Are you interested in purchasing a home, but you are not sure where to begin?

Don't begin by looking for houses that catch your attention and then calling the listing agent. That is usually the worst place to begin your search.

First you must be pre-approved for a mortgage (See things to do before buying a home).

Then, ask friends, neighbors, or co-workers for referrals, but remember that this is just a starting point. Good real estate agents don't have to do every deal. Often, the best agents specialize in specific markets, thus, good agents are often willing to give referrals to other agents that specialize in different markets.

Try to interview more than one candidate, even if just over the phone. Meet with all serious prospects. The better an agent understands you and can communicate with you, the better your real estate purchase. Far too often, hungry agents will try to do any and every deal, caring first about commission, second about you as a customer.

You need to have a great relationship with your agent. Anything less is unacceptable regardless of their reputation or success. Customer relationships are built by one thing, honesty.

You must be first. You are not wasting a real estate agent's time. A good real estate agent will be able to quickly understand what you want in a home, and make recommendations about what is and what is not possible about your requirements versus your ability to pay, etc.

A good agent can make your real estate purchase one of your best decisions, or a bad agent can make it one of your worst decisions. Put you first.