If you approach the home buying process intelligently and with confidence, you are much more likely to emerge with a house you'll be proud to call home. Approaching the task of buying your next home can be overwhelming. There's so much to consider. How much house can I afford, and how can I find the best loan? Where will I come up with a down payment, and how much will I need? Should I buy a new or resale home, and which will go up in value? Should I use an agent or look at homes on my own? And these questions are just the beginning. Buying a home is one of the largest financial transactions in your lifetime, yet we don't teach about it in school. You're just supposed to pick it up along the way. Well, as you start down this road, let me give you a little advice. Here are the two most important things to remember no matter where you are on the road to ownership: 1. You can and should understand everything that is happening in the home buying proc