When buying a home, it's likely the largest investment you'll ever make. That said, the last thing that you want to do is make a decision that you'll later regret.

If you buy the wrong house, you will probably regret that decision for years to come. If you're like a lot of people, you can't afford to just sell your house and move on to the next one.

Buying a home is a huge financial responsibility, and most of us need to nail it the first time. To avoid buyer's remorse, you'll have to conduct your own research and put on your detective hat.

Don't Forget These Factors

Is the neighborhood noisy? You may fall in love with a home, but be unaware that your next-door neighbor's dog barks all night long, or that the college kids across the street are partiers, and every Saturday night they're noisy and there's zero parking on the street.

Not only is it a good idea to knock on neighbors' doors and ask about any nearby trains, hospitals (think sirens), or rowdy neighbors, it's a good idea to visit the home at different times of the day.

Is it an ideal location? Don't forget to think about how long it will take to drive to the store, hospital, and local schools. A 5 minute drive to the supermarket is a whole lot better than a 20 minute drive. Also, if kids are an issue, make sure that the house is located in a good school system.

How is the layout? Some buyers want a pool so badly that they ignore the layout of the house. Do you want all of the bedrooms on the upper level? Do you want a three-car garage? Does the house have enough bathrooms and storage space? Remember, you can always add a pool later, but changing a floor plan – no so easy.