Hire a good, experienced attorney

Never, ever, buy a home, or even begin your search for a new home, without first hiring a good, experienced, real estate attorney. There are numerous, important, reasons why. Here's the most important reason:

When buying a home, you'll have to sign a Contract to Purchase the property (sometimes known as a Purchase and Sale Agreement). This document, which spells out all the terms under which you'll purchase the property, cannot be changed (unless both parties agree) once it's signed. So, you'll need an experienced attorney to negotiate and draft the contract in a way that protects your interests to the greatest degree possible.