When it comes to buying a home (your first, or first in a while), you may find yourself overwhelmed or not really knowing where to start beyond browsing homes online and hoping the pieces come together. For better or worse, there’s a lot of noise out there. Here’s an attempt to reduce it as you start the process. Or at least give you the steps to take, terms to know and what to expect from start to finish.

So, here’s what you need to know: