Regardless of who’s in the White House, observers from across the housing and mortgage industries believe interest rates will continue to hover near historic lows. But a $15k tax credit for first-time buyers could make a difference in the number of people able to pursue home ownership.

As with any big project, buying a house without losing your mind is all about getting the details right, start to finish. This article covers the “start” part. Do these things before you start looking.