As the real estate market expands, jumping into the home buying journey can seem a bit overwhelming, especially for
those new to the process. 

However, having a solid plan in place before starting can help ease some stressors of home buying and aid in getting
the process done efficiently. 

How much home can you afford? 

Consider starting the process by examining your finances and how much you can afford. Doing this, you would take into
consideration your monthly income, how much you have saved up for a down payment, your debts and assets. 

With these items in mind, you can figure out how much monthly mortgage payment you can comfortably afford and in turn
what your home buying budget is roughly. If you need help with these calculations many banks offer mortgage loan
calculators. 

Be strategic with your home search 

Consider your needs so you can narrow down your home search and not waste time viewing properties not matching your
needs. This includes how many rooms are needed for the members of your household, location, amenities and
more. 

Once your needs are identified, you can customize your online search with these metrics to find homes meeting these
criteria. 

Hire a real estate agent 

Due to the ever-changing nature of real estate, hiring a real estate agent who serves the area you wish to purchase a
home in is crucial. 

They can lead you through understanding specific regulations associated with the location, contracts, negotiate home
prices on your behalf, assist with the final walk through and much more. 

By leaning on your real estate agent for support and making an in-depth examination of your needs and finances, you
can sail through the home buying process.