Buying a home is the biggest purchase you'll ever make. While it's exciting, it can also be overwhelming, particularly if you're a first-time homebuyer. When it's time to buy, finding the right mortgage may be the most important step. Shopping around, comparing costs and negotiating the terms for the perfect mortgage could save you thousands of dollars, according to the Federal Trade Commission.

Whether buying or selling a home, the team you choose to represent you can make or break the deal. Surrounding yourself with experienced professionals can help make the process easier, while choosing the wrong team—or no team at all—can leave you with a major headache.

A mortgage is a loan to finance the purchase of a home—usually the largest single purchase a person will make in his or her lifetime. When you take out a mortgage, you are required to pay back the debt, with interest, over a certain period of time, though the length of time and terms of loans vary.