Find out what price home you can afford to buy. You can do this informally by using a home-affordability calculator, or by talking to a mortgage broker or loan agent. From there, you may want to get pre-approved for a mortgage, which will strengthen your position as a buyer and give you confidence that you will be able to complete the financing you need to purchase a home. Pre-approval is the first step in actually applying for a loan and can be done online or in person with a lender or broker.