Make Your First Time Homebuyer Journey
Easier and More Affordable

19+ 

Years

Experience

1.7 Million+ 

Downloads

1,400+ 

Apple & Spotify

Podcast Reviews

4,100+ 

First Time Home

Buyers Helped

Tired of feeling confused about
how to buy your first home?

Learn how to buy your first house — no pressure, no sales pitch, just a real plan.

In 7 days, get expert-backed steps to build your custom roadmap.

✔️ What are the exact steps to buy your first home as a first-time buyer?

✔️ How can I prepare financially to buy my first home?

✔️ What credit score do you need to qualify for a mortgage as a first-time home buyer?

…and so many more.

Download your free Home Buying Kit and start your plan today. You don’t have to do this alone.

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Why First Time Home Buyers Need a Trusted
Local Home Buying Expert - aka a "Unicorn Realtor"

Did you know most "top real estate agents" avoid working with first time home buyers? They don't want to spend the time advising you and often pass you off to a rookie agent with no real experience. Did you know:

  • 87% of Realtors Quit in Less Than 5 Years
  • 71% of Agents Sold ZERO Homes in 2024

That's why you need a "Unicorn" - a thoroughly vetted, trusted expert with local housing market expertise, truly focused on helping first time home buyers. They're your guide through the process and can help protect you, simplify the journey, and most importantly save you time and money buying your first house.

unicorn realtor

Not Sure Where You Should Begin?

Most people looking to purchase their first home don’t reach out to an expert because they worry it’s “too early” or they don’t want to bother anyone. But waiting is exactly what keeps you stuck paying rent longer than you need to.

At How to Buy a Home, you get something rare — personal guidance from a homebuying coach who’s here to help you from the very beginning. No pressure, no sales pitch, just answers to your biggest questions.

👉 Ask David directly — the real estate expert for first-time home buyers. Since 2006, David has helped thousands of renters just like you purchase their first house with confidence. Whether you’re years away or ready now, you deserve no pressure, personalized guidance— not more years wasted on rent.

✅ Click below to get expert advice and your own personalized home buying roadmap — designed to help you navigate the home buying process and learn exactly how to afford your first home.

Frequently Asked Questions

David Sidoni Navy Polo DTC In Front Of Staircase

How much down payment do first-time home buyers really need?

One of the biggest misconceptions out there is that you need 20% down to buy your first home — and honestly, that myth keeps a lot of people renting longer than they need to. A recent survey found that 41% of first-time home buyers still believe 20% is required, but the reality is very different.

The average first-time home buyer actually puts down 7% to 8%, but it’s common — and totally normal — to put down less. There are multiple loan programs built specifically for first-time buyers that offer 0% down (VA and USDA), 3% down conventional loans, 3.5% down for FHA, and 5% down conventional. These lower down payment options are some of the most frequently used by buyers under 35.

Your down payment doesn’t have to be the roadblock you think it is. The key is starting early with a lender who knows these programs and can help you explore down payment assistance, grants, and creative strategies designed to get first-time buyers like you into a home without draining your savings.

Can I still buy my first home if I have student loans or credit card debt?

Yes, you absolutely can — and honestly, most first-time buyers do. Having student loans or credit card debt doesn’t automatically disqualify you from buying a home. What lenders really care about is your debt-to-income ratio (DTI) — the percentage of your monthly income that goes toward debt payments. As long as your monthly payments fit within lending guidelines — typically below 45% of your gross income — you can qualify for many mortgage programs.

Student loans, in particular, scare a lot of buyers — but they don’t have to. We’ve helped first-time buyers with $200K to $300K in student loan debt still qualify for a mortgage and buy their first home. The secret is understanding how different loan programs calculate student loan payments — and working with a lender who knows how to navigate it.

The key is connecting early with a specialist who understands first-time buyer programs and debt strategy — not someone who sees your student loans and just says no. Planning ahead turns what feels impossible into a real path forward, no matter what your debt looks like.

Should I wait to buy a house or is now a good time for first-time home buyers?

It’s a question almost every first-time buyer asks — but waiting for the “perfect market” often leads to years of renting and missing out on building equity. And in today’s high-rent market, the smartest financial strategy is to start thinking of your first home as a rent replacement — a way to stop paying someone else’s mortgage and start building your own future.

