2. Many times, a home is the largest asset an individual has and is considered one of the safest investments available.

3. A homeowner can exclude up to $500,000 of capital gain if married, filing jointly or up to $250,000 if single or filing separately. The home must have been the taxpayer's principal residence for the previous two years.

4. A portion of each amortized mortgage payment goes toward the principal, which is an investment.

5. A home is one of the few investments that you can enjoy by living in it.

6. The majority of the time a REALTOR® can show you any home whether it is listed with a company, a builder, or even a For Sale by Owner.

7. Working with a REALTOR® to purchase a For Sale by Owner is very advantageous because someone will be looking out for your best interests.

8. A real estate professional who can provide you financial information with a computer, will give you a distinct advantage in making the right decisions. 9. A pre-approval program will actually approve you for a specific loan amount subject to the property. This will give you confidence and should help when negotiating with the seller.

10. Your real estate professional can provide you with a list of items you'll need to make a loan application so you'll be ready when the time comes.

11. The right to conduct a property inspection, included in your sales contract, gives you the ability to negotiate with the seller before spending the money for a professional inspection the property.

12. A Home Protection Plan can provide coverage for selected items such as central heat and air conditioning, interior plumbing, built in appliances, pool equipment, and other things. If the seller is not providing this coverage, you can purchase it yourself.

13. Ask the real estate professional for a list of buyers that he or she has helped. Call several names to verify that you'll receive good service.

14. Ask the real estate professional if they are familiar with the neighborhoods you want to live in. Ask how many homes they have sold there in the past year.

15. Ask the real estate professional who he or she is representing in the transaction.