10 Things Every Home Buyer Should Do

Buying a home may be one of the biggest purchases you will ever make. The more you know about the process, the more money you'll save.

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Confident male real estate agent gestures toward a beautiful view out the window of a new home. Interested potential homeowners attentively listen to the real estate agent.
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Buying a home may be one of the biggest purchases you will ever make. The more you know about the home buying process, the more money, time and hassle you'll save.

If you have already read Four Smart Steps To Take Before Buying Your First Home, you probably have your location picked out and have taken steps to get your credit in the best shape possible. The Five Big Steps to Buying Your First Home will walk you through the home buying process. 

Here we've outlined 10 things you should prepare for now if you plan to shop for and purchase a new house in the months ahead. Take a look and get a step ahead in the process.

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Patricia Mertz Esswein
Patricia Mertz Esswein
Contributing Writer, Kiplinger's Personal Finance
Esswein joined Kiplinger in May 1984 as director of special publications and managing editor of Kiplinger Books. In 2004, she began covering real estate for Kiplinger's Personal Finance, writing about the housing market, buying and selling a home, getting a mortgage, and home improvement. Prior to joining Kiplinger, Esswein wrote and edited for Empire Sports, a monthly magazine covering sports and recreation in upstate New York. She holds a BA degree from Gustavus Adolphus College, in St. Peter, Minn., and an MA in magazine journalism from the S.I. Newhouse School at Syracuse University.
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