You’re likely reading this because you live at your family home with your parents, or you’re renting a property, and you want to buy a house. You’ve never purchased a property before, and because it’s such a big decision and investment, the thought terrifies you a little.

But, you want to make a leap of faith and find your dream home. Of course, you don’t want to make any newbie mistakes that might cost you a lot of time, money, and tears. With that in mind, make sure you avoid making the following home-buying mistakes:

1. Not Doing Plenty of Property Research

The first mistake that some first-time homebuyers make is falling in love with a house or apartment, for example, and not conducting due diligence. Buying a property is a big financial decision to make, and it’s not one you can easily back out of making.

That’s why it’s very important to conduct plenty of real estate research before deciding on a particular property. You should research average property prices in the neighborhood, crime statistics, distances to the nearest amenities, and school provision.

2. Not Using a Reputable Real Estate Attorney

There are many formalities to take care of when buying real estate, especially when taking out a mortgage to pay for it. With that in mind, you need to enlist the help of a reputable real estate attorney to scrutinize or draw up contracts and review title deeds.

It’s crucial to determine any problems with a house or apartment purchase before signing anything and paying for it. An attorney that specializes in real estate will help you make the process go smoothly.

3. Making Decisions Based on Emotions

It can be hard to contain your excitement when you view a property, and you fall instantly in love with it. Yes, you might picture yourself living there and potentially staying there for the rest of your life.

However, you need to take a pragmatic approach when looking at potential homes to buy. For example, what kinds of repairs will it need? How much are you likely to spend remodeling it to suit your needs and tastes? Is the neighborhood safe and friendly?

4. Not Organizing a Mortgage First

Let’s face it: most first-time homebuyers won’t be lucky enough to pay for their new abodes in cash. The majority of buyers will need to finance their purchase by taking out a mortgage. The trouble is, some people forget to do that first before looking at properties to buy.

Make sure you don’t make that same mistake because if you have problems with your credit score, for example, you may find it hard to get good mortgage deals (or even any at all).

5. Not Getting a Full Inspection Report Done

Lastly, you need to know that the house or apartment you’re thinking of buying is structurally sound and won’t cause you any significant issues in the future. That’s why you should always get a full inspection report done before you sign any contracts.