| Whether you're a first time homebuyer or have purchased a home before, buying a home can be an exciting and joyful experience. One of the first and most important steps in the home-buying process is to understand how much of a home you can afford. If you complete this step first, you will be able to make the most efficient use of your time when shopping for houses because you'll avoid looking at houses that are above your price range.
Drive around neighborhoods that appeal to you - it can take a long time to view homes, so if you know what area you'd like to live in, it will be a less painful experience for you. Sometimes it helps to talk to current residents to get a better feel for a neighborhood. There is an abundance of information available to potential buyers regarding crime rates, school rating, neighborhood ratings, diversity, etc. Much of this information can be obtained on the internet under the county web pages. | 
