Your First Home: How to buy a house for first time home buyers

If you've been watching the housing market and wondering whether you should hold off on buying, you're not alone. Home prices just hit an all-time high, mortgage rates are hovering above 6.5%, and the headlines make it feel like the worst possible time to buy your first home. In this episode, I break down exactly what's happening with home prices and mortgage rates right now, what the data is actu...

If you're buying your first home, one of the earliest decisions you'll face is whether you're doing it alone or with a partner. And if you're buying together, whether being married actually changes anything. It does, more than most people expect. Stacie breaks down how lenders evaluate your income and credit differently depending on whether you apply solo or jointly, the financial risks of buying...

Not every first-time homebuyer who wants to buy should buy right now, and knowing the difference between "not yet" and "let's go" can save you from a really expensive mistake. Stacie walks through seven signs that you should pump the brakes on buying a house, from financial red flags like credit card debt and unstable income to less obvious ones like not knowing your neighborhood well enough or no...

Interest rates have been above 6% for most of 2026, and if you're a first-time homebuyer, that number can feel like a dealbreaker. But here's what most people don't realize: almost half of recent buyers locked in rates well below what the market was offering. In this episode, I show you three proven strategies to negotiate a lower mortgage interest rate, including how to shop lenders the right way...

You've probably heard that you need 20% down to buy a house. And if you've done the math on what that actually looks like in 2026, it might feel impossible. The truth is, the 20% rule comes from a time when home prices were a fraction of what they are today — and most first-time homebuyers are putting down far less. In this episode, I break down the real pros and cons of a larger versus smaller do...

How far in advance should you actually start the home buying process? If you're someone who likes to have a plan before making a big decision, this episode maps out the full timeline: what to do more than a year out, when to connect with an agent, when to talk to a lender, and exactly when to start seriously touring homes. I also explain why jumping straight to scheduling tours on Zillow can actua...

Buying a home is expensive, but it doesn't have to be as expensive as you think. In this episode, I'm breaking down three proven strategies to save money while buying a house, from being flexible on what you're looking at, to timing your search in the off season, to negotiating your mortgage rate and fees. I've used all three of these strategies myself across three home purchases, including an inv...

Setting a budget is one of the most confusing parts of buying your first home, especially when the advice you're hearing was written for a completely different housing market. In this episode, I break down the three most common budgeting formulas for how much of your income should go toward your mortgage (what lenders will pre-approve you for, the 28% rule, and the 25% rule) so you can figure out...

How do you actually set a budget for buying a house: one that works for your real life and not just what a lender says you qualify for? In this episode, I'm walking you through the exact process I recommend to every first-time homebuyer. We're looking at your take-home pay, your fixed and variable expenses, your goals for after you buy, and what you're currently paying in rent. I also share the pr...

Buying a house is one of the most exciting things you'll ever do, but it comes with costs that most first-time buyers don't see coming. And when your bank account is already feeling light from the down payment, an unexpected $1,200 Target run can feel like a gut punch. In this episode, I break down every hidden cost of buying a house in chronological order: what you'll pay before closing, what hit...

You've probably seen the headlines: home prices are shifting, interest rates have been bouncing around, and it feels like every article is telling you something different about whether now is the right time to buy. But unfortunately, most of that information is based on data that's already two months old, so it's not as accurate as we'd hope. In this episode, I'm breaking down the real numbers beh...

Buying a house doesn't come with an instruction manual, and most of us were never taught how to do this. So if you're feeling lost on where to start, that's not your fault. In this episode, I'm sharing the seven best pieces of advice I give every first-time homebuyer, based on helping hundreds of people through this process and buying three homes myself. Some of these tips are for when you're acti...

Is it actually smarter to rent right now instead of buying a home? With higher interest rates at 6.5% and rising home prices, I sat down and ran the numbers, and what I found honestly surprised me. In this episode, I share what the data really says about renting vs. buying in today's market and the 3 questions you need to ask yourself before deciding whether to buy or rent, so you can choose what'...

How do you actually choose the right mortgage lender when every option looks the same online? In this episode, I break down what matters when picking a lender so you don't end up with delays, bad communication, or worse, a denied loan right before closing. I share what to look for in a lender, the red flags you need to avoid, and exactly how to find someone who will actually help you get to the cl...

Thinking about relocating and buying a house at the same time? In this episode, I break down the 3-step plan to help you navigate both without feeling rushed or making a decision you regret. I also share how to decide whether to buy or rent first, how to get set up financially in a new area, and how to approach house hunting when you're not local. Tune in to learn how to relocate and buy a home in...

Trying to figure out the best time of year to buy a house? In this episode, I break down how the market changes throughout the year so you can understand when it's easier to buy, when it's more competitive, and how to use timing to your advantage. I talk about how each season impacts pricing, inventory, and how to time your search based on your lease and your flexibility. Tune in to learn how to t...

Wondering what you should actually do before you start touring homes? In this episode, I share the 7 steps my husband and I took before buying our home and why doing this prep work ahead of time made the entire process smoother and less stressful. When we bought our first home, we made a lot of mistakes. The second time, we approached the process very differently. We started planning about a year...

Thinking about using a physician loan to buy your first home? In this episode, I'm breaking down how physician loans actually work, what you can typically expect, and the pros and cons you need to understand before choosing this option. If you're in residency, starting fellowship, or about to begin your first attending job, you've probably heard that physician loans let you buy with little to no m...

Wondering how much cash you actually need to buy a home beyond your down payment? In this episode, I'm breaking down what closing costs are, why they're required, and how you can prepare for them long before you reach the closing table. I talk about where costs come from, why lenders collect taxes and insurance upfront, and the strategies buyers use to reduce out-of-pocket expenses through negotia...

When I bought my first home, I had already been a real estate agent for 4 years. I had walked dozens of clients through the process and thought I knew exactly what to expect, but the reality of being the buyer was a total shock. In this episode, I share the 3 lessons I learned from buying my own home for the first time, what surprised me most, and what I wish more people were talking about when it...

There are so many misconceptions about VA loans. I still hear listing agents call them "weak offers." I still hear buyers say, "I already used my VA loan once, so I can't use it again." And I constantly get asked whether putting 0% down is actually smart. So today, we're setting the record straight. I'm joined by Air Force combat veteran and real estate agent Lauren Davis, along with senior loan o...

Buying your first home is a big decision, and no one really explains how the timeline works or what happens before you ever step foot into a showing. In this episode, I break down the full timeline from house hunting to closing so you can stop guessing and start planning with confidence. I talk about how long it really takes to find the right home, what happens after your offer is accepted, and ho...

A lot of buyers hear "FHA loan" and assume it's automatically the best option for first-time homebuyers, but that's not always true. In this episode, I break down what FHA loans actually are, who they're designed for, and the biggest myths that cause buyers to make the wrong choice. I share why FHA loans aren't just for first-time buyers, how they really compare to conventional loans, and why a lo...

A lot of people buy their first home thinking, "Maybe I'll rent this out someday." But then a few years later, they realize the numbers don't work, the location isn't right, or the property just isn't built for renting. In this episode, I share how Hoang and I intentionally bought our first home with the plan to turn it into a rental and what that decision taught us about money, stability, and lon...

So many future homeowners tell me, "I'm scared to buy a house because I don't want to end up house poor." And honestly? That fear is a good thing. It means you're thinking ahead and doing this the right way. In this episode, I break down what to do before, during, and after buying a home so you can protect your finances and still enjoy your life. I talk about how to practice your future mortgage p...