First-Timers: Tell Us How You Fared

Did you just buy your first house? How did you fare in the house-hunting, loan-shopping and home-buying marathon?

Was it a cakewalk or a catastrophe? What did you learn? What would you do different next time?

We’d like to hear your home-buying story for our annual “Tales From the Trenches” issue, which chronicles the triumphs and tribulations of first-time home buying with the goal of helping those who will follow in your footsteps.

Please try to make your story a teaching tool: Lists of checkpoints are great, so are do’s and don’ts. Don’t be shy about bragging or confessing a goof.

Send your “Tale” to Dick Barnes, Real Estate Editor, Los Angeles Times, Times Mirror Square, Los Angeles, CA 90053. Or fax it to (213) 237-7734. Or e-mail it to Real.Estate@LATimes.com. Please include your address and telephone number.