Your First Home: How To Buy a House For First-Time Home Buyers

51. Are You Ready to Buy a House? The 4 Things You Actually Need First

Wondering if you're actually ready to buy a house, or just going through the motions because that's what you're "supposed" to do? There are four specific things you need

50. The Tax Benefits of Buying a House in 2026: What Homeownership Actually Saves You at Tax Time

If you've heard that owning a home comes with big tax write-offs, the real answer is more nuanced than that. I'm breaking down exactly what's tax deductible when you own

49. How Much Should You Have Saved Before You Start Looking to Buy Your First Home?

Most first-time buyers think the minimum down payment is all they need saved before they start touring homes… but that's only half the number. In this episode, I'm breaki

48. Buying a House in the Next 6-12 Months? Here's Exactly Where to Start.

If your goal is to buy a house in the next six to twelve months, you've probably wondered whether you're supposed to get pre-approved first or start touring homes first..

47. Home Inspection Red Flags Every First-Time Home Buyer Need to Know, with James Lee

When you're touring homes for the first time, it's easy to get caught up in the staging and the kitchen and start mentally moving in before you've even left. But there ar

46. Can You Buy a House With Student Loans? What First-Time Buyers Actually Need to Know

Student loan debt is one of the biggest reasons first-time buyers assume they can't qualify for a mortgage… but the data says otherwise. One-third of first-time homebuyer

45. How to Shop for a Mortgage Lender (And Save $60,000 on Your First Home)

Most first-time homebuyers only talk to one lender, and it's one of the most expensive mistakes you can make. Research shows that shopping around for mortgage lenders can

44. How to Sell Your First Home and Buy Your Next One (3 Strategies Explained)

What happens when you outgrow your first home and you're ready for the next one? Even if you've been through the buying process before, selling and buying at the same tim

43. What Are the Requirements to Buy a House in 2026? A First-Time Homebuyer's Checklist

If you've been wondering whether you're actually in a position to buy a house, this episode will make it clear. There are four main things lenders look at when you apply

42. Should You Talk to a Realtor or a Lender First? Where to Actually Start When Buying a House

One of the most common questions first-time homebuyers have is where to actually begin. Do you call a lender first to find out what you can afford, or do you find a realt

41. Market Update: Are Home Prices and Mortgage Rates Going to Drop in 2026?

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 ar

40. Buying a House Solo vs With a Partner: What First-Time Homebuyers Need to Know

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 bei

39. 7 Signs You Should Wait to Buy a House (And What to Do Instead)

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 mis

38. 3 Ways to Negotiate a Lower Interest Rate: How do Buy Downs Work for First-Time Homebuyers?

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 reali

37. How Much Do You Really Need For a Down Payment As a First-Time Home Buyer? 3-5% Down vs. 20% Down

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,

36. When to Start Looking for a House: The Step-by-Step Timeline for First-Time Homebuyers

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 f

35. How to Save Money Buying a House in 2026: 3 Strategies First-Time Buyers Need to Know

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 h

34. How Much of Your Income Should You Spend on a House? Budgeting Formulas for First-Time Buyers

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 ma

33. How to Set a Realistic Budget for Your First Home (Without Going House Poor)

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 t

32. The Hidden Costs of Buying a House That No One Warns You About

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 alre