Starting to shop for your first house is incredibly exciting and exhilarating – with a dash of exhausting and a bit scary.

You want a home you love at a price you can afford but unfortunately, many first-time buyers are often – though unintentionally – their own worst enemy.

In a day and age wherein people feel confident dolling out medical, dietary and financial advice, courtesy of the world wide web, we find ourselves at an interesting intersection of jacks-of-all-trades-meets-masters-of-none.

And real estate is often in the crosshairs of that same messy junction. With sites like Zillow and Trulia, homebuyers are more informed about their market than ever before. And while that’s not necessarily a bad thing per se, it doesn’t always equate to the level of expertise and experience needed to negotiate the perilous and complicated waters of a real estate transaction from start to finish.

So we’ve compiled a list of some of the most common mistakes first-time homebuyers make – and how to avoid them.

1. Trying to save money by not using an agent.
Many homebuyers, especially inexperienced ones, fall prey to the nasty – but painfully common – misunderstanding that they’ll have to pay for the services of a RealtorⓇ. And it’s simply not true. Only the seller pays a commission to the listing agent who then, in turn, splits the commission with the buyer’s RealtorⓇ.

2. Mandatory 20-percent down payment.
Twenty percent has always been the go-to amount for down payments as it is typically enough to lower your monthly loan payment and avoid private mortgage insurance – but 20 percent isn’t mandatory. In fact, according to the National Association of RealtorsⓇ, the ongoing climb in home prices pulled the typical down payment for first-timers to 5 percent this year, down from 6 percent in 2016, which matches the lowest since 2013.

3. Overvaluing readily available information online.
Sure, the internet is a hotbed for endless information. But your RealtorⓇ is privy to priceless information not available online and much of which is acquired over time through invaluable experience, including builders’ reputations, the best home inspectors, evaluation of a home inspection and ‘insider’ information – the good, the bad and the ugly – about certain neighborhoods.

4. Thinking one size RealtorⓇ fits all.
If you haven’t enjoyed the process of finding your home, you may be working with the wrong agent. Your agent should shoulder the burdens for you so you can enjoy the ride. There are approximately 9,000 RealtorsⓇ in Tampa – so you should be as particular and discerning as you deem necessary; this is not the time – or market – to settle.

Buying your first home will be one of the biggest purchases you’ll make so take the time to do your research before and during the process. After all, if you take the time to read through countless reviews for a new toaster, shouldn’t you put the same effort – hopefully more – into partnering with the right RealtorⓇ to help find you the right house at the right price?

At DeLeon Sheffield Company, we are committed to working with you – day and night – as you make one of the biggest decisions of your life. We know that buying a home isn’t just financial; it’s emotional. We will be with you every step of the way as you find the perfect house to call home.

Because at DeLeon Sheffield Company, ‘We’re More Than Realty; We’re Family.’