Before you begin your home search, make a list of what you want in your new home, so that you can evaluate each home as you look at it and compare it with others you have seen. After you begin looking at a number of homes, you might be surprised how difficult it is to remember specific features of any house. Use the Home Buyer's Evaluation Chart and the Checklist for Rating Homes to take notes on each house you see. A digital camera can help remind you of details, too.

When you sign a contract with a real estate agent, he or she will show you all the homes in your chosen area that meet your criteria. You can drive through neighborhoods that appeal to you and contact owners who are attempting to sell their own properties through a "for sale by owner" listing. You can also go online and begin your own research on homes for sale in your area.