1. The "Big Three" of Shopping ​Don't just shop for a house; shop for the people who handle the money and the legalities. ​Mortgage: Get pre-qualified early (usually valid for 30 days). Compare banks for the best rates. ​Realtor: Interview at least 3. Pick someone who asks you questions rather than telling you what you want. Do not sign an exclusive agreement until you are 100% sure. ​Inspector: Never use the one your realtor "hooks you up with." Find an independent, ruthless inspector who will spend hours checking every pipe and shingle. A lazy inspection can cost you $10k+ on day one. ​2. Preparation & Strategy ​The "Non-Negotiables" List: Create a list of 15–20 "must-haves" (e.g., 2-car garage, specific school district). This narrows your search from 50 houses to 15, saving you time and sanity. ​The Credit "Blackout": While house hunting, do not apply for new credit, buy a car, or make large purchases. Any dip in your credit score can tank your mortgage approval at the finish line. ​3. Mindset & Closing ​Be Patient: Don’t let "bidding war" pressure force you into a bad home. If a deal falls through, it wasn't the one. ​Expect the Unexpected: Even with a home warranty, there is often a 30-day waiting period. Have an emergency fund ready for "Day 1" disasters. ​Stay Organized: Keep a checklist of forms and deadlines so you aren't losing sleep over a forgotten signature. ​Pro Tip: Your realtor and inspector work for you, not the other way around. If they aren't being transparent or calling you with updates at odd hours to save a deal, they aren't the right fit.

29yr homeowner here. I concur w/the other commenters advice. Also, from the first payment, try to pay addtl principal; if that's not feasible, every year (maybe income tax refund?) Make 1 addtl principal payment equal to your monthly payment-doing this can turn a 30yr mtg into ~17yrs. Saving you hundreds of thousands in interest. Start your emergency savings ASAP, in a HYSA. Trust me, expensive stuff breaks at the worst possible times. Be friendly w/your neighbors, but NOT 'friends' with them. (Ppl are insane & you don't wanna end up feuding w/ppl who know your vulnerabilities & who you can't escape from whn they live next-door). Congrats & best of luck!

Best wishes on finding a first home of yourself to love.

Do you want a roommate. Im a nice person. I think im safe around you.

Make sure your house is not in a flood zone, then you will have to carry flood insurance and that could seriously raise your payments.👍

Check for mold, & windows, make sure there’s no drafts, always check the attic, make sure that the foundation is even, look for cracks on ceiling and walls

Christopher I wish you the best. I don't have any advice except do everything different from what I have done in my life! Lol

When you are signing your contract for your mortgage, you want to look for the TIP , that is your total interest paid on the entirety of the loan, back in 2020 companies were offering 34% which is decent, however some mortgage lenders will try to get you and give you a TIP of 110% , I have seen it. The TIP is different the the interest rate. A good rate would be 2.25% a higher interest rate would be closer to 8% , you want to try to stay lower then 5% ; however keep in mind that you can refinance every time rates drop and you can lower your interest rate and monthly payment. Also when you buy, check out your neighbors, and your surroundings.. bc you can fall in love with a property and buy it and then find out the neighbors suck.. and it makes things very uncomfortable. If you have any questions on the financing just reply , thanks and happy house buying

Make sure you’re not in a caveat emptor state . If so ,Request disclosure for any recent major repairs or existing issues and ask that they provide proof . Have your realtor pull any recent permits for the home . Get a home inspector and termite inspection. Don’t let realtor just tell you a home was recently remodeled make them prove it with receipts . ask your realtor about first time homebuyer down payment assistance programs in your state .

Amen! I pray you find someone to do a in debt inspection 🙏🏽🥰㊗️🎊

Ask lots of questions even those you think are silly. Type of A/C insulation asbestos which isn’t used can still be in some older homes. Ask if there was ever pipe damage from bursting. Keep asking things you jot down and comes to mind. A lot times reconditioning can mask issues. Check Google Maps of location or house prior to you buying if owned before.

If they have any decor setup, move it. Check underneath it. Check every outlet. Check water pressure, turn the furnace on and check every vent. Turn the hot water on, see how hot it gets, how long it takes & lasts. Ask what's under any carpet and check every inch for soft spots. If there's an attic, check it out. If you buy it furnished or partially furnished, take pictures of everything, the whole house that way when you move in you'll know if they switched out anything to something not as good/potentially broken. Check every doorknob to make sure they lock/unlock. Check when it was insulated last. Check all areas you cant see to ensure no holes, no damage or mice burrows/termites. Check for bedbugs. Check places with luminol and a blacklight. Check the area for sex offenders. Check what commute to work would be like. And always, ALWAYS talk to the neighbors!! Specifically an old lady, they know ALL the tea 🤣 Ask if people move in an out, if they do and there's no logical reasons... Ghosts probably own the home so onto the next! Lol

Congrats on trying to take that step... I was trying to do the same about a year ago till my credit & everything got hacked so now I'm starting off from scratch again, good luck!

Research the house yourself. Also find a buyer's realtor. Don't bypass the inspection--it is so important. Visit the house at different times and different days to get a feel for noise level in the neighborhood. Always flush the toilets. We flushed 47 toilets in my search.