Buying a home for the first time is an exciting stage in your life. While this endeavor is thrilling it can also be complicated. If you are on the fence and need some clarity on where to start, consider these thoughts:

Before you start looking for houses, get organized and prepared. This not only means getting your finances in order, but also your lifestyle plans for the future.

If you are buying with a spouse or partner there are many things you should discuss before beginning the home buying process. For starters you will want to discuss where you are at right now as well as your hopes for the future. As a prospective home buyer it’s important to look at the bigger picture and decide what you want out of life, not just what you want out of your home.

Think about what really matters to you and why you ultimately want to buy a home. Some potential reasons why you may be looking to own a home: looking for a lifestyle change, moving closer to family or work, putting down roots for your own family, upgrading to a newer nicer home, moving up to a bigger house for more space, downsizing, etc. After you decide what kind of life you plan to lead, you will have a better picture of what you want and need in a home.

Understanding your future lifestyle goals is also a valuable tool to help your Real Estate Agent zero in on just the right homes for you to look at. When it’s time to start home shopping it is important to know how much house you can afford as well as what you can afford to maintain. Now, it’s very likely that a real estate agent will not take you to see homes without you being pre-approved.