10 Secrets First-Time Home Buyers Should Know

Even if you don't have kids yet or don't plan on having kids ever, schools in the neighborhood are important to consider when buying a home. A good school district can help maintain home values and boost resale opportunities. It usually brings with it higher taxes, which go partially to the school district. Do your research to determine if buying in a good school district is worth it for your household.

Understanding the maximum mortgage amount that you can afford helps tremendously during your home search. It'll save you from looking at homes (and potentially getting your hopes up) that aren't within your means. And don't forget, fixer-uppers are cool, too, if you're into DIY!

Get estimates for utility expenses from the real estate agents or current or former homeowners. It helps to know how much it'll cost for water, waste management and other monthly and annual expenses before you move in. If cable, Internet and good celluar service are paramount in your family, be sure to ask questions about those options, too.

Some neighborhoods have homeowner's association rules to abide by. If that's the case for a home you're considering, be sure to ask questions and gather information to look over. This is especially important if you plan to do improvements later on. Some homeowner's association rules can be pretty particular and constricting, especially when it comes to exterior changes to the homes.

When you have a specific house in mind, think about potential developments. For example: If the home is near a busy road, will there be expansion in the near future? If there is a lot of open space around the home, will more homes be built in the area soon? If there are several homes for sale in the neighborhood, are they selling quickly and who's moving in? It may be difficult to find concrete information about future developments, but keeping some what-ifs in mind as you look can help you find your ideal home. Also, keep in mind the potential resale value of your future home because no one knows what the future holds and you may need to sell earlier than you imagined. Learn about some of the best and worst projects to improve resale value.

A proper home inspection is your best defense against buying a property that will be a home-improvement nightmare. Use these 12 tips to get the most out of your home inspection.

Sometimes the photos in an online listing can look better than the real thing. Whether it's a wide-angle lens that makes rooms look bigger or artificial lighting that makes more natural light than there really is, online photos can be a bit deceiving in some cases. Rather than relying on those too-good-to-be-true shots as you review homes that you've seen, take your own photos during walk throughs.

This one isn't much of a secret, as we all know there's no predicting the future. But simply keeping that in mind while you go through the home-buying process can relieve some stress. The best time to buy a home is when your finances are in order and you find a house you love.