Your First Home: Where to Start When Buying a House

Stacie Rihl
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Welcome to Your First Home Podcast - I'm your host and homebuying expert Stacie Rihl and I've spent the last 8 years helping first-time homebuyers like you make their dreams of owning a home reality. Buckle up, because we're about to demystify the process and learn everything we should have been taught in school about the biggest and most exciting purchase you'll ever make. Your first home.

  1. 1 day ago

    59. First Time Homebuyer Checklist for 2027: 10 Steps to Take Before You Buy a House

    If buying a house is one of your goals for 2027, the work starts long before you tour your first home. I'm walking you through my first-time homebuyer checklist: 10 things to do before you buy a house. It starts with pulling your full credit report and setting a monthly payment limit, and goes all the way to saving your down payment and finding first-time homebuyer programs in your state. Check these off over the next few months and you'll start the process ready, with no surprises when your lender pulls your file. ➞ Buying in the next 12 months? Get matched with a first-time homebuyer friendly FAME agent in your area. It's free and takes about 2 minutes. WHAT YOU’LL LEARN TODAY: Why your full credit report matters more than Credit Karma, and the only place to get it free once a yearWhy you should assume your credit score is 20 points lower than you think, and two ways to raise it before pre-approvalWhy lenders use the lower credit score when you buy a house with a partnerHow to build your must-have, nice-to-have, and deal breaker list before you start house huntingHow to set a monthly mortgage payment you’re comfortable with, not just the one you qualify forHow much to save for a down payment (at least 3%, with 10% the typical first-time buyer average) and why it belongs in a high-yield savings accountWhen to connect with a first-time homebuyer agent, even if you’re 6 to 12 months outHow to check your debt-to-income ratio with the 45% rule, and whether you need to pay off student loans firstHow to estimate closing costs in your area and find first-time homebuyer grants and assistance programs in your state MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE: Free first-time homebuyer checklistAnnualCreditReport.com (your free credit report, once a year)Mortgage calculator Closing costs calculator (Fannie Mae) RELATED EPISODES: Episode 33: How to Set a Realistic Budget for Your First Home (Without Going House Poor)Episode 52: Where to Start to Buy a House: Step 1 - Getting Organized START HERE: Get matched with a FAME agent in your area (free)Not ready for an agent yet? Take my free Home Buying 101 classFigure out how much house you can afford with my workbook CONNECT WITH ME: Instagram: @iamstacierihlVisit my website CHAPTERS: 00:00: Imagine hosting dinner in your first home a year from now01:13: The 10-step checklist (and how to get your free copy)02:15: Why buying a house takes preparation03:44: #1: Check your full credit report, not just Credit Karma07:20: #2: Check your credit score and how to raise it11:09: #3: Make your must-have, nice-to-have, and deal breaker list13:34: #4: Set a monthly payment limit14:26: #5: Open a high-yield savings account16:09: #6: Save your down payment (at least 3%)18:19: #7: Connect with a first-time homebuyer agent19:25: #8: Check your debt-to-income ratio20:43: #9: Research closing costs in your area21:48: #10: Review first-time homebuyer programs in your state22:37: Recap: your 10-step homebuyer checklist

  2. 4 Nov

    58. 14 Things No One Tells You Before Buying A House

    How to buy a house should be taught in school, but it isn’t, so most first-time homebuyers go in without knowing what to expect. I’m sharing 14 things no one tells you before you buy your first home, from how long it really takes to save and why your lender’s credit score won’t match Credit Karma to why your monthly payment can go up after closing. I also get into the money you’ll spend after you get the keys, why refinancing isn’t the safety net people make it out to be, and why setting your budget is your job, not your lender’s. ➞ Buying in the next 12 months? Get matched with a first-time homebuyer friendly FAME agent in your area. It's free and takes about 2 minutes. WHAT YOU’LL LEARN TODAY: Why it takes the average American seven years to save for a house, and why that timeline is completely normalWhy your first home doesn’t need to be perfect, and why most buyers are purchasing older homes built in the ’90sHow to think about resale value when house hunting, even if you plan to stay for yearsWhy your credit score might be 20 points higher or lower when a mortgage lender pulls itThe real cost of refinancing, and why you should never buy a house counting on rates to dropHow property tax reassessments can raise your monthly mortgage payment after you move inWhy interest rates can change after pre-approval, and when to ask your lender for an updated quoteHow much to set aside for post-closing expenses, and why you should wait to buy furniture and move in MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE: Mortgage News Daily (daily rate updates and email alerts) RELATED EPISODES: Episode 30: 7 Best Pieces of Advice and Tips for First-Time HomebuyersEpisode 32: The Hidden Costs of Buying a House That No One Warns You AboutEpisode 33: How to Set a Realistic Budget for Your First Home (Without Going House Poor) START HERE: Get matched with a FAME agent in your area (free)Not ready for an agent yet? Take my free Home Buying 101 classFigure out how much house you can afford with my workbook CONNECT WITH ME: Instagram: @iamstacierihlVisit my website CHAPTERS: 00:00 — Why nobody teaches you how to buy a house01:04 — #1: It takes 7 years on average to save for a house02:24 — #2–3: Your first home won’t be perfect (and it’ll probably be older)04:35 — #4–5: Resale value and why finding the right home takes time06:41 — #6: Why your lender’s credit score won’t match Credit Karma08:39 — #7: Refinancing isn’t free or guaranteed10:05 — #8: Why your monthly payment can go up after closing11:53 — #9–10: Mortgage interest and rate changes after pre-approval14:13 — #11–12: Post-closing expenses and why to wait on furniture16:45 — #13: Don’t move in the day after closing17:27 — #14: Your budget is your job, not your lender’s18:31 — Your next step: connect with a first-time homebuyer agent

