Buying your first home comes with a lot of advice, and plenty of it is out of date. These are short, plain answers, in the order you'll actually need them.
Read one a night. You'll be ready before you know it.Most first-time buyers don't lack information. They have too much of it, from too many places, and a lot of it is out of date. This guide is the short version: twelve plain-English reads, a few minutes each, in the order you'll actually need them. Start at the top, or jump to wherever you are.
Before you talk to a lender: why buy, what's true, and where your money and credit stand.
Equity, stability, and a place that's actually yours, with the honest trade-offs.
Six things people believe about buying that stop them before they start.
A pre-approval says what a lender will lend. A budget says what you're comfortable paying.
The five things your score is built from, and the habits that move it.
What's on it, what isn't, how long things stay, and how to fix a mistake.
Build it from scratch, keep it strong, and recover if something's gone wrong.
How much to put down, where it can come from, and what mortgage insurance really does.
Why emptying your savings is usually a mistake, and three ways to cover it.
What it is, why it can help you buy sooner, and how it differs by loan type.
What to settle before you look, and how to compare what you see.
Ten things to settle before you fall in love with a listing.
What to write down at every showing, plus a printable comparison sheet.
The stretch between approval and keys, where small moves cause big delays.
Keeping the home you worked for in good shape.
This guide is general education, not financial, tax or legal advice, and not a commitment to lend. Loan programs, eligibility and costs vary by borrower, property and lender, and guidelines change. Talk with a licensed loan officer about your specific situation.
If you'd like someone to look at your actual numbers, a first call is free and comes with no pressure and no obligation.
Or call Todd directly at (954) 806-5114 · Educational only · Not a commitment to lend