Shopping for a new home can be a wonderful experience. It can feel like an adventure where each house you wander presents you with a different possible life you could be living. Moving can be a symbolic restart followed by a new job, new relationship, or new family member.

Looking for a home in Summerlin Las Vegas can also be stressful – there are literally thousands of things that could be wrong with a house, and it feels nearly impossible to prepare yourself for them all. Financial confusion, legal jargon, and the fear that you’ll make the wrong choice can leave you feeling lost amid the home-hunt. Beyond the specifics of the home, each neighborhood and city has its own elements that need to be thought of. The following will explores some of the things you should keep in mind when shopping for a home in one city in particular—Las Vegas.

Of course, every home is different, and every home buyer has their own unique set of needs. For the best results, reach out to a real estate professional in the area you’re searching within.

Find A Real Estate Agent

Given how hot the market is in Las Vegas, you’re going to want a real estate agent to help you navigate the waters of real estate bidding wars and minimal inventory. One of the most prominent Las Vegas realtors’ websites, Las Vegas Homes By Leslie, emphasizes that there are steps an agent can help you take to encourage the chances of having a successful home offer. Some of them are simplifying your conditions, taking on the seller’s transfer costs, and being flexible with closing dates. These are just a few of the strategies that can help your offer get accepted over someone else’s. An agent also represents you as a buyer in some of the tougher conversations.

Talk About Credit

It’s not always a fun topic, but you’re going to really struggle in the home search if you don’t get your credit checked. Your credit score will determine your interest rate when you get a mortgage which means it’s going to change what you can reasonably afford. It’s also going to give you the chance to report any possible credit mistakes or errors to the credit bureau.

If you take this step early enough, you can also tackle your credit. There are a few nifty tricks that can help bolster your score, plus longer-term strategies that can lift your credit. Taking a few moments to learn about credit might also help you later on down the line—you are more than likely thinking of making your most significant credit purchase to date—a house.

Excluding anything that is improving your credit, you want to keep yourself from making any significant changes throughout the shopping process that could influence your finances or credit score. Things like switching jobs, buying a car, or shopping for furniture (credit pulls from car dealerships or furniture stores can change your credit). Even applying for a new credit card can influence your credit.

Budget Honestly

Once you understand your credit score and what that likely means for your interest rates, it’s time you sit down and figure out what you can afford. Having a maximum, you’re willing to spend will be a lifesaver when you start shopping and quickly get distracted by bathroom size and closet space. It’s typically recommended that you don’t want your mortgage payment to be any more than 25% of your take-home pay. Try to remind yourself that no matter how lovely home is, if you’re house-poor, meaning struggling each month to make ends meet, it’s going to become something you hate quickly. Ask anyone who’s paying a mortgage they can’t really afford to pay for—they curse their houses, they rue the day they bought them because they feel trapped by the monthly payments and ever accruing interest.

You’re also going to want to be saving up for a downpayment throughout the entire shopping process. For ideal rates, you’re hoping to get something like 20% of the price down, but ideally, you want to be able to put down the biggest percentage possible. 100% is the best-case scenario. Remember, the more you put down upfront, the less interest you’re going to have to pay later on.

Reach Out To Mortgage Lenders

You’re also going to want to seek out mortgage providers. Rates and programs differ from location to location, so take your time to shop around. The best-case scenario involves getting pre-approved for a mortgage, as this can really help sellers understand that your offer is serious. It proves that you’re willing and able to buy the home, and in hotter markets, like Las Vegas and the surrounding area, this could mean the difference between getting the home or watching it get sold to someone else.

Make Your Lists

When shopping for a home, it’s easy to get sidetracked by a stunning view or the perfect, shady pool. Make a few different lists to help keep you on track. At the minimum, you want a list of non-negotiables and a list of ‘it would be great to have…‘. You don’t want to sacrifice any non-negotiables in the hunt, and you want to keep your eyes open for those extras, like a home office, that would make your life a bit easier.

Explore The Neighborhood

You’re not just looking for a house; you’re looking for a community (whether you like talking to your neighbors or not). Drive or walk around the area of a home you’re considering at different times of the day. Watch the neighbors’ houses for a bit—do they have dogs that roam off-leash into the yard that might be yours? How loud is the music in the area on Friday nights? What’s the general vibe? Do people whizz by beyond the speed limit putting your children at risk?

The above tips should help you sift through the seemingly endless home-buying options. Much of the above information suggests that taking your time when shopping and buying a home can often be to your benefit. It can be tempting to rush things because you’re so tired of living with your in-laws or that roommate that doesn’t seem to understand how garbage day works, but there’s nothing wrong with taking your time to ensure a new home will meet all your needs.