1. Choose an agent! Interview the agents you’ve met, ask friends or relatives for a referral and check references. Being comfortable with the person who is representing your interests is very important.

2. Know what you can buy! This is easily done by calling reputable lenders and shopping their programs and rates. In order to know what you can qualify for lenders will ask you for some specific information, and it will be necessary to get your social security number to run a credit check. Your credit score along with your debt to income ratio, employment and rent or mortgage histories are all important aspects of qualifying for a mortgage. Keep in mind there are programs today that work with various financial backgrounds and credit scores.

3. Define your search. If an agent is working smart for you, before you get in a car to look for houses, you will met for an initial home search interview. During this interview you will discuss the features and benefits of your ideal home. That list of features and benefits, the price range defined by you and your lender and the current market conditions all play a role in your search. Have your agent show you what has sold on the market in the last 3-6 months in your price range. Use this time to gain a better understanding of the current market conditions and to better understand what you can expect to buy in your price range.

4. Be ready to buy and be patient! If you are sincere in your desire to own a home, if you are pre-qualified with a lender, and if your search criteria is defined, when you find a house that you really love and one that meets all your needs, be ready to make an offer! But if you don’t find your home during the first day or week, be patient. Homes come on the market daily, and the right home for you may just be a day away!