Isn’t it funny how your notions of money change over the years? In college, a 1,000 laptop may seem like the most money you will ever spend. That changes when you buy your first car, though. For most people, buying their first home is the biggest purchase they will have made in their life. Some people will go through this process many more times, and some will grow old in their very first home. No matter what, though, it’s important to take the time to make sure you’re picking the perfect home for you and, if applicable, your family.Financing is an important consideration when choosing a home, but it is far from the only one. You should begin by thinking of what sort of home you are looking for. Do you want a single-story home, or would you prefer some elevation? Do you want a yard that requires a lot of upkeep, or would you rather just have a small areaor none at all? Once you’ve created a list of the most desirable points of your dream home, you can begin trying to locate that home in reality.Who will assist you in your search? It depends, but it can help to have both a real estate agent and a loan broker (if you are not already pre-approved). While some will try to do both or will point you to their own references, doing your own research can help you find independent agents without ties to specific companies or other motives that might work against you. Also, real estate agents are there to help you, so don’t ever feel threatened or forced by an agent. If the agent does not respect the client-agent relationship and tries to get you to buy a house you don’t want, there is something wrong.There’s no “magic number” for how many houses you should look at. Some people only look at one, some look at two or three, some look for weeks or months. Broker-Associate Elizabeth Lyons writes that it is not uncommon for someone to find their home in under two days.By the time you’re actually visiting a home, of course, you shod know about the surrounding neighborhood and be sure that it fits your expectations and goals. Do you see yourself happy in the house and neighborhood in five years (or less, if you are planning a more temporary stay)? If not, then you will either need to readjust your expectations (if they are unrealistic) or look in another area.