Don’t get caught in that trap of finding a perfect home that you can’t afford. We will help you do your homework and define your budget. Get a pre-approved mortgage or consult with a trusted lender, and keep your eye on the market, since any changes could impact what's considered affordable.

Before you start looking at individual homes, figure out which neighborhoods you would prefer to live in. How close are schools? Stores? Access to highways and public transit? These all have an impact. Also, check common areas in a community like parks and playgrounds – they can say a lot about how the residents feel about their neighborhood, so look for tell-tale signs of neglect or proud upkeep. We'll let you know how well certain neighborhoods are selling, which is a good indicator of where people want to live.

Smart shoppers never head to the grocery store without a list and neither should you when you're considering a place to call home. Organize your thoughts on paper and come up with a master house wish list that you can refer to. Divide it up into must-haves, would-be-nice items and deal breakers. Always keep this list with you so that you can compare homes on the basis of your personal wants and needs.

Even before you locate your ideal home, have a home inspector at the ready. He or she may even be able to offer you some pointers for things to look out for when you first see a place. If you need help selecting one, ask about our wide network of trusted professionals.

Don’t try to squeeze more than four viewings into a single day – it may be more confusing than convenient. Make note of the pros and cons after each viewing, so you can take a look at the next home without struggling to remember details about the one before.

A smart agent is always sure to ask about mutual driveways, parking, zoning bylaws and upcoming construction. You may be in a neighborhood that is about to be receiving power line upgrades or road repairs that can wreak havoc on getting from point A to point B after you move in.

Exercising due diligence on our behalf means requesting a survey of the property. Fences may not be on actual property lines and right-of-way issues may come into play in the future with the sale of the home next door. Don’t just rely on your judgement; hire a lawyer to inspect all of the paperwork related to a prospective purchase.

If you’ve found a home that really appeals to you, show it to someone else like a good friend or relative. Let them do all the talking in case they see something you hadn’t noticed. Having someone who isn’t personally vested in the property can give you the objective opinion you need before you make your decision.

In a hot market, it can be hard not to make an immediate offer. While that may work in most cases, be sure to step back, pull out your list and carefully gauge if this property meets all of your must-have criteria. Savvy househunters say that when you find the right property, you can feel it down to your bones. If that’s the case for you, see if you can wait a day (or a few hours) before making an offer. The only thing worse than buyer’s remorse is letting a dream home get away.