Owning a home is a dream for many people. With escalating real estate prices and the easy availability of loans, this is becoming a reality for most. Buying a home, especially for the first time, may be a daunting task. There are several aspects to be considered, and many decisions to be made.

Home buying involves several stages: locating the right kind of house, adjusting the finances, contacting a real estate agent, contacting a mortgage company, making an offer to the seller or to the agent, getting the loan, making the home inspection, getting a pre-approval, making the down payment, signing the contract, making any repairs or enhancements to the house, and finally, moving in.

The most important aspect to be considered before buying a house is to decide how long you would be staying in the house. Selling it too soon after buying would lead to loss of money in the form of transaction costs. Another most important formality is to check your credit report. A good credit report would not only ease the process of getting a mortgage but would also fetch a good interest rate. Look for a house you can easily afford -- most buyers put in too much money into the house, which in turn leads to a lot of frustration later. Check out the best mortgage option that would suit your requirements, both in the short and long run. Engage an agent, as this would give several advantages such as a wider choice of houses, a comparative market analysis, better negotiation with the seller, professional dealing with home inspectors, closing agents and other professionals, and representation in any problems or issues.

Make a survey of the prices of other houses that have been sold in the area in the last three months. This will make negotiation easier. Hiring a home inspector would also help. Make sure of all the documentation before the final deal. Take a particular look at the settlement statement, loan papers, contract, title deed, title insurance, homeowners insurance policy, and the closing cost estimate. Get a title search done. Check out the kind of disclosures the seller has to provide. Keep records of all the payments you have made to the agent, seller, or anyone else.