One personal finance expert said in a recent post that buying a house is “a complex process, often fraught setbacks, delays, and disappointments.”

True words!

While I wish all transactions went smoothly, something as simple as a burnt element in a water heater can cause an entire deal to derail.  Fortunately, most people have the patience to see it through to the end but when both sides get stubborn, the process can come to a dead stop.

There are other things people buying homes can do in advance, though, to prevent surprises before, during, and after closing.  The Amateur Asset Allocator reviews some steps buyers can take in “How Much House Can You Really Afford,” including,

Calculate monthly payments. Remember a little equation from algebra called the principal-interest formula? If you thought math would never come in handy, you’re about to eat your words. You can use this formula (found online in detailed description) to determine how much your monthly payments will be for a certain loan amount at a certain interest rate over a certain amount of time. Or you could just ask the bank to figure it out for you. The point is, you don’t want your payments to exceed one fourth of your monthly income; otherwise you will have to cut back in other areas (or face the consequences).

Be ready before you jump in, but definitely jump in when you’re ready!