One of the most important things you can do is to make a checklist as you search for, find and buy a home. By keeping on top of your game-plan at all times you will greatly increase your chances of success. The market for buying a home has changed immeasurably in the last couple of years so the preparation that you do for your home purchase is essential.

Be an informed buyer.

Familiarize yourself with the mortgage process.

Get Pre-Approved for a mortgage before you look for a home and shop with the power of a cash buyer. Getting pre-approved helps to smooth the entire home buying process.

Get your financial picture in focus as soon as possible. Since it is an important component, be aware of your credit situation. Having your credit report in hand makes it much easier to decide which way to proceed.

The best time to work on your budget is before you move.

Find an Agent that you trust. It is important to do this before you go rushing off looking for homes or you may end up with no representation.

Determine your housing needs and wants to determine what types of houses you should be considering.

Familiarize yourself with the various types of housing available: Single family, townhouse, and condo.

House Hunting Time! Make a notecard for each house to help you keep track of the properties you've seen.

Familiarize yourself with how to set a value on a house. This can save you a great deal of time and helps to avoid disappointment.

When you find an acceptable house, write an offer.

Negotiate your best deal using the information you have acquired.

If you haven't already done so, make a mortgage loan request.

Arrange for home inspection. Protect yourself and do not skip this step! All of the work that you have done up to this point may be wasted if you do not thoroughly investigate the home.

Learn about home warranties and what they cover.

Compare and secure homeowners insurance. Since homeowners insurance is a long term expense, getting the best deal here brings savings that continue.

Arrange for closing agent or attorney. Make all final preparations for closing.

Make moving plans. If you plan to use a moving company, make comparisons and reserve time now.

Secure final loan approval and commitment from the lending institution. If you have done your "up-front" work, this should be one of your easiest steps.

Do a final walk through of the house.

Final closing and settlement.

Move to your new home and begin enjoying it--you deserve it!