Buying your first home is likely the largest purchase of a person’s life. In one of the nation’s hottest real estate markets—with nearly half the inventory in Denver’s 30-year average—the entire Front Range real estate climate is tight. Shore up your house-hunting know-how before you hit the open house circuit with these five tips for first-time home buyer in Colorado.

Tips for a First-Time Home Buyer in Colorado

How-To Buy Your First Home Without Extra Stress

Find an Agent Who Acts like a Friend

When you find yourself perusing the for sale listings, make sure your real estate agent is looking for more than a deal. The best kinds of realtors will point out flaws in a home—like a decaying foundation that would be far more than a cosmetic fix—even, and especially, when you already picture yourself moving into. On the flipside, you also need an agent who will remind you that the funky green color in the kitchen can be painted over and out-of-date décor isn’t the reason to dismiss a gem.

The “Right” Side of the Street

Colorado folks know that the weather can show all of the seasons in a single day. Before you buy, take note on the direction your potential abode faces. Homes that face the west and/or south are much more likely to get a helping hand from the sun to remove stubborn snow and ice in the front yard. One easy way to know: Take a drive through your choice neighborhoods and take note of which side of the street is clear from snow and ice a day or two after a storm.

Think One Buyer Ahead

When we say to think about another buyer, we’re not talking about the other offers on the table. Think hard about the people who will buy your potential house from you. Even if you don’t have children, consider the quality of the school district your house belongs to. Consider the house or townhome backs up to a busy traffic corridor. Eventually, you’ll likely sell your first home so keeping these things in mind will pay out in years to come.

Needs vs. Wants

Before you toss potential home options aside or get star struck with the first showing, make a list of your non-negotiable needs and flexible wants. For Colorado home hunters, no one is going to judge if easy trail access is 100 percent on the “needs” list. Narrow your home search down to neighborhoods adjacent to plentiful open space. Flexible “wants” might be home styles like two-story, townhome, or ranch or the size of the backyard.

Consider Your Daily Commute

For someone who wants to avoid the bumper-to-bumper stress event of a rush-hour commute, here’s the recipe for a solid morning commute … hot coffee, fresh podcast, and someone else doing the driving. Scout out the various transportation options from your new address. Check out the Denver’s RTD Light Rail map as lines are expanding to the various reaches of the metro area.

First Time Homebuyer Tips in Lakewood, Colorado

If you are a first-time home buyer scouring the metro area for the perfect fit, stop into Westline Village in Lakewood, Colorado to tour the new townhome community with open layouts and top-notch amenities that won’t have you second-guessing your first big purchase.