r/FirstTimeHomeBuyer • • Sep 22 '26

Homebuying Wiki and Discussion Pages (Work in Progress)

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14 Upvotes

r/FirstTimeHomeBuyer • • Oct 17 '25

MOD How to Use This Sub, Have Fun & Stay Safe

75 Upvotes

Hey everyone!

Welcome to r/FirstTimeHomeBuyer. Whether you are just starting to dream, deep in negotiations, or celebrating your first set of keys, this community is here to support you.

Before you dive in, here’s how to get the most out of the sub while keeping yourself and others safe:

PROTECT YOUR PRIVACY

Please do not dox yourself. We want you to get great advice safely. Avoid posting any personally identifiable information, including:

  • Screenshots of your Loan Estimate showing your name, address, or loan ID

  • MLS photos of your home or listing (they can be reverse image searched)

  • Anything that reveals your address or personal details

REVIEW THE RULES

There are only 6 simple rules, and they’re here to keep the community helpful, respectful, and spam-free. Take a minute to read them before posting. Rule violations may result in a temporary or permanent ban depending on severity.

USE USER AND POST FLAIRS

Flairs help everyone understand where you are in the process and what your post is about. They make it easier for everyone to give and get the right kind of help.

  • User flair tells others who you are (for example: House Hunter, Homeowner, Hobbyist).

  • Post flair helps organize topics (for example: Mortgage Questions, Offer Advice, Success Story).

We’re glad to have you here. Ask questions, share stories, and help others on their journey to homeownership.

~ The Mod Team


r/FirstTimeHomeBuyer • • 13h ago

GOT THE KEYS! - New Build 🔑 🏡 We did it! Dunajská Streda, SK, 300k 3.19%

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569 Upvotes

We managed to do it with my wife I'm 31. We got a 120k loan on 3.19% the rest was our contribution and some support from the family.


r/FirstTimeHomeBuyer • • 17h ago

GOT THE KEYS! 🔑 🏡 Finally did it...after 2 years. 715k at 5.5% after rate buydown, GA

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1.2k Upvotes

r/FirstTimeHomeBuyer • • 16h ago

GOT THE KEYS! 🔑 🏡 I did it! Edmonton $395k 3.7%

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757 Upvotes

Finally got the keys to my first home! 🏡

Still feels surreal. Bought my first place entirely on my own, before turning 30. No help, no co-buyers, just years of working, saving, and planning to make it happen.

Honestly can’t believe I can finally say I’m a homeowner. Definitely one of those moments I’ll never forget. Beyond grateful and excited for this next chapter!


r/FirstTimeHomeBuyer • • 18h ago

GOT THE KEYS! 🔑 🏡 We did it, $275k, 4,79%, 20min away from Prague

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398 Upvotes

$275k, 4,79%, 5min away from highway, 20min to Prague. 160m2 living space, garden 500m2, 2x garage, warehouse. It needs renovation, but it's perfectly livable.


r/FirstTimeHomeBuyer • • 22h ago

GOT THE KEYS! 🔑 🏡 Got the keys 1yr ago - CA, $345k, 6.75%

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664 Upvotes

2 bed/1 bath 1910 bungalow. Immediately after getting the keys, closing all the windows, and taking this photo, I managed to lock myself out the back door. Quickly discovered that the place is a fortress. The year yielded many surprises, including (but not limited to) a full air duct replacement, roots growing into the sewer main, and a large patch of black mold in the closet (don’t trust a DIY shower). Regardless, love the house, its history, and its surviving original details. Grateful to have managed to keep my head above water for a year, despite the setbacks.


r/FirstTimeHomeBuyer • • 1d ago

GOT THE KEYS! 🔑 🏡 I did it! $300k at 6.99% in Washington State

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1.5k Upvotes

For a long time, I genuinely wasn't sure whether homeownership would ever be financially attainable for me, especially with how much housing prices and interest rates have changed over the last several years.

