Buying/Renting/Searching....Where to start???

So my fiance and I are getting married in Oct 2008. We aren't technically planning to move out until next summer, however, we are just kinda hoping to start looking around and if something comes our way then great!!!

The problem is I don't know where to start. I don't know anything about buying a house/condo/townhouse/co-op or anything. Ideally we would like to buy in order to avoid renting, but neither of us know anything about the market.

Where do I start? What do we do?

Re: Buying/Renting/Searching....Where to start???

seriously, don't rush into anything. It's really complicated.... we're recently married, and in the same boat as you.... itching to get a mortgage and stop flushing money every month on rent.

HOWEVER, you really have to educate yourself with the process. If you know someone who bought a home recently, they'll be an excellent resource....

but between the loan options, the closing fees, the legal stuff, picking out neighborhoods, and figuring our everything you NEED vs other stuff you may just want, it will take quite a while.

According to CNBC, the housing bust will continue for at least another year, so there isn't much pressure in there to buy NOW. Just start looking on loan websites, zillow, and trulia... and don't forget to factor taxes & insurance into your monthly payments when you're figuring out your budget......