Everyone has heard of love at first sight, but usually this happens only when you've met the man or woman of your dreams. But have you ever found yourself falling love at first sight with the house of your dreams? You may know next to nothing about the house including the price or whether it's even on the market, but you do know you must have it.

Buying a house should not be taken in a light manner or like a child's play. It is going to be the most important decision of your life and hence a lot of thoughtful planning needs to be done before going in for the buying of a perfect home for you.

Once you have taken a decision, on which part of the country you want to have a home of your own, take a drive down the countryside, roads and lanes of the area looking for the signs "House for Sale." If you have children, never forget to take into account the distance of their educational institutions from the location chosen. Also take into account how far it is a from a hospital and the main roads.

When trying to get any type of loan, most banks will compete against each other for your business. That is why it is important to shop around to ensure that you get the best deal. When applying for a loan, banks will ask for a list of your assets, any loans that you have, and any debts you have yet to pay off. Additionally, they will also ask to see your most current tax return and in most cases they will want to see pay stubs to prove your income. Once the banks receive this information they will be able to determine how much you are able to borrow. A broker would also be able to help you with these services, but you would have to pay some sort of commission.

Based on the number of occupants of the house, note down how many bedrooms, bathrooms, car parkings, play areas, pantry/kitchen and storage space you really require. If you want to hire a real estate agent to help you in this matter, he will be able to show you those houses only which meet your requirements and also which are within the budget you have set aside for the said house.

When selecting your dream home, there are a few things to remember. One of which is the neighbourhood statistics. Especially if you have children, you want to be sure that the area you choose will have a good lifestyle to raise your children. Do your research, ask questions, and pay attention to what you see as you drive around the area. Drive through the nationhood several times, at different times during the day, different days of the week. Be sure there is proper and safe transportation, to and from school, for your children. Lastly, visit the local schools and ask questions. If you are pleased with the neighbourhood and local schools, you will be happy in your new home.

Now that you've found the home of your dreams, it's time to think about finding an inspector who will examine the house for any structural defects. The last thing you want to do is buy a home with a crumbling foundation. Don't quibble over minor defects like peeling paint or squeaky door hinges. Such problems can be dealt with easily enough, so relax and be as flexible as possible.

Now that you've chosen your dream house, you can make an offer. Remember to always bid just a little lower than the asking price. This gives you a little room to negotiate terms. Plus, if there's any additional requirements you may have, don't forget to make them known at the time you make your offer. Since you could easily lose the deal if you fail to close it in a timely fashion, keep negotiating until you think you have a good deal, and then close it quickly once all parties reach a satisfactory agreement.

Your house is your castle, the location where you will stay with your family and the place where you will enjoy the rest of your life. It is where you establish your dreams and make future plans. Be sure you purchase a house that you can relax in, and want to come back home to, following a hard days work.

The author helps people in South Africa to get a home loan approved. To read more visit homeloans-sa.co.za