It's no big secret that the best time to buy a home is during a down market (much like the one we're currently experiencing), but does that necessarily make it the right time for you to buy.

There are many more factors that come into play in determining when is the right time for you to make the leap into purchasing a home, whether it's your first, second, or third. To give yourself the best chances of having your offer accepted and your loan approved, consider the following questions, the answers to which will give you great insight into your readiness (or lack thereof) to buy now as opposed to sometime down the line:

1.  Have you research your market? The shape of the overall housing market gives you only a broad and generalized understanding of home values across the country. But specific markets individual states, counties, towns, and neighborhoods may still fluctuate (and diverge) greatly in any market. Therefore it is of the utmost importance that you do your due diligence and research home prices and values in the exact geographical area you're interested in. Don't just assume that housing prices are down across the board so you're free to lowball on your bid or you run the risk of turning off a prospective seller. By the same token, even in a down market, it's still possible to pay too much for a house as well. Information is power. Get it, and use it.
2.  Do you already have the money for downpayment and closing costs? 100% loans were already absurdly expensive before the subprime mortgage crisis. Now they're practically unheard of. If you need to take out a loan to cover downpayment and/or closing costs, maybe you should put a little more attention into your savings plan first. That way, you'll be sure to get a mortgage you can afford.
3. Can you afford the house you're seeking? Dream big, sure. But act rationally if you want to avoid foreclosure happening to you. That means making sure your total debt, including the housing payment you're considering taking on, isn't more than 30-40% of your gross monthly income. Otherwise before too long you may find yourself living in the doghouse.
4.  Have you taken incidentals into account? Incidental expenses in terms of home ownership include maintenance and repair, taxes and insurance, utility costs, transportation for your commute, etc. When you're factoring how much you can truly afford to spend per month on a home, do yourself a favor and be sure to factor these expenses into your equation or you may find yourself coming up short.
5. How is your credit? A good way to avoid setbacks in your mortgage application process is to know your own credit situation before you apply for a loan. Finding out that you have poor credit (whether legitimately or through some error on one or more of your credit parts) after the fact is not only a blow to the ego, it can also cause you to lose the home you have your heart set on. Don't let that happen to you.
6. Have you made any major purchases recently? Buying a home immediately after buying a new car or taking an expensive vacation or having a new baby is not only ill-advised, it's also quite difficult to accomplish. If you've recently made a major purchase, consider waiting a short while to get your credit and finances back up to par. You'll thank yourself for your patience later.