One of the common goals for people in their 20s, 30s and 40s is to "get on the property ladder." The idea is that when you buy your first home you're taking your first step on that ladder. In time, you may be able to climb higher by selling your property and buying a bigger or better one. But taking that first step can be difficult — and scary. So what do you need to know before you go from renting or living with family to becoming a homeowner? Writing for CNBC, real estate reporter Celia Fernandez shared a number of things she wished she'd done before buying her first home. One thing she mentioned was making sure she had all the necessary paperwork in one place so she could easily show it to banks or lenders. This is good advice for anyone buying a property — you'll probably need to share things like your payslips, bank records and tax returns several times! Fernandez also advises people to look for "free money." Your country or region may have grants or other programs to help home buyers. Look out for things like tax breaks for first-time home buyers, or grants for refurbishing older homes. She also suggests asking for financial help from family members. "My biggest regret is not talking to our loved ones right at the beginning of our search," she said. Of course, not everyone will have this option. But some parents may want to give money to their children during their lives rather than waiting to pass it on as an inheritance, for example. Finally, Fernandez says it's important to take into account the costs of closing a sale. That might include taxes, legal fees, inspection fees or fees for a real estate agent — and don't forget that you may also have initial refurbishment costs. You don't want an expensive surprise just as you get your first home!