  3. 28 Oct

    57. 10 Red Flags to Look for When Buying a House (That No One Ever Mentions)

    When you’re touring homes, it’s easy to fall for the staging and miss the warning signs that could cost you tens of thousands of dollars. I’m walking you through the red flags I personally look for when I tour a house, and every one of them is something you can spot without being a home inspector. You’ll learn where to look first, what the basement and electric panel can tell you, how to spot foundation and water issues, and the exterior red flags that can turn a dream home into a money pit. ➞ Buying in the next 12 months? Get matched with a first-time homebuyer friendly FAME agent in your area. It's free and takes about 2 minutes. WHAT YOU’LL LEARN TODAY: Why professional staging is a sales tactic, and how to see a house for what it actually is on your first walkthroughThe “look up, look around, look down” method for spotting ceiling stains, drywall cracks, and sloping floorsWhat a seller’s basement storage habits reveal about flooding and water issuesHow to tell if the electrical is outdated, including what two-prong outlets and missing GFCI outlets meanHow to estimate the age of the water heater and HVAC system, and why house flips often skip these upgradesThe foundation cracks that are a dealbreakerWhy cracked or stained stucco can be an $80,000+ problem, and how to estimate roof replacement costsHow yard slope and tree placement can cause water and foundation damage RELATED EPISODES: Episode 47: Home Inspection Red Flags Every First-Time Home Buyer Needs to Know, with James LeeEpisode 2: Don't Buy a House Until You Know About These Red Flags with Home Inspector Vince Tecce START HERE: Get matched with a FAME agent in your area (free)Not ready for an agent yet? Take my free Home Buying 101 classFigure out how much house you can afford with my workbook CONNECT WITH ME: Instagram: @iamstacierihlVisit my website CHAPTERS: 00:00 — The red flags no one tells you to look for00:53 — What you can spot without being a home inspector02:17 — Your first lap: ignore the staging and ask if you even like the house05:10 — Look up: ceiling stains, light fixtures, and ceiling height06:46 — Look around and down: drywall cracks and sloping floors08:04 — The basement: storage clues, water lines, and that damp smell09:43 — Electrical red flags: old panels, two-prong outlets, and GFCI11:47 — Water heater and HVAC age (and what flippers skip)13:22 — Foundation cracks and checking the closets14:17 — Outside: brick, siding, stucco, and the roof16:20 — Yard slope, trees, and what it takes to maintain the yard

