All the Costs of Buying a Home
A quick overview of costs that can sit beyond the purchase price.
First-Time Home Buyer Resources
Use these guides to organize the home buying process and avoid common mistakes. Start with the checklist, then explore the topics most relevant to your situation.
Affordability
Understand the difference between what a lender may approve and what you may actually want to spend.
Inspections
Understand what happens after the inspection and where negotiation may fit.
Agent Decisions
Should you use a buyer's agent?
Questions to consider when deciding how you want to navigate representation.
Checklist
Use this quick sprint checklist to keep the major steps visible.
Video Learning Center
Prefer to watch? These short consumer-education videos cover costs, down payments, and a critical closing-security issue.
Your Down Payment Decision
Understand why the amount you put down affects more than the cash due on signing day.
Protect Your Closing Funds
Learn how mortgage-closing scams work and why wire instructions should always be independently verified.
Prefer a Written Guide?
Use the checklist below and open any topic above for a deeper explanation.
Videos are from the U.S. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. Homebuyer Planning is not affiliated with or endorsed by the CFPB.
First-Time Buyer Sprint Checklist
- Determine a comfortable purchase budget and cash reserve.
- Compare mortgage lenders and obtain preapproval.
- Define must-haves, preferences, neighborhoods, and compromises.
- Visit homes and evaluate the property and neighborhood.
- Review comparable properties and prepare an offer strategy.
- Understand contingencies, earnest money, and deadlines.
- Schedule inspection and understand your options after the report.
- Complete appraisal and financing requirements.
- Review title, insurance, closing costs, and final figures.
- Keep documentation organized through closing.