If you are doing well in your career and you've put enough money away to buy a home, there are some things you want to decide before you meet with a real estate agent. Buying a home can be a great way to establish yourself in an area and in life and to make a good investment, but you want to be sure that you make the smartest decision for you when you decide to go all in.

Before you start looking at listings that aren't what you need, or that are too expensive, you want to make a list of expectations and wants, and you want to put a lot of thought into what you want to buy. Here are some things to consider.

Evaluate Your 10-Year Plan

The average time a person spends as the owner of a home is about 13 years. If your 10-year plan is to get a bigger house because you want to get married or have a family, or because you think you'll want more space then, you may be better off getting a house now that would be practical in 10 years.

Instead of just buying a starter home because you think it's the best thing to do, you should consider getting a home you can afford that would still livable in a decade with growth, even if it costs more now. This way you don't have to deal with buying and selling costs, tax changes, and more.

Know What You Can Afford

It's important to know what you can afford, and a bigger house means bigger bills. A larger house will increase property taxes, have more area that needs to be repaired or maintained, and has more things that can go wrong. Find a house that will last you more than just the present, but don't go overboard trying to keep up with the Joneses. Your agent can sit down and find properties that are a good investment, but affordable as well.

When you follow this information, a decade will pass and you'll be a third of the way through paying your mortgage instead of preparing to move again, and that's a good feeling. If you want to buy a home, meet with a real estate agent to talk about what you want, what you can afford, and see what you can get in the area you're looking. The better investment you make now, the more money you'll be able to save later.