Home buying seems simple enough: Find a house you like that’s close to work or school, tell someone you want to buy it, and move in.

But there’s more to it than that. You’ll have to find and get approved by a lender who will let you borrow a few hundred thousand dollars, lock in a mortgage rate, figure out how much house you can afford, put in an offer that will entice the seller, get an inspection and an appraisal, pay closing costs and sign a whole bunch of paperwork.

So you’re thinking about buying your first home. Your very own house (and mortgage). A place to call and make your own.

It’s a big move, literally and figuratively. Buying a house requires a serious amount of money and time. The journey isn’t always easy. It isn’t always intuitive. But when you get the keys to your new home that, friend, can be one of the most rewarding feelings pretty much ever.