1) Start shopping for a helpful real estate agent by going to open houses. Test for helpfulness by asking questions that require effort to answer. 2) Make your agent a prioritized list of what you need in a house/yard plus extras that you would really also like. Revise this list as you start looking. 3) Consider what you would like in a neighborhood such as a safe environment for walking your dogs, a park for grandkids, and nearby shops for groceries. 4) Go back several times with a common sense friend who can help balance strengths and weaknesses. 5) Keep an open mind about feasible changes which can convert an OK house into a dream home.