  4. 21 Oct

    56. How to Buy a House Solo in Your 20s, with Sarena Tseng

    Can you actually buy a house on your own in your 20s in this market? My guest Sarena Tseng did it at 26, buying in the Austin area in 2025 as a solo first-time homebuyer. She's sharing the real numbers with us: how much she had saved, why she put just 3% down and happily pays PMI, how house hacking with roommates makes her mortgage work, and the $12,000 kitchen refresh that turned an outdated house into one she loves. We also get into the costs nobody warned her about and what owning a home alone looks like once you have the keys. ➞ Buying in the next 12 months? Get matched with a first-time homebuyer friendly FAME agent in your area. It's free and takes about 2 minutes. WHAT YOU'LL LEARN TODAY: How much a solo first-time homebuyer actually had saved before buying, and why you want liquid cash instead of pulling from investmentsWhy she chose a 3% down conventional loan through a Fannie Mae first-time homebuyer program, and what her PMI really costs each monthThe closing costs and ongoing expenses that caught her off guard, including lender's title insurance, prepaid HOA dues, and homeowners insuranceHow house hacking with roommates made a mortgage affordable on a single incomeWhy mortgage calculators on Zillow tend to underestimate your real monthly paymentHow she turned an older, "technically turnkey" home into her dream space with a $12,000 kitchen updateWhy the house she bought wasn't her favorite online, and how a must-have list kept her open-mindedWhat life looks like after closing as a solo homeowner, from furnishing on a budget to window treatments MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE: Follow Sarena on Instagram and TikTok RELATED EPISODES: Episode 40: Buying a House Solo vs With a Partner: What First-Time Homebuyers Need to KnowEpisode 3: Can You Realistically Buy a House Solo? With Lily Wyss START HERE: Get matched with a FAME agent in your area (free)Not ready for an agent yet? Take my free Home Buying 101 classFigure out how much house you can afford with my workbook CONNECT WITH ME: Instagram: @iamstacierihlVisit my website CHAPTERS: 00:00 — Is it possible to buy a house solo?01:29 — Sarena's story: buying solo near Austin at 2602:44 — How she knew she was financially ready04:22 — How much she had saved before buying ($50K)05:39 — Surprise costs: closing costs, HOA, and homeowners insurance08:53 — Why she put 3% down (and her honest take on PMI)12:36 — Setting a realistic budget with house hacking15:25 — Buying an older home and a $12K kitchen refresh20:55 — What surprised her: listing photos, fast timelines, and phone calls25:47 — Nerves, research, and whether she's glad she bought29:32 — Advice for solo buyers: build your team and know your must-haves32:08 — Life after closing: furniture, mail keys, and window treatments

  5. 14 Oct

    55. Where to Start to Buy a House: Step 4 - When to Start Looking

    You've set your budget, found your agent, and gotten pre-approved. Now comes the part you've been waiting for: actually looking at houses. I walk you through how house hunting works for first-time homebuyers, from searching listings on the MLS to knowing when to start touring homes in person. Then I cover exactly how to make an offer on a house once you find one you love. I'll also share how a "maybe" became a "heck yes" on two of the three homes we bought, and why your must-have list matters more than a pretty kitchen. ➞ Buying in the next 12 months? Get matched with a first-time homebuyer friendly FAME agent in your area. It's free and takes about 2 minutes. WHAT YOU'LL LEARN TODAY: What the MLS is, how listings travel from the MLS to Zillow and Redfin, and why searching the MLS gives you the most accurate, up-to-date informationWhy you should start touring homes about four months before you want to move, and how state timelines like attorney review periods change thatWhy touring homes before you're ready can backfire and leave you comparing every house to the one you couldn't buyHow to use your must-have and nice-to-have list to turn a "maybe" into a confident yes without settlingHow quickly you need to make an offer based on days on market and competition from other buyersWhat goes into a written offer contract: price, closing date, home inspection, loan type, and lenderHow much your first deposit typically is, and when it's dueHow long it takes to close after your offer is acceptedWhy it can take more than one offer to win a home in a hot market, and why starting early gives you room to try again START HERE: Get matched with a FAME agent in your area (free)Not ready for an agent yet? Take my free Home Buying 101 classFigure out how much house you can afford with my workbook CONNECT WITH ME: Instagram: @iamstacierihlVisit my website CHAPTERS: 00:00 — The Getting Started Series, Part 4: house hunting and making an offer00:47 — Quick recap: get organized, find your agent, get pre-approved02:26 — How the MLS works (and why it beats Zillow and Redfin)04:23 — When to start touring homes: the four-month rule06:08 — Comparing homes with your must-have and nice-to-have list07:32 — When a maybe becomes a yes: my three home searches10:23 — How fast to make an offer and what goes into the contract13:52 — Under contract: attorneys, your first deposit, and next steps15:50 — Why it can take a few offers and why to start early

  6. 7 Oct

    54. Where to Start to Buy a House: Step 3 - How to Get Pre-Approved

    Once you've had your planning meeting and found your realtor, the next step is getting pre-approved. But there's a real difference between pre-qualified and pre-approved, and most first-time buyers don't know it until it costs them the house. I'm walking through how to choose a trustworthy lender, exactly what documents they'll ask for, and the difference between a quick pre-qualification and a full pre-approval, so you're ready the moment the right home hits the market. ➞ Buying in the next 12 months? Get matched with a first-time homebuyer friendly FAME agent in your area. It's free and takes about 2 minutes. WHAT YOU'LL LEARN TODAY: Why getting pre-approved is step three, not step one, and why the order actually mattersHow to find a trustworthy lenderThe real difference between a pre-qualification and a full pre-approvalExactly what documents your lender will ask for: bank statements, pay stubs, W-2s, and moreHow gift funds from family work in the pre-approval processWhy you should tell your lender your actual monthly budget, not just take the number they approve you forHow long your pre-approval lasts and how rate shopping with multiple lenders actually works START HERE: Get matched with a FAME agent in your area (free)Not ready for an agent yet? Take my free Home Buying 101 classFigure out how much house you can afford with my workbook CONNECT WITH ME: Instagram: @iamstacierihlVisit my website CHAPTERS: 00:02 — Step three: finding a lender and getting pre-approved02:11 — Why you need a lender referral (not just a Google search)06:47 — Informal conversation vs. official pre-approval: your two options07:56 — What documents your lender will actually ask for09:44 — Pre-qualified vs. pre-approved: what's the real difference11:24 — What you get back: your approval letter and closing cost estimate12:56 — How long your pre-approval lasts (and when you'll need to redo it)14:23 — When to start, and how to shop multiple lenders without hurting your credit

