You may be ready to take that exciting step of buying a home – but where do you begin?

There are many steps to buy a house, from looking at an overall budget to scrutinizing the state of appliances.

Here are some questions to ask to get you started.

What’s my budget?

This is most important, as this will give you an idea of what you can afford and will help narrow down your home search.

Look at your debt-to-income ratio, consider property taxes, homeowners insurance, utility costs, and any maintenance you may want to do depends upon the home you’re interested in.

What have other houses in the neighborhood sold for?

Take a look at local, recent listings to see how the price of the home you want to buy stacks up. Is your seller’s price way too high, or right on target? If you are working with a realtor, ask them to provide you with a report of recently sold properties in the area.

Why is the seller leaving?

Knowing this answer can help when it comes to negotiating. Perhaps the seller is moving because of a job relocation or they are choosing to downsize.

Knowing this will help determine how flexible they may be when it comes to the price point. Someone needing to move quickly is more likely to negotiate with you than someone who is in no rush to go.

What’s included in the sale?

What appliances and fixtures will still be there once the house is turned over to you? Do you adore the kitchen cabinets, want to relax in the spacious tub in the bathroom? Be sure you have a list of what comes with the home.

Additionally, ask if there is anything you have not seen within the home that still comes with it.

What condition is the roof in?

How old are the appliances?

Again, these pieces of the home are essential and costly, and you don’t want to walk into a set of appliances that are way past their expiration date.

Look at the state of the air conditioner, furnace, water heater, washer, dryer, and stove to determine if any may need replacing.

What’s the neighborhood like?

You can buy the most stunning home at a great price, but if your neighborhood is troublesome it can ruin the whole experience.

When visiting a home, take a walk around the block (or two). Perhaps you’ll see a potential neighbor and can chat with them.

No matter what, you’ll get a feel for what the area is like. Is it noisy or quiet? Or, are there lots of pets around, homes with children? Are there businesses near or establishments like schools?

Knowing the lay of the land before purchasing can curtail major headaches.