Buying your first home can be a time of many questions. For example, how do you even get started?

The steps to buying a home are simple. If you take the time, you will find the process faster and less stressful. The key is to avoid jumping into something you aren't ready for yet. Preparation is the key.

The first step is to get your personal finances in order. You need to know how much you can afford to spend. Take the time to prepare a budget, if you don't already have one. When figuring how much you can afford to spend on housing, don't forget the additional costs that come with ownership. You won't simply have a mortgage payment, you will have property taxes, homeowner's insurance, repair and maintenance costs and the possibility of PMI.

A good indicator of how much you can afford is your current rent payment. If you already have trouble making ends meet each month, you probably can't afford any higher a monthly mortgage payment than your rent currently is. Take your monthly amount and enter it into an online calculator to show you what the overall mortgage you can afford is.

Once you have an idea of how much you can spend, take the time to look over your credit report. Almost everyone is guaranteed to have a mistake on their report at one time or another. In just ten years, I have found two on mine. Check your report early enough to be able to correct any mistakes. Contrary to popular belief, checking your own credit report will not raise your credit score.

But having too many lenders pull your report will, so don't apply for a mortgage with every lender you are considering. Go ahead and spend the money and find out what your credit score is. The lender will most likely be reported a score close to what you find on the internet -- they can range up to 50 points in difference. It is a good idea to know what your credit score is, so that you know where you stand as a borrower.

Next, research the type of mortgage you want. The best mortgage decision for any borrower is a 15-year, fixed-rate mortgage with at least 20% downpayment. I realize that this is hard to conform to. So bare bones, you need to have at least a fixed-rate mortgage and as large a downpayment as possible. This is the most sound financial choice for most borrowers. However, there are some advantages to other mortgage options, so be sure that you do your research.

When you finances are in order, now is the time to shop for a lender. Ask your friends, family and coworkers for recommendations. Make sure your list includes local and national lenders, though keep in mind the differences that may be seen in service. Ask each of the lenders on your list for a rate quote on the type of mortgage you want. You should expect them to all be in the same ballpark. Beware of those that are way under the rest, they may not be the same in terms.

The key to buying a home is in proper preparation. Once you have found the lender that fits your financial needs, go ahead and become pre-approved for your mortgage. Then you are ready for the next step -- finding the house of your dreams.