Step 2: Think Location, Location, Location

You have a broker looking out for you, but you can still drive around the area and look for houses for sale, check classified ads, and spread the word within your network.

Remember what's most important in finding your dream house or almost dream house: location, location, location. It's the oldest real estate rule on the books, and it still applies.

Take out the map and narrow down the areas you want to look at. There are a lot of houses in a lot of neighborhoods out there, so if you don't focus your search, you could become a career house hunter. Consider how moving to each area would affect your commute, your taxes, your shopping, your kid's schooling, and so on.

Dolan Tip: Once you're interested in some specific neighborhoods, don't drive around them— walk . Visit during the day so you can see everything. Are there enough kids? Are there too many kids? Do people take good care of their yards? Does the street have too much traffic? How is the trash pickup? The level of noise? Do people take good care of their houses and property? Strike up conversations and see if your soon-to-be neighbors are people you'd want to see every day of your life. Look for fliers in the local stores about community events and political concerns; you don't want to be a conservative in the midst of a liberal hotbed or vice versa.

No detail is too small. An ill-fitting home is harder to undo than a bad marriage! If you find a house that really excites you, go back to the neighborhood at night and on a weekend or two, and see if you feel the same way about it. And of course, have a look at the schools your kids would attend—during the school day. Make an appointment to chat with the principal.

Once you've targeted some neighborhoods, it's time to start looking at specific houses. Before you start, jot down a list of your "must haves." If you absolutely can't live without a fireplace or garage or three bedrooms, you can save a lot of time and headache by making that known to your broker.

Most home buyers see dozens of homes during their search. After the fifth or sixth house, it can be hard to keep the details straight in your head. Take a notebook to make sketches or jot down details that will help you remember what you like and dislike about each house. Ask the real estate agent if there is any material about the house that you can take with you, or some photographs.

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