• Stick within your budget – don't look at homes above what you can afford – even if it's "just a little" more.
• Don't let your heart rule over your head. You may fall in love with a property, but if it is beyond your means, it is not the right house for you.
• Be flexible. Don’t be disappointed if the houses in your price range differ from your dream. Buy the home you can afford rather than the home that "has it all."
• Compare what you'd like to have with what you really need.
• Take a camera with you to capture an image of each house you look at that makes it to the "maybe" list.
• Don't make a hasty decision, especially if you feel yourself becoming guided by emotion. Selecting a home takes time, thought, and analysis. You should carefully weigh the pros and cons of each house you like.
• Review your checklist and notes and compare it against your needs, wants, and budget.
• Bring your spouse, friend or family member with you to get a second opinion. They may notice a shortcoming that you've overlooked.
• Find out how much utilities and maintenance cost.
• Stay on top of newly listed houses via a Multiple Listing Service on the Internet.
• Remain in close contact with your agent. This is extremely important if you're in a strong seller's market in which homes that are priced right go fast. You want a good agent who will alert you of new listings and who will show you the houses as soon as they're listed.
• Be prepared to look at the potential of a house rather than what you see in front of you. Set your priorities and decide what can be sacrificed. It's more important that the layout of the house and the number of bedrooms you need fit your needs and that all major systems are functional versus your dislike for the avocado green carpet or the lack of landscaping. Those types of cosmetic shortcomings can be easily remedied once you buy the house.

Some Additional Tips

1. Get pre-approved

Buyers should always get pre-approved before they begin house hunting. Buyers should get a written pre-approval from a reputable mortgage lender before they start shopping for a home. Once you've become pre-qualified for a loan, you should be ready to put your house-hunting efforts into full gear. But don't skip the important step of scouting out neighborhoods before you start your search for the perfect house.

2. Calculate your mortgage payments

Buyer's mortgage payments might be the same or less than rent payments. The (principal and interest) monthly payment on a $200,000, 30-year, fixed rate mortgage with an interest rate of six percent (6.25%) is $1,231 -- less than what some people pay for rent (taxes, insurance and any other fees, including closing costs, are extra).

3. Share closing costs

Buyers may ask sellers to pay for closing costs. As part of the negotiating process when buying a house, the buyer may ask the seller to pay for a percentage of the non-recurring closing costs, sometimes saving thousands of dollars for the buyer.