No matter how well you can picture your dream American house and communicate that idea to a Realtor, (that's real estate agent to you and me) the house you finally fall in love with may have little resemblance to the picture you started out with in your head. But you have to begin somewhere, and a detailed wish list is a great start. Let's say your wish list in order of priority, looks like this:

- Two bedrooms, two baths
- Safe, quiet neighborhood
- Garden
- Ability to add on
- No major repairs needed
- Close to downtown
- Craftsman-style detached home
- Lots of natural daylight
- Parking
- Good investment with excellent resale potential
- Affordable property taxes
- Neighborhood matches family personality, culturally and politically
- Enclosed laundry area
- Walk-in closet in master bedroom
- Gas hookup for stove
- Back deck or patio
- Close to work, schools, church
- Finished basement for office or guest room
- No threat of commercial encroachment
- Within 1/2 hour of the airport
- Hardwood floors
- French doors leading to backyard
- Close to public transportation
Now, what if you could only choose 5 to 10 of these options? How would you prioritize it then? These details are invaluable when dealing with the Realtor (guess we'd better get used to that word, if you are going to integrate into a new way of life)

What Can You Afford?

Every market is different, but the first step to answering this question is finding out what you can pay on a monthly basis after you've made your down payment - 5, 10 or 20 percent of the asking price of the house. The deposit will also depend on the type of visa you acquire or if you have a green card.

Don't forget, you don't need a visa to buy a holiday home in the States.

The best way to learn what you can afford is to get prequalified for a loan. Your Realtor may recommend someone or you can just walk into the office of a local lender. Do not expect it to be easy if you are a 'New Arrival'. Prequalifying won't cost you anything, except a sales pitch, since the lender would love your business when you're ready to apply for a loan. You'll walk away with a good idea of how your income, assets and liabilities translate into what you can afford, and it can also help your chances of beating out the competition in a seller's market (where there are more buyers than houses on the market). Or you will walk out banging your head against a brick wall.