, so that you can easily access them if needed.