When buying a house, the conventional maxim asks you to focus only on location. There is no doubt that location is very important. But, there are many other issues to keep in mind so that your efforts to ensnare a dream home do not become a utopian mirage. This article talks about some of those issues:

Do Not Be So Sure That You Can Time the Market
There is a shipload of pundits out there who will swear that the market has reached its crest or its trough -- or both! But, it is your money in the game. So, do not let them all take you for one grand ride. Buy a house when you need it and can afford it.
It Does Not Cost What You Think it Does
Do not just look out for the basic cost of transacting. Depending on the specific property, you could expect to spend tons of money on getting stuff up to shape. For instance, if you are buying a house, you might have to take care of interiors, plumbing, fixtures, ceilings, walls, painting, carpets, flooring, windows, doors, well that is just the beginning of the list. There is a whole lot more. Make sure to factor it all in.

Do Not Fall For Common Tricks of the Trade
If you are a first time home buyer, there is always the chance that you might fall prey to some of the common tricks that a home seller might resort to. Here are a few for your reference, but it is up to you to use your creativity and imagination to avoid getting fooled.

Trick 1: Using excessive illumination to make the house look cheery.
Some sellers will switch on all lights when they are showing you their home -- even if it is daytime. This makes the home look different than it actually is. Politely request to turn off some lights to get a better idea.

Trick 2: Using fragrances to disguise the stink.
Surely that is something you would have caught, right? Make sure you do.

Trick 3: Being unavailable to answer questions.
It is ok for the seller to be missing when you visit the home. But they must answer all your questions unambiguously.

Those are just a few of the issues you need to keep in mind when buying a house.