The first question you're bound to ask is, "How much home can I afford?" That depends on a number of factors:

Where do you want to live? Are you set on a specific area? Downtown? The suburbs? Acreage in the country?

Your preferred type of home. Detached? Semi-detached? Condo Apartment? Townhouse? There are a variety of home styles you will want to explore.

Your income. After all, it's not just the mortgage you have to take into account. There are property taxes, utilities, and in some cases condo fees. As a general rule of thumb, your monthly home-carrying cost should not exceed 30-35% of your income.

Market conditions. Is it a Buyer's market Sellers market or balanced market?

There are also additional costs to keep in mind. It's a good idea to work out exactly what you want and what you can afford BEFORE you begin the search.