How to Buy a Home: For the First Time

Whether you’re a year out or just starting to think about buying, these 8 tips will help you lay the groundwork — no pressure, no overwhelm, just smart moves to set yourself up right.

Not sure where to start your homebuying journey? In Part 3 of our financial prep series, David lays out 8 high-impact tips for first-time buyers — the exact things he’d tell a friend or family member who wants to buy in the next year or two. Thes...

Learn how to turn your budget into a strategic homebuying tool. Whether you're brand new to saving or ready to fine-tune your plan, this is your playbook for building confidence with your money.

If you want to prepare financially to buy a home, your budget should be your power tool. In this financial prep replay episode, David Sidoni, a nationwide homebuying coach walks through the best budgeting frameworks for renters who are r...

This episode kicks off a new financial prep series designed specifically for first-time homebuyers. Whether you’re 2 weeks or 2 years away from buying, this is the financial clarity you’ve been missing.

Most financial advice for first-time buyers is either too vague or too late. In this episode, David Sidoni breaks down the two essential elements of real financial prep: aligning your finances with what lenders actually want to s...

This episode shares the practical story of Will and Annie, first-time buyers in Asheville, NC, who bought a $375K fixer-upper while managing fears of affordability. From working with a credit union to building confidence through education, their journey shows how to buy smart — even without being married.

Buying your first home can feel overwhelming — especially if you're unsure about money or the process. Will and Annie started...

From PMI myths to hard credit pull fears, this listener Q&A episode breaks down the most common first-time homebuyer questions with real math and no fluff. Learn the right order of operations, how to shop for your mortgage, and when to start talking to a lender — all straight from the expert trusted by thousands of new homeowners.

This episode dives into 10 of the most ...

If you’re stuck in a lease but dreaming about owning a home, this episode shows you how the math may already be on your side. Learn how breaking a lease — the move most renters fear — can actually save you thousands and help you start building wealth sooner.

For most renters, breaking a lease feels like throwing money away. But what if that short-term fee could unlock long-term financial freedom? In this episode, you’ll discover...

Flat prices, stable rates, rising inventory — this episode reveals why today’s “boring” market is a gift for first-time buyers.

This 2025 market update breaks down why the so-called “stagnant” housing market is actually filled with opportunity for first-time buyers. David exposes how media headlines overlook improving buyer conditions — like falling interest rates, more fle...

The market changes fast — and most of what you’ve heard about buying a home is already outdated. In this final step of the How to Buy Your First Home system, David Sidoni explains how to read today’s housing data, block out bad advice, and use real-time insight to make your move with confidence.

You’ve reached Step 10 — the finish line of the HBH system. This episode shows why up-to-date market knowledge is your biggest edge as ...

Stop fearing your future mortgage payment — and start preparing for it. In this episode, David Sidoni shows you how to rehearse homeownership before you buy by using your rent phase to train your budget. Learn how to set up automated savings that match your future mortgage, shift your mindset from “budget pain” to “financial power,” and walk into homeownership confident, calm, and ready.

Worried your new mortgage payment will cr...

The internet can be your best resource or your biggest distraction when buying your first home. In this episode, David Sidoni breaks down how to use online research the right way — without falling for clickbait, myths, or bad advice. Learn how to combine your own research with your Realtor’s expertise to find the perfect neighborhood and home faster.

Most first-time buyers start their home search online — and that’s okay, as lon...

A real estate expert breaks down the confusing language of real estate so you can finally understand what lenders, agents, and lawyers are talking about. From pre-qualification to escrow, this episode is your cheat sheet to translating homebuying jargon into plain English.

If you’ve ever felt like everyone in the homebuying process was speaking another language, this episode will be your turning point.

David Sidoni, host of H...

Why do so many first-time homebuyers end up with regrets? Because they skipped this step. In Step 6 of the How to Buy a Home starter series, David breaks down how goal-setting — done the right way — isn’t just fluff. It’s a strategic tool that shapes your entire homebuying journey and helps you avoid costly mistakes.

You’re halfway through the 10 steps, and now it’s time to get serious. Step 6 is where emotional clarity meets st...

Think you need 20% down to buy a home? Think again. In Step 5 of the 10-Step How to Buy a Home System, David Sidoni breaks down how much you really need to save — and how to start now, even if you’re juggling debt.

Saving for a home is the step that scares most renters away from ever getting started. In this episode, David busts the biggest myth in homebuying — that you need a massive 20% down payment — and replaces it with a re...

You don’t need to be debt-free to buy a home—this episode shows you how to work smarter with your debt, not fear it.

In today’s housing market, waiting to eliminate all your debt before buying a home might actually hurt your long-term financial stability. In this must-listen episode of the How to Buy a Home podcast, we tackle the misunderstood middle child of the Big Three—debt—and explain why managing it strategically can often...

Credit scores can make or break your first-home dream — but most of what you’ve heard about them is wrong. In this essential step of the How to Buy a Home system, David Sidoni cuts through the myths and reveals how to build the kind of credit that actually gets you approved. Whether your score is 820 or 520, this episode shows you exactly how to work with — not against — the credit system so you can buy smarter and sooner.

Your ...

Choosing the right realtor and lender is the most important decision of your entire home-buying journey. In this foundational step of the How to Buy a Home Starter Kit, David Sidoni reveals how to build your real estate “dream team” — one that guides, protects, and empowers you from day one. This episode exposes the industry myths that keep first-time buyers confused and shows you how to find professionals who work for you, not jus...

Before credit checks, down payments, or Zillow searches — the first step is deciding. In this kickoff to the 10-step Homebuying 101 series, David Sidoni breaks down the mindset every first-time homebuyer must have before any of the practical steps even matter. If you’ve been stuck renting, overwhelmed by myths, or waiting for “the right time,” this episode will change how you see yourself — and your ability to buy a home.

Welcome to the official starting point of How to Buy a Home.

If you’re ready to stop renting but don’t know where to start, this is your map. In this episode, David Sidoni introduces the 10 Steps System — the complete homebuying education plan trusted by first-time buyers across the U.S.

You won’t learn every step today — this episode is your orientation.

David explains how the system works, what you’ll learn in the episodes ahe...

Buying a home isn’t just about payments — it’s about building a future.

In this episode, David sits down with Nick, a first-time buyer who went from having just $1,500 in the bank to closing on a $312,000 home in less than a year. Nick shares the fears, doubts, and breakthroughs that turned his “someday” dream into reality — including the pivotal moment he realized that an extra $1,000 a month wasn’t just rent, it was buying him...