How to Buy a Home: The #1 First Time Home Buyer Podcast

Think the market needs to crash before you can buy? Think again. Discover why a flat market gives first-time buyers the edge in 2026.

Most people are sitting around waiting for 3% interest rates or a price crash to make their move. But in this episode, David Sidoni explains why those waiting are missing the point — and the opportunity. 2026 may not bring exciting headlines, but that’s exactly what makes it a powerful year for pr...

Think you understand the homebuying process? Here’s the full truth, from start to finish — and why skipping the first ten steps can wreck everything.

Most "how to buy a home" guides are missing the most important details. In this episode, David Sidoni lays out the entirehomebuying journey — from day one to closing — with over 50 real steps, and exposes why popular webinars and checklists often lead buyers astray. He expla...

Elizabeth turned fear into confidence, buying her first home at 26 in Ohio with smart strategy, a DIY mindset, and just 5% down.

When Elizabeth first reached out, she described the homebuying process as "daunting" and didn’t want to get screwed. But just a few months later, she and her husband closed on a $164K home in Ohio — fully prepped, budget-savvy, and calm under pressure. In this episode, she walks through every step: f...

Feeling overwhelmed by the homebuying process? This episode gives first-time buyers a clear starting point by showing how to use the How to Buy a Home Episode Guide to build confidence, clarity, and a personal education plan.

How to Buy a Home 2025 Episode Guide

This end-of-year road trip episode is designed for renters who don’t know where to begin — or who feel stuck trying to make sense of conflicting advice online. Instea...

Millicent and Milo thought buying a home would take months—until they listened to Millicent’s mom. With a lease ending and low expectations, they closed on their first home in under 30 days thanks to prep work, a unicorn team, and the confidence to act fast.

What started as a casual conversation turned into a life-changing decision for Millicent and Milo. Encouraged by Millicent’s mom—an avid How to Buy a Home listener—they re...

She bought a home at 26 — with acreage, animals, and no family money. Cynthia’s story shows exactly what’s possible when you plan ahead, find the right team, and stick with it, even through setbacks.

Cynthia started listening to the How to Buy a Home podcast in 2022. Three years later, she closed on her dream property — a $250K home with two and a half acres in Florida. She did it with zero financial help from family, months o...

Check out Saly's full first time home buyer journey on HowtoBuyaHome.com. Saly became a first time home buyer in 2022, an unprecedented and crazy time in the housing market. Now, 3 years after Saly's premier on the How to Buy a Home podcast, she's returned to shed light on the big question: Was buying her first house worth it??

Hear how homeownership changed her life — and what she wishes she knew going in....

First-time buyer Silvia shares how she purchased a $530,000 home as a single mom using grants, grit, and guidance from a unicorn realtor — all while juggling debt and staying under budget.

Silvia is a single mom who just bought a $530,000 home with only $17,000 out of pocket — no co-buyer, no help. In this episode, she shares how she tackled debt...

Eve didn’t let fear, deadlines, or market pressure stop her. With determination and $20,000 saved, she found the right team, the right timing, and the right program to make homeownership happen — even when it felt just out of reach.

When Eve’s landlord gave her 30 days to move out, she didn’t panic — she pivoted. At 36 years old, after years of renting, Eve took a chance on herself and on a dream that had always seemed out of re...

Think you need $50K to buy a home? Think again — this episode shows the truth they’re not telling you.

First-time homebuyer numbers just hit record lows, but the real cause isn’t high prices — it’s bad guidance. In this episode, David reveals the proven, low-down-payment strategy that’s been hidden from buyers for years. It’s not new, and it’s not complicated — it’s just not profitable for the industry. You’ll learn how to build...

Shanta’s story shows how setting a goal, staying focused, and using the right support team can turn dreams into keys. Shanta used a USDA loan to buy her first home with zero down — and her story proves this option is more available than most buyers think.

Watch the Interview on YouTube

In this episode, David interviews Shanta, a single mom and veteran who overcame delays and life stress to finally buy her first home. After di...

Two 25-year-olds became homeowners in 2025 with just $8,000—and almost no money at closing.

Watch the Interview on YouTube

Chloe and Eduardo beat the odds and bought their first home in one of the toughest markets ever—with less than most people spend on a used car. This episode breaks down how they did it, featuring both their story and insights from their unicorn realtor and lender. You’ll learn how assertiveness, education...

Can your 401(k) help you stop renting and buy a home sooner?

This episode unpacks a controversial—but often misunderstood—strategy for first-time homebuyers: using your 401(k) to fund your down payment. David Sidoni breaks down how this can be done safely, why it may actually support your retirement, and how smart planning can help you enter the market sooner without sacrificing your future.

“When done right, this move streng...

The final 2025 How to Buy a Home Episode Guide is here. Specifically curated for first time home buyers. Use your holiday downtime to get ahead on your homebuying journey. This curated playlist of the best How to Buy a Home episodes is your shortcut to clarity, confidence, and real progress.

📘 Start your binge with the full episode guide → https://howtobuyahome.com/episodeguide2025/

Whether you’re stuck in traffic, loungi...

Brief: Two paths, one principle: treat homebuying as a long-term financial strategy, not a short-term hurdle.

Synopsis: This holiday episode is less about quick fixes and more about reframing your mindset. David Sidoni uses the season of spending and reflection to challenge renters to think long-term. Whether you’re considering formal assistance, planning to save aggressively, or exploring the option of family help, this e...

Student loans aren’t stopping you from buying a home — bad advice is. This episode reveals how to navigate mortgage approval with student debt and turn your loan burden into a homeownership advantage.

Think your student loans mean you can’t buy a home? Think again. In this episode, David Sidoni breaks down how banks actually evaluate borrowers with student debt — and why your total loan amount is way less important than your mon...

Learn how to cut big costs, stay on budget, and reach your homeownership goal faster.

Today’s episode is all about prioritizing your financial decisions to support your homebuying journey. Host David Sidoni breaks down why skipping your daily coffee won’t cut it—but skipping that new car just might make all the difference. You’ll learn how to rethink large expenses, why practicing rent replacement now can make you mortgage-ready...

Should you wait to buy in 2026? Or is now actually your best shot? This special year-end episode unpacks what happened in 2025 — and what’s coming in 2026 — using real data from 150+ housing analytics sources. If you’re a renter trying to make the smartest financial move, this is the episode you can’t afford to miss.

It’s not just another forecast — it’s your reality check. In this extended episode, David Sidoni breaks down the ...

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...