While the National Association of Realtors expects new home sales to start a gradual climb in the second half of 2007, it's still a buyers market. And for those of you wading through the MLS lists of new homes in your desired area that can be a daunting task. Of course, you have the excitement of finding that perfect abode, and the belief that this one will solve all your: storage problems, counter space issues, or yard work complaints. Whatever your goal, you need a system to keep track of your options, and to balance the pros and cons. Otherwise, all the homes you visit will start to merge into one big foggy picture in your mind.

Know What You Want

Seasoned realtors will tell you that many people shopping for homes don't really know what their biggest priorities are. If you're moving because of a relocation, that's your incentive, but what do you really want to get out of the homes you're viewing? For some buyers, the answer is obvious: more room for a growing family, a great investment property, or less yard to mow. But try to think beyond the obvious issues when you're looking at homes for sale.

Ask yourself some key questions about the homes you visit. How much maintenance will this house require? Do I enjoy home improvements or want to avoid them? How close are the homes you are looking at to conveniences like grocery stores, high ways and cultural locales. How important is that to your life? If you have children you might want to eliminate homes by the public school they are affiliated with. Also, can you stand to live in a deed-restricted community, or do you need the freedom to paint your house canary yellow? Knowing the answers to these questions can set you on the right path.

Home Sweet- Oops! Wrong Home

It's not uncommon to confuse the features of the homes that you look at. One of the simplest solutions is to bring your digital camera and a notepad. I really recommend that you create a simple checklist in advance that you can take to all the homes you view. Just make column headers for your biggest requirements like: 2nd bathroom, fenced in yard, pool?. Then when you have a list narrowed down to your favorite homes, you'll have an easy method for comparing them.

So you know what you want, and you've devised a system for comparing the homes that best meet your needs. What now? There's a lot of emotional decision-making that goes into a search for a new home. Just don't forget the practical aspects. Have an impartial and respected homes inspector give any house you want to buy the OK. That second bathroom won't seem so swell if the ceiling caves in from water damage. But once those practical matters are out of the way- go ahead and get excited. You can stop browsing homes for sale, and move into the home of your dreams.