The first half, of course, is the mortgage itself, which can be rephrased as "getting the best deal on the money." Finding the house, on the other hand, can be thought of as "getting the best deal for the money."

An excellent way to start is to write a list of everything you want in a house. Then divide it into two groups: priorities (for example, close to a good school, central heat and air conditioning, etc.) and wish list items (such as swimming pool, three-car garage, etc.).

There is no law or rule that requires you to work with a real estate agent, but if you are new (or even experienced) to buying houses, it's wise to have somebody to guide you. You wouldn't go down a raging river without a guide, right?

Realtors(R) are real estate agents that are members of the National Association of Realtors(R). As you look for a Realtor(R), knowing your priorities will help the both of you identify homes that best match your desires and what you can afford, as well as future considerations, such as resale values.

Next: Do you want to learn about the different types of mortgages or would you like to be matched with up to five mortgage lenders?