{"id":248,"date":"2025-07-15T16:36:51","date_gmt":"2025-07-15T21:36:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/twilabertrand.sites.c21.homes\/?p=248"},"modified":"2025-07-15T16:36:51","modified_gmt":"2025-07-15T21:36:51","slug":"the-advice-first-time-homebuyers-need-to-hear","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/twilabertrand.sites.c21.homes\/?p=248","title":{"rendered":"The Advice First-Time Homebuyers Need To Hear"},"content":{"rendered":"<div>\n<div class=\"pt-8 px-8\">\n<h2 class=\"profile-color-text text-3xl\">The Advice First-Time Homebuyers Need To Hear<\/h2>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<div class=\"mt-6 text-base-content flex items-center flex-wrap gap-x-4 gap-y-2\"><span class=\"flex items-center flex-wrap gap-1\"><time class=\"text-base-content\" datetime=\"2025-07-14T10:30:00Z\">Monday July 14th, 2025<\/time><\/span><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>Article from Keeping Current Matters<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"grid grid-cols-3 sm:flex gap-1 flex-wrap w-fit sm:w-full my-4\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"p-6 px-8\">\n<div class=\"mt-6 flex flex-col gap-4 mb-8\">\n<div class=\"mb-2\">\n<p>Buying your first home is a big milestone \u2013 and the right support is going to make it a whole lot easier.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Because while this process might be brand new to you, it\u2019s not new to your agent.<\/strong>\u00a0They\u2019ve helped plenty of first-time buyers through it. They know what works, what actually matters, and how you can move through the process with a lot less guesswork.<\/p>\n<p>Here are a few real-world tips based on that experience of helping other first-time buyers.<\/p>\n<h4><strong>Tip #1:<\/strong>\u00a0<strong>Get Pre-Approved First<\/strong><\/h4>\n<p><em>Rocket Mortgage\u00a0<\/em>says this is one of the most common mistakes first-time buyers make. And it\u2019s easy to see why. Looking at homes online is fun. But doing it before you know your numbers? That\u2019s risky. You don\u2019t want to fall in love with a house that\u2019s way outside of your financial comfort zone. That&#8217;s a fast track for getting frustrated.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Instead, find your agent and talk to a lender early \u2013\u00a0<em>before\u00a0<\/em>looking at any houses<\/strong>. With your lender\u2019s help, you\u2019ll be able to get\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.simplifyingthemarket.com\/2025\/04\/17\/pre-approval-isnt-commitment-its-clarity\/?a=1000025117-654188f2b9e9f721433bea74f0bf3424\">pre-approved<\/a>\u00a0for your home loan. That\u2019ll give you a better idea of what you\u2019ll be able to borrow. And it helps you set a realistic budget. Then, your agent will be able to make you a customized list of homes, so you\u2019re only seeing what\u2019ll work for what you can spend. More clarity, less frustration.<\/p>\n<h4><strong>Tip #2: Set a Budget and Stick To It<\/strong><\/h4>\n<p>Remember, just because you can borrow up to a certain amount, chances are you won\u2019t want to max that number out. It\u2019s really important to avoid overextending your budget, especially in today\u2019s market. Other housing expenses like\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.simplifyingthemarket.com\/2025\/03\/19\/what-you-need-to-know-about-homeowners-insurance?a=1000025117-654188f2b9e9f721433bea74f0bf3424\">home insurance<\/a>, homeowners association (<a href=\"http:\/\/keepingcurrentmatters.com\/2025\/05\/20\/what-buyers-need-to-know-about-homeowners-association-fees\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">HOA<\/a>) fees, and taxes are on the rise, and you need to factor those in.\u00a0<em>Bankrate\u00a0<\/em>offers this advice:<\/p>\n<blockquote><p><em>\u201cWhen you\u2019re building a budget to narrow your search for properties, don\u2019t just think about how much house you can afford, but how much in recurring costs you can handle once you\u2019ve purchased your home.\u201d<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><strong>So, lean on the pros for advice on expenses you may not be thinking of, so you can work them into your budget.<\/strong><\/p>\n<h4><strong>Tip #3:<\/strong>\u00a0<strong>Don&#8217;t Skip the Inspection\u00a0<\/strong><\/h4>\n<p>When you find the right home, it\u2019s easy to get caught up in the excitement. But skipping the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.simplifyingthemarket.com\/2025\/05\/09\/why-youll-want-a-home-inspection-infographic\/?a=1000025117-654188f2b9e9f721433bea74f0bf3424\">inspection<\/a>\u00a0just to make your offer look stronger is a gamble that could cost you.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Instead, work with your agent to schedule a real inspection.\u00a0<\/strong>They&#8217;ll connect you with local pros, make sure it\u2019s booked, and help you understand the results so you can negotiate repairs or ask for money off at closing, if needed. It\u2019s better to invest in this time up front to avoid what could be thousands in surprise repairs later.