According to the Better Business Bureau, the most important thing to remember during the process is that you are not alone.
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How should you start? What about a realtor or mortgage lender? Take a look at the mistakes and misconceptions to avoid from the BBB:
1. Check and monitor your credit and fix any problems before you start to look at homes
2. Find a home with a monthly payment you can afford
3. Find money to cover any extra expenses
4. Don't let a long lease drag you down
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5. Make time to find your perfect home. Don't rush the process
6. Determine a down payment that fits your budget
7. If your realtor doesn't fit your need, give them the boot
8. Communicate/Talk to your lender and realtor
9. Get a home inspection
Building a new home from the ground up? Experts say there are several things you should do. Those tips include using a real estate agent, checking out the builder, researching the community and understanding your floor plan.
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Even after you've taken all of these steps, you may still run into issues with your home builder. Anthony and Jessica Gruetzmacher moved into a DR Horton home in Texas. Two years after they closed on their 2,500 square foot home, the couple was still fighting to get repairs the builder promised within days of their 2014 closing.
Their experience sparked an investigation with ABC13's Ted Oberg and across the nation with ABC News' Brian Ross.
Full interview with Brian Ross about ABC News investigation
The issues that the Gruetzmacher's experienced are a problem that many have faced. Some homeowners have seen a plethora of issues with the fight against their builder landing in court.
FRIDAY ON ABC13 AT 10PM: Ted Oberg investigates a dispute between several homeowners in Bellaire and their collective frustrations with a local builder.