Lifestyle

        Buying a home 1.Set your budget .  Next, you need to determine how much house you can afford.   For a more accurate figure, ask to be pre-approved by a lender, who will look at your income, debt and credit to determine the kind of loan that's in your league.   Find an agent:   Most   sellers list their homes through an agent -- but those agents work for the seller, not you. They're paid based on a percentage, usually 5 to 10% of the purchase price, so their interest will be in getting you to pay more. 2 .  Search for a home .  Your first step here is to figure out what city or neighborhood you want to live in. Look for signs of economic vitality: a mixture of young families and older couples, low unemployment and good incomes. Pay special attention to districts with good schools, even if you don't have school-age children. When it comes time to sell, you'll find that a strong school system is a major advantage in helping your home retain or gain v