  7. 30 Sept

    53. Where to Start to Buy a House: Step 2 - How to Find a Realtor

    Once you've had your planning meeting, the next step is finding the right realtor, but not just any realtor will do. I'm breaking down the FAME framework I use to vet realtors for first-time buyers: first-time homebuyer friendly, available, market knowledge, and experience. You'll learn exactly when to reach out, what questions to ask, and how realtor compensation actually works so nothing catches you off guard. ➞ Buying in the next 12 months? Get matched with a first-time homebuyer friendly FAME agent in your area. It's free and takes about 2 minutes. WHAT YOU'LL LEARN TODAY: Why you should connect with a realtor 6 to 12 months before you want to move (and the math behind that timeline)The FAME framework for vetting a realtor: first-time homebuyer friendly, available, market knowledge, and experiencedThe exact numbers to ask about: years of experience, total sales, and how many are with first-time buyersWhy the busiest realtor in town might not be the right realtor for youHow realtor compensation actually works, and why it usually doesn't cost you anything out of pocketWhat happens on your first call with a realtor and what they'll ask you START HERE: Get matched with a FAME agent in your area (free)Not ready for an agent yet? Take my free Home Buying 101 classFigure out how much house you can afford with my workbook CONNECT WITH ME: Instagram: @iamstacierihlVisit my website CHAPTERS: 00:00 — Step two: finding the right realtor01:22 — When to reach out to a realtor (and the math behind the timeline)04:47 — The FAME framework: how to vet a realtor as a first-time buyer08:17 — The exact questions to ask a realtor before you commit09:34 — What happens on your first call with a realtor11:02 — How realtor compensation actually works12:46 — Why having a FAME realtor changes the whole process

  8. 23 Sept

    52. Where to Start to Buy a House: Step 1 - Getting Organized

    Where do you actually start when you want to buy a house? Before you talk to a realtor or a lender, there's one conversation you need to have first, and skipping it is why so many buyers panic or overspend the moment the right house hits the market. This is the first episode in a new series walking through exactly where to start, and today it's your planning meeting: your finances, your location, and your must-haves, so you can move fast and with confidence when the time comes. ➞ Buying in the next 12 months? Get matched with a first-time homebuyer friendly FAME agent in your area. It's free and takes about 2 minutes. WHAT YOU'LL LEARN TODAY: Why you have to make your big decisions before you start looking, not while you're standing in the house you loveThe two money questions to answer first: how much you can spend upfront, and how much you're comfortable spending monthlyHow to set a "flex number" above your budget for the exact right home, before emotions are involvedHow to narrow down your top neighborhoods and search radius before you start touringHow to build a must-haves, nice-to-haves, and deal breakers list, and why doing it separately from your partner first mattersWhy taking your time means doing the prep work early, not looking at 60 houses before deciding RELATED EPISODES: Episode 33: How to Set a Realistic Budget for Your First Home (Without Going House Poor) START HERE: Get matched with a FAME agent in your area (free)Not ready for an agent yet? Take my free Home Buying 101 classFigure out how much house you can afford with my workbook CONNECT WITH ME: Instagram: @iamstacierihlVisit my website CHAPTERS: 00:00 — Where do you actually start when you want to buy a house?02:35 — Step zero: the home buying planning meeting nobody tells you to have03:59 — Why you have to decide everything in advance (the market moves fast)07:44 — How to actually set up your planning meeting08:18 — The money conversation: upfront cash and your monthly budget11:43 — Deciding on your top locations12:49 — Building your must-haves, nice-to-haves, and deal breakers list16:34 — What's next: finding a realtor and testing your criteria online

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Welcome to Your First Home Podcast - I'm your host and homebuying expert Stacie Rihl and I've spent the last 8 years helping first-time homebuyers like you make their dreams of owning a home reality. Buckle up, because we're about to demystify the process and learn everything we should have been taught in school about the biggest and most exciting purchase you'll ever make. Your first home.

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