Looking to buy a home before the federal tax credit for first-time homebuyers deadline? If you are, that means that because the closing process on a home can take up to two months, you only have about a month to find a home and sign a contract, says Coldwell Banker Real Estate. (To qualify for the up to $8,000 credit, home buyers have to complete a purchase on a home before Dec. 1.)

As a homebuyer, you’ll need all your ducks in a row to meet the deadline. If you fail to have everything you need in place to buy a home, you could miss the deadline. Coldwell Banker suggests the following steps to make sure your transaction goes off without a hitch:

-- Hire a qualified real estate agent who can arrange for showings of prospective homes, as well as help you line up other professionals you’ll need for your transaction -- a real-estate lawyer, mortgage lenders and home inspectors.

-- Review your credit report and fix any problems there may be, so you don’t chance not being able to get a loan. Consumers can check their credit reports yearly for free at annualcreditreport.com . Look for errors, such as accounts that don’t belong to you, or "late" payments that weren’t late. You can use the form provided by the website to report any errors.

-- Do your research. Review your needs and wants for a home before you start your house hunt so you can narrow your search to only the homes that will suit your best.

-- Assemble the documents your lender will require, including: A verification of employment form; two most recent pay check stubs and bank statements; copies of the last two W2 forms received from your employer; and copies of any asset statements including those for retirement accounts, stocks and bonds.

-- Get pre-approved for a loan. By getting pre-approved for a loan from a lender, you’ll have a better idea of the price rage you can afford for a home. It will also make you more attractive to sellers over other potential buyers who haven’t been pre-approved.

-- Research loan options and interest rates. Getting the best loan possible could save you money over the long run (since you may be paying lower interest rates). Cyberhomes offers information on loans and rates at its Home Finance Center.

With the deadline for the tax credit so close, homebuyers really have to make sure they do everything right to not miss the final cut-off.