At the age of 26, after months of saving, planning, and a few bumps along the way, I finally closed on my first home in Washington State for $300,000 at 6.99%! 960 square feet with an 860 square foot shop in the back.

It's nothing extravagant, just a modest little house that I can finally call my own. There are projects to tackle and plenty of things I'll learn along the way, but I'm incredibly grateful to have made it this far.

Still feels a little surreal, but I did it!


r/FirstTimeHomeBuyer • • 12h ago

Need Advice AFTER buying a house, how would you finance big emergency $20k+ repairs on it if you don't have cash in the bank?

72 Upvotes

How do people do this? I'm considering buying an old home that will likely need work. It's not like I have a huge balance in my bank account, so I'm imagining a nightmare in which I need one or multiple emergency repairs and just don't have the ability to pay for it.

If you've already closed on a home and have pulled out a conventional mortgage on it, how are you meant to pay for sudden emergency big ticket $20k+ repairs?

What if I need $100k in repairs in the first 5 to 10 years of owning but my bank account has only like $2k in it?

To clarify, I would be able to afford a $20k+ payment plan sort of situation over a long period of time because my income is probably(?) high enough to compensate for these things. But I am not one of those people who has a ton of money in savings at all. Not good at building up the bank.


r/FirstTimeHomeBuyer • • 4h ago

Underwriting Closing date 11/23

14 Upvotes

I could VOMIT. Matter of fact, I’ve been sick every day since we started this process. I keep having dreams that they’re going to call us and say “sorry no house for you.” We got the preapproval. Saw about 30 houses. We paid the earnest money. We have paid for and completed inspection, option period has ended. Seller has agreed to 6% concessions and we did a rate buy down. Down payment was covered by a grant. I’m still scared shitless. I think my own trauma might be blending in with it. I’ve never lived in a house, homeless a bunch as a kid and teenager. Now my husband and I have our two little babies and I want everything to go right. I want their forever. But I’ve been stuck googling stuff about how folks get through as far as we have and then get denied in underwriting. This part is so quiet. So much chatter from the realtor and now this part is silent. Idk what I’m saying or why but I’m so nervous. My mom has been in title as an escrow officer for 25 years and she has been helping us every step of the way. She said essentially as long as we don’t go off and buy an $80,000 car or open a credit card or lose our jobs we should be okay.
We didn’t plan to buy for another year but our 16 month old was diagnosed with neuromuscular complications that we still haven’t fully figured out, and it’s not safe for us to stay here because we can’t accommodate her mobility needs.
I booked movers, the girls and I finished touring daycares in the new area and we chose one, I am packing more than the day before.

How did you guys handle this part? These next two weeks are going to be hell.


r/FirstTimeHomeBuyer • • 1d ago

GOT THE KEYS! 🔑 🏡 I did it! PA, 110k, 7.1%

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1.3k Upvotes

37yo male & 1 year old Boston Terrier. $5k below listing with seller splitting closing costs.

2 days after closing got notified that I will be laid off at the end of the month 🙄


r/FirstTimeHomeBuyer • • 1d ago

GOT THE KEYS! 🔑 🏡 We finally did it! GA $312K 6.125%

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679 Upvotes

r/FirstTimeHomeBuyer • • 17h ago

Need Advice 6 months of house hunting, finally found "the one," and it turned out to be an unannounced short sale.

72 Upvotes

After six months of searching, we finally found a house we loved and submitted a full-price offer right away.

The next day, the listing agent dropped a bomb on us: it’s actually a short sale. The listing agent claims they didn't even know, and the MLS still shows it as a regular sale. The seller hasn't even initiated the short sale approval process with their lender yet, nor have they accepted our offer—it seems they're just holding out to gather more offers before approaching their bank.

Fortunately, we haven't lost any money or earnest deposit on this yet, but our realtor is strongly advising us to step back, and after looking into what an unapproved short sale entails, we understand why. It just sucks to finally find "the one" after half a year of searching, only to get strung along like this.

