Lisa Carter,

That's a very smart question, and honestly, a lot of homeowners are thinking the same thing right now. The good news is that home values typically don't move in a straight line. Real estate markets naturally go through periods where prices rise quickly, level off, or adjust slightly. What matters most is the longer-term trend, and historically real estate has continued to appreciate over time in most areas. If you're planning to sell in a few years, that actually works in your favor. Short-term fluctuations tend to smooth out over time, and homeowners often continue building equity through a combination of market appreciation and paying down their mortgage. A few things that really influence your future resale value include: aEURc Inventory levels in your area (how many homes are competing) aEURc Interest rates and buyer affordability aEURc Job and population growth nearby aEURc The condition and updates of your home compared to others One of the best things you can do is periodically review recent comparable sales in your neighborhood rather than relying on national headlines about the housing market. Real estate is very local, and values can behave very differently from one area to another. If it helps, many homeowners like to check in on their home's value once or twice a year so they can understand how their equity is trending and plan ahead for when the time comes to sell. Planning ahead like you're doing now is actually one of the best ways to make sure you protect and maximize your investment.

There's no exact number of homes you should see before making an offer. For some buyers it might be 3"5 homes, while others may look at 10"20 or more before they feel confident moving forward. What matters more than the number of homes is how clearly you understand your priorities and how well each property compares to what's available in the market. Many buyers start to notice a pattern after a few showings. They begin to understand things like: aEURc What features they truly care about vs. what they can compromise on aEURc How homes in their price range compare aEURc What feels like a good value versus what feels overpriced

The first step I always recommend is meeting with a loan officer and having them do a soft pull on your credit. One to see if your scores are where they need to be or are there some things the loan officer suggests you need to do to qualify for a loan. At this time they can view your assets, debt and your income to determine what you qualify and what that monthly payment would look like. Then I would ask what first time home buyer down payment programs are available for you. You want to be sure to be clear about your budget , payment before you go looking at homes, and talking to an agent. The loan officer gives you a clear road map and time line , once you have that firmed up finding an agent is the next step.