By Kat DeLong

At some point in life, many of us decide we want to buy a house for the first time. But because it’s all new, most people don’t knows the steps they should take for the process to go as smoothly as possible.

The first thing you should do is take stock of your finances. Buying a house is an investment, and you’re going to be writing a few checks. Make sure your credit score is at it’s best, if you can. It’s often unwise to make large credit expenditures just prior to or during your home loan process.

Before you even start shopping, find out how much a lender will be willing to give you. Consider getting pre-qualified for a home loan. This will help you know the price range to look at. Speak with several realtors to understand who might fit you best and specialize in your needs.