You're finally ready to buy. You have worked hard to get to where you want to be and you have a plan. However, part of that plan contains a degree of uncertainty-knowing how long it will take to find the right home. In a tight real estate market, this could take some time. Valuable, precious time so don't waste it!

Patience is crucial to make the best decision possible when selecting a home. The best way to prepare is to make a list of the most important items of the home. Always remember that there will be other buyers with possibly the same list of factors that they want in a home as well. If you aren't the winning bidder for a home, make sure you have a plan in place to continue and don't let a setback discourage moving forward.

Being realistic is also important when home shopping. Not every home will have all of the features you are looking for so make sure you select features that are deal breakers when searching. Seeing a home in person versus an online listing can also make a big difference and can take time to schedule.

Do your homework. Make sure you understand factors such as the neighborhood, know what homes are going for in the local area, make a list of all homes you are considering and follow up with your real estate agent to determine previous sales and offers of those homes. With this information, you become and informed and educated homebuyer who can identify any listing that are overpriced, underpriced or priced close to market value as several factors can affect home pricing. Although it may take time to gather this information, it will pay off in the long run as gaining this knowledge gives you better negotiation power.

Bottom line is that good things come to those who wait, particularly in today's housing market.