Before you begin your home search at REALTOR.com, prepare yourself by reading Ten Steps to Homeownership.

Homebuying Guides

Even before you begin looking for a home, the homebuying process requires diligent preparation. Buyers who have been preapproved for a home loan often have their offers taken more seriously by sellers. With advance preparation, you can tackle the process of acquiring the financing you need with more confidence. To help you on the path to homeownership, NeighborWorks® offers* free step-by-step guides, developed by the Fannie Mae Foundation, that can help you get closer to achieving your dream:

Knowing and Understanding Your Credit

Opening the Door to a Home of Your Own

Choosing the Mortgage that's Right for You

Borrowing Basics: What You Don't Know Can Hurt You

These authoritative homebuying guides (in PDF format) are available in nine languages, including English, Chinese, Haitian-Creole, Korean, Polish, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish and Vietnamese.

You can download a guide or order a print version online from HomeBuyingGuide.org.

Source NAR