For most, the biggest investment you'll ever make is buying a home; it's also one of the most complex financial arrangements you'll ever make. You've seen the commercials with the gigantic pile of paperwork – not far from the truth, in some deals.

But you can make it a little easier on yourself by preparing and planning ahead. If you can keep the following ten pieces of advice in mind while you arrange your finances and then go through with your home purchase, you can minimize the work and the stress of purchasing a new home.

Always remember: it's critical to research your home purchase as well as you possibly can. Your new house represents a very large chunk of your current income, and may also affect your future buying power and financial leverage as well.