Even before you begin looking for a home, the homebuying process requires diligent preparation. Buyers who have been preapproved for a home loan often have their offers taken more seriously by sellers. With advance preparation, you can tackle the process of acquiring the financing you need with more confidence. To help you on the path to homeownership, the Fannie Mae Foundation offers free step-by-step guides that can help you get closer to achieving your dream:

• Knowing and Understanding Your Credit
• Opening the Door to a Home of Your Own
• Choosing the Mortgage that's Right for You
• Borrowing Basics: What You Don't Know Can Hurt You

These authoritative home-buying guides (in PDF format) are available in nine languages, including English, Chinese, Haitian-Creole, Korean, Polish, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish and Vietnamese. You can download a guide or order a print version online from the HomeBuyingGuide.org Web site run by the Fannie Mae Foundation.