Work with an experienced real estate pro. They can help speed up your home search and introduce you to neighborhoods and listings you’d otherwise not have known about. A good agent also helps establish realistic expectations and negotiates to get you the best deal.

Build your credit and your savings. A higher credit score and down payment can land you a better mortgage rate, which can help keep your home purchase more affordable in a rising rate environment.

Avoid buyer’s remorse. Prepare a list of wants vs. must-haves so you can move quickly and dodge decision fatigue. But more importantly, know when to walk away from a deal.