Given your price range, decide what kind of home you want/need:  size, location, special features (such as fireplace or fence), etc.  You will also want to consider school districts and other factors that are important to you and you family.  consider your home as an investment.  What will make your home attractive to purchasers when you are ready to sell?  A couple without children would not be interested in local schools for themselves, but the quality of local schools may be a an important factor when they want to sell the house.  There are good resources available at bookstores, your library and through real estate agents on what factors are especially important for buyers and sellers

We communicate in person, by telephone, or e-mail.  The loan application is completed and arrangement are made for obtaining a credit report.  The emphasis here is to get Pre-Approved for a loan so that you know exactly what price range is workable.  This eliminates disappointments and wasted time.  Sometimes you may be surprised to find that you comfortably qualify for more than you thought.  Pre-Approval also will show you what your monthly payments will be and you receive a full disclosure at time of application of all other costs needed to close your sale.  If there are any glitches in your qualifying for a loan, they can be cleared up ahead of time.  You then have what could be considered a "cash" sale.  With Pre-Approval you will be in an excellent negotiating position, when you find the perfect home.  The Pre-Approval process takes between 2 to 10 business days.

You may want to use a real estate broker/agent to help you with your search. This is the selling broker/agent.  Interview several broker/agents to find one you are comfortable working with, who will answer you questions and help you fine a property that meets your specifications.  A listing broker lists the property for sale and actively markets the property.  The selling broker or agent shows the house to the buyer.  Sometimes, the listing and selling brokers are the same agency.  The fees for the listing and selling broker/agent are generally paid by the seller,  usually as a percentage of the purchase price.

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Allow time to see a number of houses, so you have a good basis for making a final decision.  When you find a home you like, carefully give it your own personal inspection.  You will also want to tour the neighborhood and perhaps see the house at different times of the day or on weekends to check traffic patterns and other amenities that may affect your decision.

The use of attorneys for real estate transactions varies by state.  In some states, you won;t need to hire an attorney to assist you with purchasing your home since your real estate agent will be trained to prepare the necessary contracts and the closing will be conducted by a title insurance or escrow company, this is true for North Carolina REALTORS.  In other states, you'll need to hire an attorney to prepare the documents and conduct the closing.  As with all transactions involving legal documents, its important to read and understand any documents you are asked to sign.  If you are unsure about the meaning of any documents, it is a good idea to consult an attorney who specializes in real estate transactions. 

If you're comfortable with the home, make an Offer to Purchase, including an "earnest money" deposit.  You should make sure the Offer allows you to get your money back if a professional inspection reveals problems with the house or if you are not able to get approved for a mortgage.

Your Purchase Contract should permit you to have various professional inspections and should govern your rights if the inspections show problems.  Before you make and offer and sign a purchase contract, ask your real estate agent or attorney which inspections are best for your area.  For example - standard purchase contract forms often do not provide for radon inspections.  Have the necessary inspections included as  contingency for your offer.

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Mortgage interest rates, fees and other terms can vary widely.  Research what is available by calling several mortgage lenders or using the internet.  When you have selected the mortgage terms that are right for you , apply for a mortgage loan at a bank or other lending institution.

A day or two before closing, do a final walk-through of the property to make sure there are no new problems.  This may be a good time to have the seller show you how to operate major systems and appliances.

Close the loan (also called "Loan Settlement").  This is also when you make the rest of your down payment, pay loan fees, sign all necessary legal documents. Your real estate agent will assist you through this process and inform you of the exact money needed for the loan closing.  Checks are typically made payable to the closing attorney and will need to be a certified bank check.