Buying your first home is exciting - it’s a momentous decision! However, it can be a little intimidating if you’re not prepared. Where to start? What to look for? Who to trust? Here are some tips to get you started.

1. Prioritize!

First-time buyers need to consider price, location, size and maybe school district in their home search. Once you’ve determined the order of preferences and priorities – or, in other words, what you are willing to compromise on first – you are in a better position to make the right choices when looking at homes.

2. Learn the Lingo!

Buying a home is like learning a new language, when else have you ever used the words "closing costs", "escrow" or "PMI"? Don't be overwhlemed. Be sure you completely understand the terms being thrown at you, and you'll be far more confident in your final decision.

3. Don’t go it alone.

Use a real estate agent to help you. They’re the experts! Your agent can show you homes, yes, but they can also handle paperwork, give you local insights, educate you on what to look for and keep an eye out for things that could be potential "gotchas" during the sales process.

4. Take advantage of online guides and resources.

Most people begin their home search online and you’ll find everything you need by reading the “First Time Home Buyers Guide” at Homes.com. The site offers a great search function to find your ideal home, and can connect you to a real estate professional to guide you through the home buying process. They have close to 3 million properties updated throughout the day, so you can check back often or get new listings sent to you via email! There's even a Q&A section where you can get your questions answered, usually within hours.

You'll find all of this, plus helpful articles, trends and more. Just head to Homes.com/RealEstate (English) or Casa.homes (Spanish).

Happy house hunting!

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