[mosesbotbol]

Do you have any friends that are real estate brokers?

Start going to open houses off of CL or any real estate site. Use your friend as the refering broker so if you move forward, you'll be able to get some kind of kick back from your buddy. There are other things you can do to get money back at closing too. You should feel that when you are ready to make an offer, you know the whole real estate scene for your area. Like looking for a used car; someone tells you year/make/model/mileage and you guess right on the money. You have to be like that for the properties you are looking at.

Shop around on rates. You'll have to get your credit checked etc, but once they know where you stand in terms of debt to income, you'll get an idea of what types of rates are available to you. I would suggest a fixed rate mortgage. Rates are low and it's good to know your payment will be the same for the whole loan.

Once you settle on a rate, get pre-approved and don't over extend yourself. You have to feel 100% confident that the payment will be ok. Allow for maintenence, condo fee's, and heat/AC.

Make any offer contigent on a home inspection. Tiger Home Inspections is an excellent company that can make a diamond sound like coal they are so thourough.

You are looking at one of the best real estate markets in decades, you are lucky to be looking right now and actually have money to buy something!