<\/p>\n<h4><strong>Tip #4: Your First Home Doesn\u2019t Have To Be Your Forever Home<\/strong><\/h4>\n<p>For a lot of buyers, this is where unnecessary pressure creeps in. But remember, you don&#8217;t have to land your dream home right out of the gate. That\u2019s why it\u2019s called a starter home. It&#8217;s a starting point, not your final destination.<\/p>\n<p><strong>An agent will help you explore all your options, including ones you may not have thought about.<\/strong>\u00a0For example, a well-kept condo, a\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.simplifyingthemarket.com\/2025\/04\/02\/townhomes-a-smart-solution-for-todays-first-time-buyers\/?a=1000025117-654188f2b9e9f721433bea74f0bf3424\">townhouse<\/a>\u00a0in a great location, or a house with good bones can be a perfect first step into homeownership. The goal? Get in. Start building\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.simplifyingthemarket.com\/2025\/06\/06\/the-big-difference-between-a-homeowners-and-a-renters-net-worth\/?a=1000025117-654188f2b9e9f721433bea74f0bf3424\">equity<\/a>. Then, grow from there.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<h3 class=\"text-xl mb-2\">Bottom Line<\/h3>\n<p>Buying your first place is a big step, but it doesn\u2019t have to feel like a step in the dark. Let\u2019s talk about where you\u2019re starting, what\u2019s stressing you out (or holding you back), and what you actually need to know to make it happen.<\/p>\n<p>What\u2019s one question you wish you could ask an expert right now?\u00a0 What is keeping you from owning a home vs sending your money to a landlord?<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><strong>Looking for the Best Local Realtor in Angelina County, look no further!\u00a0 I am always striving to be the Best Realtor and Best Local Expert I can for my clients!\u00a0 Serving Lufkin, Huntington, Nacogdoches, and all of East Texas since 2012!<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Twila Bertrand, Realtor<\/strong><br \/>\n<strong>CENTURY 21 Cota Realty<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>936-208-7631<\/p>\n<p>twilabertrand@gmail.com<\/p>\n<p>210 E Lufkin Ave<\/p>\n<p>Lufkin Tx, 75901<\/p>\n<p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.zillow.com\/profile\/Twila%20Bertrand\">https:\/\/www.zillow.com\/profile\/Twila%20Bertrand<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Advice First-Time Homebuyers Need To Hear &nbsp; Monday July 14th, 2025 Article from Keeping Current Matters Buying your first home is a big milestone \u2013 and the right support is going to make it a whole lot easier. Because while this process might be brand new to you, it\u2019s not new to your agent.\u00a0They\u2019ve [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":194391,"featured_media":249,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[7],"tags":[131,102,104,109,107,89,132,22,130,129,21,19,85,46],"class_list":["post-248","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-real-estate","tag-advice-for-buyers","tag-best-agent-in-huntington","tag-best-agent-in-lufkin","tag-best-local-realtor","tag-best-real-estate-agent","tag-best-realtor","tag-buyers-agent","tag-lufkin-realtor","tag-most-experienced-agent","tag-most-trusted-agent","tag-real-estate-agent","tag-real-estate-lufkin","tag-sellers-agent","tag-trust-the-pros"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/twilabertrand.sites.c21.homes\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/248","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/twilabertrand.sites.c21.homes\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/twilabertrand.sites.c21.homes\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/twilabertrand.sites.c21.homes\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/194391"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/twilabertrand.sites.c21.homes\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=248"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/twilabertrand.sites.c21.homes\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/248\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":251,"href":"https:\/\/twilabertrand.sites.c21.homes\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/248\/revisions\/251"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/twilabertrand.sites.c21.homes\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/249"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/twilabertrand.sites.c21.homes\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=248"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/twilabertrand.sites.c21.homes\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=248"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/twilabertrand.sites.c21.homes\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=248"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}