When it comes to looking for a house to buy, time really is money. That's because your decision on which house to spend your money on is one you're going to have to live with for a long, long time. So use your time efficiently, but don't be in a hurry to find a house unless you absolutely have no other choice.

Your home search should take more than a weekend or two. This is an incredibly large and important purchase. One you don't want to make in haste and regret at leisure! So it's definitely not a good idea to do this on a whim or off the cuff. Think months, not weeks in terms of your search. But first, before you start driving around looking at ?for sale? signs or reading the real estate classifieds in the newspaper, find a Realtor or Broker to represent you that understands what you're looking for. A good one will tell you the good and bad points of a home, and work to get you the best deal. Next, check to see if your finances and credit history are in order, then go shopping for a mortgage company. If all goes as planned, you will be pre-approved for a mortgage loan.

Now the ?fun? begins. Sit down and make a list. One column of your list should be entitled ?Wants.? And another column should be entitled ?Needs.? Never, ever confuse the two?because they're not always the same thing. For instance, you may want the kind of mansion that you've seen featured in design magazines and in articles on celebrity homes. But what you need is three bedrooms, at least two baths, and a neighborhood that's near good schools for your kids.

Other things you might want to consider adding to one column or the other on your list:

?A single level or multi-level home

?A homeowners association

?A home in a gated community

?A home in a master-planned community

?A deck

?A swimming pool

?Room for a home office

?A guest room

?A certain style of architecture

?A specific neighborhood

?A large kitchen

?A formal dining room

?A large backyard for a playground or garden

?A privacy fence

?Mature trees and/or nice landscaping

?A big garage

?Lots of closet and storage space

Once you've figured out what you do need or want, spend a little more time on the list'by creating a new column for things that you ?Don't Want.? Maybe that's a home that needs lots of fixing or remodeling. Or a location that's too near a busy street, highway, or landfill. Or a home with a floor plan that's nice, but makes absolutely no sense with the way you live.

Take your time making the lists. When you're absolutely sure that you've thought of everything, you're ready to start looking at houses. Take your lists with you, and give a copy to your Realtor or Broker, too. Refer to the lists frequently. It will keep you on track and in touch with reality. It will help you make logical decisions'as opposed to emotional ones. After all, you don't want to go falling in love with a house that you can't afford. Or one that gets sold while you're looking. Or one that doesn't have the things you truly need?but seems like a really good deal. By the way, while you're doing your advance homework, your Realtor or Broker will be using his or her time productively, too. Pulling together research on the kind of homes you're looking for?what they're selling for, what neighborhoods they're in?and so forth.

Of course, you can (and should) spend time doing your own research. Look through the real estate section of the newspaper. Check websites. Magazines like this one are chockfull of information, too. If you find something that sounds or looks interesting, have your Realtor or Broker check it out.

Most of all, be patient and persistent. Invest enough quality time in finding a home, and you'll end up with The One that's exactly right for you'in every possible way.