"We feel like we're ready to take on the responsibility and start a new chapter in our life basically.", explains Christine Otterson.

For Christine and Ryan Otterson that new chapter includes a brand new home.  The Youngstown couple quickly out grew their town house, so they jumped into the housing market for the first time.

According to local Realtors, its the perfect time to buy.  "It's definitely a buyers a market. It's a great market to be buying in. Interest rates are great.", states Kathy Carroll, with the Youngstown/Columbiana Association of Realtors.

But before you hit the streets, looking for home sweet home, there are a few things you should know. 

"The first thing I suggest anybody does is get in touch with a Realtor and also get in touch with a bank.", explains Carroll.  A bank or mortgage company is key to help you get pre-approved, which is a vital step you need to make as you start the process.

In the midst of the foreclosure crisis and credit crunch, financial institutions now look for credit scores of at least 580 or higher, and they recommend you have enough in savings to cover three to six months of payments.  Though if you don't meet some of the requirements, it is not impossible to get a mortgage.

"But there's a lot of assistance the sellers can do to make it easy for a buyer to buy that home that they're looking to buy.", says Kevin Dill with Creekside Mortgage.

Once you're approved, Realtors caution you to spend that money carefully, don't get caught up in a house you can't fit financially.  Advice the Otterson's took to heart. 

"We know that we wanted to stay well under what we got approved for.  Just for comfort level for us."  Christine and Ryan say you're bound to find a home your comfortable in, there are plenty of options out there.  Ryan adds, "There's houses everywhere for sale and they're just constantly popping up.  Some neighborhoods we'd look in we would go back and we'd notice there's another one for sale."

If you can't find an existing home that suits your needs, it is also a good time to build. 

"When there's land that's available, its reasonable building here...has always been. A lot less expensive than the bigger areas." acknowledges Paul Dieter, with the Home Builder's Association. 

But no matter what route you take, building or buying?  If you're ready for a new home, its a good time to be in the drivers seat, just ask the Otterson's, who are set to move into their new place this month.