Buying a home is not as simple as buying a new car. There are a lot of things you should know. Here are a few:

DO

• Ask a real estate agent to be your buyer's agent.
• Project your future needs, as children multiply, get older and move out.
• Review last year's tax and utility bills.
• Consider privacy for you and your spouse.
• Walk the property boundaries with survey in hand, looking for encroachments on the site.
• Review the homeowner documents thoroughly.
• Consider a home warranty for unforseen breakdowns the first year.
• Keep meticulous records of home repairs once you move in for capital basis calculation once you sell.

DON'T

• Accept as absolute truth statements by the seller. Doccument everything.
• Make verbal agreements.
• Look for a home without loan pre-approval.
• Make your moving plans too tight.
• Buy the biggest home in the neighborhood - it's usually the hardest to sell.
• Purchase without a quality home inspection.