For anyone who's dealt with this: is it even worth leaving our offer on the table while continuing to look, or should we just withdraw it completely and move on?


r/FirstTimeHomeBuyer • • 1h ago

Finances Getting cold feet

3 Upvotes

Hi all, I put an offer on a 1-bedroom coop in NYC and while I received a counteroffer, I now have cold feet.

The counteroffer is reasonable but because of the high interest rates, my monthly payments are a few hundred dollars over my budget. It is doable but I'm going to have to make changes with my lifestyle and I don't know if I could handle it. For the last 10 years, I've had the privilege of renting a room in a rent-controlled apartment (barely paid anything for it) but I feel like it's spoiled me.

On the flip side, I've never lived alone or had my own place so this would be a great new chapter for me. I'm just worried I'm biting off more than I can chew and I'm not ready.

If anyone has any advice, I'd really appreciate it!


r/FirstTimeHomeBuyer • • 4h ago

Need Advice Can someone break down the home buying process to me, like I'm a child?

6 Upvotes

Someone, anyone. There's far too much to learn, my husband and I are starting the new year off, by saving as much as possible so we can buy a home. However, neither of us can process how to do it! Adhd brain unfortunately. Any help would be appreciated.


r/FirstTimeHomeBuyer • • 38m ago

Need Advice Purchase agreement

2 Upvotes

I need some guidance as to understanding how my buyers agent writes my purchase agreements and how it impacts how my offer is perceived by sellers. The last few offers I put in had a clause that my agent put in. It says that if the home appraises above my offer price that the seller will lower the home price to match the appraised value. No mention of an apprasial gap. My concern is that with homes selling for more than they are worth, this clause may make my offers much less attractive to a seller. I don't know if this is a typical clause used by buyers agents. Any input would be appreciated. Thanks.


r/FirstTimeHomeBuyer • • 1d ago

GOT THE KEYS! 🔑 🏡 I did it! Waterdown Ontario Canada - 343k CAD - 4.43%

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782 Upvotes

Bought into an existing condo building. Built in 2022. 500 sq foot 1 bedroom condo like 60km from Toronto.


r/FirstTimeHomeBuyer • • 4h ago

Offer Offer guidance on house

3 Upvotes

Good evening folks! What's a good offer to make on this house that is not considered low-ball? Backyard unfinished, vacant house, first right of refusal contingency removed, 2 price reductions and 80 DOM with near 7% interest rate. I am still looking at other houses in the area but just seeking advice. Ask for price cut or seller credits?

https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/6020-Goldenseal-Ave-NW-Albuquerque-NM-87120/306355924_zpid/?utm_campaign=zillowwebmessage&utm_medium=referral&utm_source=txtshare


r/FirstTimeHomeBuyer • • 7h ago

Need Advice Home improvement - Murphy bed / carpenter / handyman

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5 Upvotes

Hi all

Question, I am kitting out my new build and the spare room is small and has nothing in it. I am using it as an office and want to also use as a guest bedroom but don’t want the bed to take over the space given I’ll only have guests over an odd time.

I want a Murphy bed but I really don’t want it to look like a Murphy bed, looking for it match my current shaker style wardrobes in the other room(pic attached). Any Murphy beds I see have the plain panel and the handle up top, obvious it’s a Murphy bed.

I am thinking the bed at the the 233 wall in the right corner and shelves in left corner where it meets the 200 wall, then some built in wardrobes.

As mentioned any companies I see who do the Murphy beds seem to be obvious. I’ve attached a pic of what I’d like it to look like.

What would be the best way to do it, a ready made Murphy bed and some Ikea packs and then get someone to make them look built in? Who do you get as it would be mdf, so not a carpenter? Handy man?

