Buying a home in today’s market can be a challenging process. And if you want to succeed, there are certain habits you’ll want to cultivate—habits that will increase your chances of finding your dream home and having your offer accepted.

But what, exactly, are those habits?

A recent article from realtor.com outlined some of the key habits potential buyers need in order to successfully find and purchase a home in today’s market, including:

• They’re persistent. While the market overall has cooled in recent months, there are definitely still areas where inventory is low and competition for properties is high. And in those markets, persistence is key.
• They’re not afraid to ask questions. For most people, buying a home is the biggest investment they’ll ever make. And in today’s market (or really any market), successful buyers know that asking questions—about the property, about the homebuying process, about their mortgage—is a must to ensure that they’re making a good choice, and buying a solid investment.
• They have a clear distinction between “wants” and “needs.” When it comes to buying a home, there is a difference between “must have” and “nice-to-have.” And the most successful buyers in today’s market have a clear distinction between what they want in a property, and what they need in a property—and are willing to be flexible for features that fall under the “wants” umbrella.