Buying · Sarah Kim · Read time: 5 min
Buying Your First Home, Simply
The whole process in plain words, from your first budget to getting the keys.
Start with your real budget
Get pre-approved before you tour. A lender reviews your income and credit and tells you what you can borrow. It turns a hope into a number, and sellers take your offer more seriously.
Then set your own comfortable number, which is often below the lender’s ceiling. Count the monthly costs beyond the mortgage: taxes, insurance and upkeep.
Know the costs beyond the price
The price is only part of it. Plan for:
A down payment
Closing costs, often 2–5% of the price
Inspection and appraisal fees
Moving costs and first repairs
Ask your agent for a written estimate early, so nothing arrives as a surprise.
Tour with a short list
Write down three must-haves and three nice-to-haves, and treat everything else as negotiable. Seeing fewer, better-matched homes is easier on your head and your calendar.
Make an offer with confidence
Your agent compares recent nearby sales to suggest a fair price. Offers can include inspection and financing conditions, which protect you if something turns up.
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