Buying your first home can be scary, but if you follow these tips, you will do just fine!

Look at as many homes as possible to get a better feel for ones available in your price range. Keep track of what you like and dislike about each home that you visit by printing and using our Home Visits Worksheet.

Also consider the market value of the home, any special circumstances surrounding the sale of the home, how much you can afford to pay for the home, and the condition of the home when determining whether the home is right for you.

When you find a home in your price range and you want to buy it, visit the neighborhood at various times to get a more complete understanding of its activity. Talk with your prospective neighbors about what it's like to live in the area. Take a day and commute to your job from the area. And look at the home more critically -- you may discover flaws you hadn't noticed during your first visit.

Another aspect to consider is the financing you will use to purchase the home. For example, the seller may help pay closing costs such as transfer taxes or points on a mortgage. If this is the case, you may be more willing to accept the seller's asking price. Your real estate sales professional can offer some assistance regarding how much you should offer, but the final decision is yours.

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