Preparing to purchase a home shouldn’t begin right before you hope to buy your new property. Rather, the preparation process should start approximately a year before you plan to purchase the home. At this point, you’ll want to meet with a real estate agent and undergo a buyer consultation. Approximately three months after your consultation, it’s a good idea to meet with a lender—in fact, the earlier you meet with a lender, the better. Once you’ve reached the six-month mark, make sure to sign up for a real estate website membership. This way, you can enable alerts and receive information about suitable properties in your target area. Three months before purchase, begin viewing homes with your realtor. Contact us for more tips.