There are several mistakes that first-time home buyers make that are easily avoided. The idea is to not be impulsive or succumb to wishful thinking. Even though a home may seem like a dream house it could, in reality, be a nightmare if you do not carefully consider everything such a major purchase entails.

Follow these tips to steer clear of some of the biggest pitfalls:

Check out the neighborhood thoroughly. Remember that there are real estate agents in the business of selling you a home however they can, and if that means telling you that you are about to live in a gay-friendly neighborhood that actually is not that friendly at all, then they may — intentionally or not — do their job and “get you into a home.” Working with an LGBT real estate agent, or an agent with experience working with LGBT clients, can help prevent this.

Buying a home with a partner can be a thrilling time in your relationship. But it is also an important time to talk frankly about how much each of you will contribute financially to down payments, moving costs, mortgage, home upkeep and more.

And while it isn’t as romantic as picking out paint colors for your new shared bedroom, it’s also critical to discuss clearly what you would do with the property you are about to buy if you break up or when one of you dies.

It’s important for all couples, but especially important for same-sex couples, who can’t get married in Georgia. That means you can’t rely on a divorce court to divide your property if your relationship ends, and unless you have wills, you will be considered legal strangers for inheritance purposes.