Congratulations! Buying a home or even thinking of buying a home is an exciting adventure. You will be joining the ranks of hundreds of families who realize that home ownership offers a number of benefits including building equity, saving for the future, and establishing a home your family can call their own. Your hard-earned dollars contribute to your mortgage, not a landlord's and over time your home will increase in value and the equity you earn is ultimately yours! Before you start shopping for your home, give some thought to your lifestyle, the features you need and want, affordability, and the neighborhoods you prefer. Determining the features that are most important to you will bring you closer to finding your perfect home.