Buying a home is like a right of passage for any person. Setting off to find the perfect place can be a long and frustrating process when you don’t know where to start. A few rules can have you on your way as long as you keep your mind open for different possibilities.

Before you buy anything, you need to know whether you can afford it. Check with a lender to see how much you will qualify for. There is no sense scoping out and falling in love with a house that’s double what your’e able to pay.

Once you get the budget figured out, drive around some areas which interest you. Find out how far it is to work, the store, school or to the nearest highway. Location is a major factor in selecting the perfect piece of real estate, the areas you love may tend to be a bit too pricey, so know your market.

If you absolutely love a specific zip code but can’t afford the affluent homes in the area, decide whether you could live in a condominium. Often times smaller condo’s or apartment conversions are a little less because they do not have a yard or square footage as a house does. If sharing a wall is not a possibility, then you may have to look somewhere else.

Another important question you have to ask yourself is about what you can and can’t live without. If you need a home office, can you go without the second bathroom even if there is a larger yard? These decisions are tough, so be prepared with a list of wants and a list of needs. There is no sense looking at a property if it only has one bathroom and you need two.

Any house can be transformed into a wonderful place to stay. Many people buy worn down homes for a lower price, then they fix what is broken, add new amenities, paint and perfect them. If this is something you’re interested in, know your construction limitations as well as your financial bottom line.

Now that you’ve been educated about buying a home, start looking at ones you would love to live in. You may see something in each house that you love, or even hate. Stick to the rules you set up for yourself and keep an eye on overall costs. This can be a bit of a roller coaster ride so buckle up and enjoy the highs.

Super tips and advice for the first-time real estate buyer now in our comprehensive guide to everything you need to know about how and where to find a great buyers advocate .