It's important that you know what you want in a home and how much home you can afford before you start looking. After all, you can always find a home that you'll love, the question is, can you afford it?

Before you begin it's always best to meet with a mortgage consultant to pre-qualify yourself for a home loan. Pre-qualifying does not mean you have a loan, rather it simply tells you what you should be able to afford. Knowing this will allow you to focus on your price range and save you time.

Knowing where you want to live is also important. You don't want a place that's too far from shopping, good schools or employment opportunities. Taking the time to look outside the community can benefit you in the long run.