The purchase of a home is an important one. A home is where you will live and make the memories of your life. It is important to take your time, plan, and organize your finances. The purchase of a new home is exciting and should be a fun experience.

1. Get your finances in order. Contact a preferred lender and get a Good Faith Estimate. Determine how much you can afford towards a mortgage loan each month.

2. Do your homework. Figure out where you want to live and research the area. Consider factors such as schools, churches, shopping, dining, hospitals, and proximity to work.

3. Make a wish list. Prioritize what features of your new home are most important to you.

4. Find the right homebuilder. The wrong homebuilder can make for a terrible home-buying experience. Make sure your homebuilder is in good standing with the Better Business Bureau.

5. Consider an inventory home. Many things can affect the time it takes to build your new home, such as weather and availability of labor and supplies. Purchasing an inventory home eliminates much of the variability in the homebuilding process and allows you to lock in to current interest rates.

6. Don’t wait. Homes sell very quickly. The home you love today and think about tonight may be purchased today by the family who loved it yesterday and thought about it last night.

7. Watch your spending. Don’t make any large purchases or take out any additional loans. Doing so may change your ability to qualify for the loan reflected in the Good Faith Estimate.

8. Plan your move. Create a timeline to avoid closing too early or too late. Plan when to pack, obtain your homeowner’s insurance, and set up utilities, cable, phone, etc.

9. Have fun! Purchasing a new home is an exciting experience. Have fun with it!