Once you’ve gotten the financial side of home buying down, you can start the more exciting part: shopping for your home. The average home buyer looks at an average of 15 houses before buying one. You may need to look at even more before you find the right house, so prepare yourself for the long haul. Take your time: it's a big decision!

Plan

Before you do anything, think about what you want in a house. You’ll probably end up making some compromises. But the more sure you are of what you want before you start shopping, the less time you'll waste looking at houses that don’t fit your needs. Use this wish list to help you focus on your needs and desires.

Look

If you don’t know the neighborhoods you are looking at, or if you’re new in town, get out of the car and look around. Walk around. Talk to people. Get a feel for the neighborhood.

When you're ready to start searching for a house, check Web sites, newspaper ads, for-sale signs, and word-of-mouth leads. You might find it easier to use a real estate agent who has access to a multiple listing service (MLS), a list of houses on the market in your area. If you decide to use an agent, ask around for referrals. Keep in mind that the agent always really works for the seller, but can be helpful in finding houses that meet your needs.

Narrow Your Choices

Take your wish list with you and take notes on each house you look at. This will help you remember the features that are most important to you, and all the details you liked or didn’t like about that house. Always ask for a seller's disclosure, which lists all defects of the home that the seller is aware of. The disclosure may also list the age of things like the furnace, hot water tank, and roof.

Ask for a return visit if you want another look. Don’t make an offer on a house until you’ve seen it at least twice and slept on the decision at least one night.