Home buyer guide
Financing, inspections, closing costs, and timeline — the answers first-time buyers need before they tour a single house.
Most buyers use conventional mortgages (620+ credit, 3-20% down), FHA loans (580+ credit, 3.5% down — ideal for first-time buyers), VA loans (0% down for eligible veterans, no PMI), or USDA loans (0% down for rural properties). Pre-approval takes 1-3 days and tells sellers you're serious. Current rates run 6.5-7.5% depending on credit, loan type, and down payment.