Buying a home should be a pleasant and memorable experience! However, at times, it can be scary. Getting organized and doing your homework, you can overcome your fears and enjoy the whole process. Here's a basic guide to help you as you start your journey.

    * First, Get Organized! This will save you both time and energy.

    * Second, find out how much house you can afford.  It's very important that you do this before you start house-hunting.

    * Make a wish list of all the things you want in a home.

      How many bedrooms? How many bathrooms? Big Yard? Newer or older home? Close to schools? Leave nothing out and take everything into consideration.

    * Next, separate the essentials from the things you can live without. Make another list if you have to. This saves a lot of time and frustration.

    * Keep notes as you look from house to house. After a while, it becomes difficult to remember which features belong to what home!

    * When selecting a home, try to look beyond the cosmetics. Make sure that the house is in good physical condition and that you understand the cost of repairs. Once you make an offer on a home, the sale is conditioned on a structural inspection.

    * Finally, don’t be afraid to ask lots of questions!