There are many important steps involved when looking at purchasing a home. From shopping available homes to touring properties, submitting offers to sellers, and signing contracts, there is no shortage of tasks for a potential homebuyer to check off their list.

Buying a home is likely the single biggest purchase most of us will make in our lifetimes, and often requires years of both planning and saving. A big part of that planning and saving has to do with setting aside a sufficient down payment, which is put toward a home purchase in most instances.

For young Americans looking to buy their first home, the process can be pretty daunting. Aside from the baseline financial requirements, there is a lot that goes into finding the right real estate agent, deciding what type of house and neighborhood you want, and of course, applying for a mortgage.  With a mortgage specifically, the process goes hand in hand with closing on the purchase of the home, so it’s important you’re attune to every pertinent detail along the way. Moreso, there are steps to take way ahead of applying for a mortgage, to ensure you’re in the best financial position to manage every cost that comes with buying a home.