Decide on a location and identify the features you want in a home. Check local listings, compare prices of comparable homes and consult with your real estate agent to help determine the amount you can expect to pay. If you’re not already working with a real estate agent, consult with friends or neighbors for referrals.

Be Prepared to Act Quickly – Today’s market is a seller’s market. Inventory is low, and homes are usually selling above the listing price. Agents and homebuyers should be available as quickly as possible, so they can act quickly. Buyers should be prepared to lose a few before they purchase the home they truly want.

Be Systematic in Your Approach – Too often, first-time homebuyers will be succumbed by emotion and become attached to a less than desirable property. Spending the time to research the local market trends and getting their finances are suitable for a home purchase will result in a significantly more agreeable situation.

Unless there are extenuating circumstances, purchasing a property should never be a rushed process. First time home-buyers are typically in the initial stages of their careers, so diligently researching and utilizing the advice from real estate professionals can either set the foundation for prosperity or create a detrimental fiscal situation for years to follow.

Buyer’s Representation is Free – Make sure you have someone looking out for your interests. Consider working with a Realtor© to assist you with your home purchase.

Choose an agent that you connect with on a personal level – The most important thing that you are going to need in a real estate agent is trust, communication, and responsiveness. Ask for referrals and recommendations from close friends, then start meeting with agents. All real estate agents have access to the same homes on the MLS. It is paramount that you find an agent you feel comfortable confiding in and trusting with the most expensive purchase of your life this far. If you don’t connect personally, you won’t connect professionally and that leads to miscommunications and disappointment.

Communicate Clearly with Your Agent – Tell your Realtor© exactly what you are looking for, so they can best help you find your dream home. The more specific you can be, the more your Realtor© can be helpful. Simply telling your Realtor, “I want a three-bedroom house with a yard” isn’t going to get you anywhere.

Do Your Homework – Despite the busyness of life, do a little research on your own. If you have a question about whether a room is permitted or not, find out before you sign on the dotted line. Be proactive. Ask questions, check the internet and if you like, meet some of your potential new neighbors. If you are viewing the property during the day, you may want to drive by in the evening. Never, ever, forego having the home inspected – inspections reveal with your natural eyes cannot see.

Sit Down with your agent and let them walk you through the process – As a first-time home buyer, you’ll have a lot of questions, and our jobs are to help you navigate through this and prepare you, as best as possible, for what exactly you’ll be experiencing. We will set realistic time frame goals and expectations on what your money can buy. If your agent is “too busy” or doesn’t have the desire to educate you on what buying a home looks like, you may want to consider interviewing someone else who truly cares about you having the best experience possible.

Get a Second Opinion – Even after you think you’ve found the home of your dreams, get someone else’s opinion. Bring a friend or family member you trust along – they may notice something you didn’t. And if they love it too you can rest easy knowing that you’re making the right decision.

Your first home likely won’t be your last home – It’s hard to predict where our families, jobs, or lives will take us 10 years down the road. We suggest to our buyers to look for a home that suits their needs for now and for the next few years. When buyers accept this advice, they end up finding a home that works for them now, with the ability to buy another home as their needs progress.

Keep an open mind while searching for homes – It’s important to have an open mind when you’re looking for your new home – especially for many first-time buyers who are on a budget. Make sure you’re being realistic for what is available in the area that you want to live in, while also staying within your budget. Remember that many cosmetic items in a home can be replaced easily without spending too much. And it can be fun to have a few small projects to make your first home your own!

Make sure you know the process – Review the home-buying process, timing of a purchase, funds that will be needed and the current market circumstances (is it a seller’s market or a buyer’s market? By knowing the process before looking at homes, the buyer will be prepared to make a quick decision, which is especially important today, as inventory is limited.

Narrow down – The right real estate agent will help you greatly through this process, which is crucial to making sure the first-time home-buying experience is smooth, fun and to find you the perfect first home.

For example: Many first-time home-buyers will compile an extensive list of properties they like, yet those properties have so many differences and nuances. It’s already exhausting enough as a first-time home-buyer to understand the process and prepare him/herself financially for potentially the largest investment of your life.

Thinking through what you want as specific as possible will help with time, efficiency and making it enjoyable. Nobody, no matter how excited they are, wants to look at dozens of homes – it’s exhausting and draining, especially if you are on a short time-table! You probably won’t get everything on your wish list for your first home – but picking your top 3 must-haves and top 3 deal-breakers is a great place to start!

Buy the home you think you will need 3 to 5 years from now – A buyer may find a suitable 1-bedroom home that has sufficient space for what he/she needs now. However, as time goes by, things will most likely change, and they may end up needing more bedrooms and space. Therefore, it’s wiser to buy a home you’ll need soon and don’t worry – it will get filled (things, pets, hobbies, love).

Be methodical as you rate your selections – Bring a digital camera so you can capture the features of each home that you view. Begin each series of photos with a close-up of the house number to identify where each group of home photos start and end. Pay attention to the home’s surroundings. What is nearby? Do you like the location? Immediately after leaving, rate each home on a scale of 1 to 5, with 5 being the highest. View top choices a second time before you decide to make an offer.