Buying a home ranks as one of the biggest personal investments and commitment one can make. Being organized and prepared will help significantly to getting the best home deal possible with the least amount of stress  

Before you build a plan of action, take the time to lay the framework for your decision-making process.   

First, ask yourself how much you think you can afford to spend for a home. To be sure of your the price range, find a lender to assist you in becoming  pre-approved. Pre-approval will let you know what you can afford.  This will enable you to look for homes in your price range. A pre-approval helps to alleviate some of the anxieties that come with home buying. You know exactly what you qualify for and at what rate.  You know how large your monthly mortgage payments will be, and you know how much you will have for a down payment. Once you are pre-approved, you avoid the frustration of finding homes that you think are perfect, but are not in your price range.

Second, ask yourself where you want to live and what is the best location for you and/or your family.

Important Considerations:   

• Proximity to work, school
• Age of home
• Crime rate of neighborhood
• Local transportation
• Convenience for family members
• Types of homes in neighborhood