I am getting ready to buy my first house. Can you give me some advice?

The first thing you need to do is to figure out the budget you can afford for your new home. You should consider how much of a mortgage you can afford on a monthly basis and still have money after you buy the house. Even if you buy a house that is “move- in” ready, there are always going to be things you will want to change and improve. So, make sure you keep extra funds aside.

It is important to know how much of a mortgage you can qualify for. You can get pre-approved by a bank so that you know how much of a house you can afford and stay below that range. By knowing the price range you have, it makes it easier to narrow down the houses that would make the most sense for you.

There are so many things to consider when buying a home that it can be overwhelming unless you know ahead of time those things that are most important to you. This may include the location of the home, how far a commute to work you would have, the area you want to live in. There are also features you may not want to live without. Those could include things like a big, outdoor deck, a water view, large kitchen, extra bedrooms, country or city living….The style of the house is important to consider. Do you want a cozy cape, a large colonial, a traditional ranch or something out of the ordinary? The clearer you can be about what you want, the easier it will be to find it.

I suggest being as thorough as you can in your search. See as many houses as you can that fit your profile. Your real estate agency will be able to help you narrow down the search so that you can see more of the homes that fit your needs and less that don't. Keep good records of all the houses you have seen and begin to narrow down the ones you want most. When that perfect house comes along, you will know it and be ready to make your first offer.