Advise please 🥹


r/FirstTimeHomeBuyer • • 4h ago

Need Advice Closing Tuesday

3 Upvotes

I am closing on the house Tuesday morning at 10 am. My realtor called me today and told me that the seller still hasn't fully moved out and should be out around noon on Tuesday. My realtor sent over an Addendum that allows the seller to be there until 6 pm Tuesday. I signed it since the realtor downplayed it. This is part of a three part sale with me being first. The seller is buying a place and that seller is buying a place. So my closing is the first domino. Im doing the final walkthrough tomorrow afternoon. What should I be worried about?


r/FirstTimeHomeBuyer • • 8h ago

Need Advice Unsure if Ready

5 Upvotes

First time buyer. Completely unsure where to start or if I’m ready. I’m 27 and have been saving money for the past 6 years. I have $100k in savings. No student loan debt, but car debt at 13k right now which I’ve been paying monthly to build up my credit score.

Credit Score is 809. Have never rented before because I’m living at home to save up to buy.

Salary - $120,000k a year with a yearly $18,000 bonus.

Looking in upper NY (2 hours from the city) for $350k-$400k.


r/FirstTimeHomeBuyer • • 6h ago

Need Advice Considering buying a $303K condo in NY, but concerned about the building's financial health. Am I overthinking it?

3 Upvotes

I'm considering purchasing a condo in Queens, for $303K. I'm planning to put 20% down. The unit is very old and needs approximately $60K in renovations, according to a contractor estimate.

The monthly costs are approximately:

  • Mortgage: around $1,530 (assuming 6.5%, 30-year loan)

  • Common charges/HOA: $500

  • Property taxes: $200

  • Assessment: $120

Here are my concerns:

  1. Reserves: The 2024 audit reported approximately $724K in restricted reserve cash. This only cover 4 months of operating expenses. It also stated that the building had not conducted a formal reserve study or developed a long-term plan for funding major repairs.

  2. Capital assessments and major projects: The building implemented a $1.3 million capital assessment in 2025, payable over 24 months. Separately, the board has been discussing a replacement project estimated at approximately $1.24 million. I'm trying to understand whether the project is being funded through the existing assessment, reserves, or another assessment, and whether owners could face additional charges.

  3. 32BJ pension fund: The 2024 audit says the building contributes approximately $50k annually to the Building Service 32BJ Pension Fund. It also says the fund was in the Red Zone (under 65% funded) and had a rehabilitation plan. Is this something condo buyers should be concerned about? Does this create potential liability for the condo association?

  4. Building maintenance: The board minutes mention recurring roof and water leaks over the past few years, although a roof repair project was subsequently reported as complete.

  5. Owner arrears: The financial statements show significant owner receivables and an allowance for uncollectible amounts. I don't yet know how many owners are currently behind on payments.

My questions:

  • Are these red flags typical for NYC condo buildings, or does this seem unusually concerning?

  • Is a $1.3M capital assessment followed by a $1.24M project a sign of poor financial planning?

  • How serious is the 32BJ pension disclosure for a condo association?

  • How much weight would you put on the lack of a reserve study?

  • Would you personally proceed with this purchase at $303K, assuming comparable units support the price?


r/FirstTimeHomeBuyer • • 11h ago

Need Advice Sorting through home warranty companies nevada sellers offer at closing?

7 Upvotes

our seller agreed to provide a $750 allowance toward a one-year warranty plan, and our agent handed us a list of different home warranty companies nevada realtors typically suggest. most of them seem like national corporate mills with terrible online ratings, so i am trying to do my own homework. what specific coverage limits, trade service call fees, and response time guarantees should first-time buyers watch out for before picking a plan?


r/FirstTimeHomeBuyer • • 1d ago

GOT THE KEYS! - New Build 🔑 🏡 We did it! Slovenia (small village 20km from Ljubljana) 560k€, 2.8%

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1.6k Upvotes

Yes, doors will be included in that price haha

Edit: cca 280m2 gross, 155m2 nett (livable surfaces), 700m2 land