There are plenty of reasons to own your own home. Besides the intangible benefits, homeownership lets you build equity, and is the single biggest tax break available to most consumers. You must keep in mind that everything is negotiable in buying a house. Do not hesitate to negotiate at every single step of the way.

With an organized house buying plan, you can minimize a great deal of the emotional impact. By determining your buying power, your wants and needs, and having an organized search plan, your chances of a stress-free experience are much better.

The followings are useful tips to follow before and during the process of buying a home. -------------------Before buying a home

-- Once the decision to buy a home has been made, take the time to prepare before you go on your home search.

-- Get your financial situation in order first. Use extra cash to eliminate credit-card and other high-interest consumer debt, even if that means you can put down less on your future home.

-- Get pre-approved for a mortgage. This will not only give you a clear idea of how much a lender will approve for you, it will make your home buying process a great deal easier (and save a lot of time later). Talk to several lenders, compare costs and interest rates, negotiate to get a better deal.

-- Choose an Agent that you feel comfortable with and who understands your needs. If you look for houses before you have your own Agent, you may not have the representation you want.

-- Determine how much cash you have for a down payment, plus a little something extra for emergency repairs once you move into your new home.

-- Determine your minimum requirements as well as any desired additional features you may need or want. -------------------While buying a home

-- Determine what your budget will comfortably allow and stick to it. How much you can borrow and how much of a down payment you can muster. As a rule of thumb, your annual mortgage payment, taxes and homeowner's insurance shouldn't exceed 28% of your gross income.

-- As you are looking, use a scorecard to compare homes. Maintain your perspective and your cool. You may find an acceptable house on the first day or the tenth. The important thing is to get the home that is best for you.

-- Take note of any items that you don't want in a house.

-- Determine your desired location for schools, work, public transportation, etc.

-- Once you find a home that meets your requirements, make an offer. Discuss the process with your real estate agent. If the seller counters your offer, you may need to negotiate until you both agree to the terms of the sale. Make your offer contingent on a home inspection. An inspection will tell you about the condition of the home, and can help you avoid buying a home that needs major repairs. (Source: tipsnetwork.net)