It depends on how good the team is. Individual ticket sales don't start until some time after the schedule release.
I didn't go to a game last year because the tickets were prohibitively expensive for me - thats what happens when the team is good. I buy my tickets through SeatGeek, as they offer filterable tickets for the best value and they are also authenticated NFL tickets so you're not taking a risk on them.
And the "home side" is the shaded side of the stadium. In the lower bowl from sections 132 to 154, and sections 101 to 104, basically field goal upright to upright on the east side of the stadium. With how the canopy is built, the 300 upper level section on all sides is shaded year round, and also the 200 club level is shaded.