Get Pre-Qualified
You can save yourself significant time if you take a minute to figure out how much mortgage you can afford. Generally, a lender will want your monthly mortgage payment to total no more than 29% of your monthly gross income (that's your monthly income before taxes and other paycheck deductions are taken out). You'll also need to consider current loan interest rates. The lower the interest rate, the more expensive the home you'll be able to afford.
Create a Wish List
Make your wish list. Focus on the features you must have in a home: 2 bedrooms or 3? 1 bath or 2? Garage or no garage? Knowing what you're looking for will help you focus your search. It will help your real estate agent identify beforehand those properties which meet your criteria, saving your valuable time. Number these items in order of importance to you. Draw a line between the the things you can't live without and the ones you are flexible on. Keep this in mind as your real estate agent is showing you new homes.
Find a Real Estate Agent
You'll want to start searching for an agent as soon as you decide to buy a home. Talk to several and find someone you think you'll be comfortable working closely with. Many of your friends and relatives have probably bought and sold their homes through agents. Ask them who they used and what their experiences were. You can find out which agents specialize in the kind of home or the area you want by looking in the Yellow Pages or your local newspaper's classified real estate ads. When you talk to prospective agents, ask questions about the areas and types of homes in which you're interested. You will want an agent familiar with the area you are interested in. Most important, is their personal style a good fit with your own? Don't be afraid to ask for testimonials, a good agent will have many and not hesitate to give you somebody to contact.
Get an Inspection by a Qualified Home Inspector
When you make an offer on a home, it's a good idea to make your offer contingent on a home inspection, conducted by an independent authorized inspector. You will have to pay for this inspection yourself, but it could keep you from buying a house that will cost you far more in repairs, down the road. This holds true even for new homes as a builder's quality can widely vary. If you are satisfied with the results of the inspection, then your offer can proceed. If you aren't, you may want to negotiate, asking the seller to pay for certain repairs or asking for a lower price.
Consult a Lawyer
Your real estate agent is not an attorney and as such should not advise you on legal advice for the purchase of your new home. Real Estate attorneys specialize in representing clients in the purchasing process. Your attorney would be the one to amend a contract with any special stipulations you may have and will serve as your voice if a seller is making unreasonable demands. The fees for this service vary however in the overall context of the home purchase it is usually very reasonable.