Buying your first home doesn’t have to mean finding your forever home right now — it’s about making a smart move that opens up more options down the line as you pay into your own equity instead of your landlord’s pocket.

The best time to buy is when you’re prepared, not when headlines make it sound ideal. Instead of trying to time the market, focus on building a plan that gets you ready to act when the right opportunity comes up. The right team and strategy can help you understand your local market, avoid costly delays, and make sure you don’t sit on the sidelines longer than you need to.

How do I find a trusted local real estate agent for first-time home buyers?

The right agent makes all the difference — especially when it’s your first home. You should feel comfortable asking questions, getting real answers, and working with someone who actually wants to help first-time buyers — not just push you through the process.

What most people don’t realize is that many of those “preferred agents” you find online or through referral sites paid to be there — it’s advertising, not a guarantee of experience or skill. Big platforms sell those spots, which means you could get matched with someone who bought the lead — not necessarily someone qualified to guide you.

Here’s the good news — you’re already in the right place. This isn’t just another referral site. We’ve already done the work to connect you with personally vetted, experienced realtors who specialize in first-time buyers and actually want to guide you through this process.

But finding the right agent is just the start. What you really need is a plan, a strategy, and support from professionals who care — wherever you’re starting from. And that’s exactly what this is built for.

How do first-time home buyers avoid making expensive mistakes when buying a house?

The biggest mistake most first-time buyers make? Waiting too long to get help and build a plan. So many people think they need to figure it all out before reaching out — and that’s exactly what leads to rushed decisions, missed opportunities, and costly errors.

The smartest thing you can do is start early — even if you’re a year or more out — with a team that knows how to protect first-time buyers from common (and expensive) pitfalls. That means working with an experienced agent and lender who guide you through credit prep, savings strategies, loan options, and market education, so you’re ready when the right home appears.

And it doesn’t stop there — a great team will also help you find trusted inspectors and local professionals who know how to spot red flags. Together, they’ll protect you from buying a money pit and help you make smart, confident decisions every step of the way.

BONUS: What Credit Score Do First-Time Home Buyers Need to Qualify for a Mortgage and Get the Best Rate?

Many first-time buyers qualify with a credit score as low as 580 for FHA loans, while most conventional loans require 620 or higher. A score of 740 or above typically unlocks the best rates and lowest fees. But lenders use credit score tiers, so even a 20-point improvement can lower your interest rate and reduce your private mortgage insurance (PMI) costs.

Your credit score is one of the most important factors lenders consider when qualifying you for a mortgage — and improving it takes time. That’s why our trusted pros work with you on a credit improvement strategy while guiding you through every step of your home buying plan to maximize your buying power.

In fact, your credit score is the first piece of what’s called “The Big Three” — credit, debt, and savings — all working together to determine what you can afford. Credit changes take the most time, so starting early is critical to improving your options and setting yourself up for success.

✅ Pro Tip: Check your credit reports directly at AnnualCreditReport.com. Our experts will help you make smart moves to boost your score while building your full home buying plan — so you’re ready when the right home appears.

What Other First Time Home Buyer Clients Say

Walks You Through Everything You Need

If you have been wondering how to buy a home and you are listening to this podcast, you've already taken your first step to buying a home! Congrats! David is great at walking you through all of the little (and big) things you need to know about buying a home. Whether it's your first time, or your 15th time buying a home, you'll walk away with key information and gems of wisdom that you didn't have before.

Alyssa T.

First Time Home Buyer

"

Not Enough Adjectives To Express How Lucky We Were

My wife and I stumbled onto the "How to Buy a Home" Podcast on Spotify on a long drive. There are not enough adjectives to express how lucky we were to find this podcast. We listened very casually to the different topics that were in each podcast and after quite a few episodes, we decided we needed to contact 'unicorn' realtor, David.

Ben W.

First Time Home Buyer

"

Stop Paying Your Landlord's Mortgage

David is such a great and sincere guy. He's on a mission to help first-time homebuyers and he'll go the extra mile to do whatever he can to help get you out of paying your landlord's mortgage and into paying your own (maybe even for less per month!). Wherever you are in the US, he's more than happy to talk to you, help you find a realtor, and share his advise on your unique situation. I'm in a bit of disbelief over how busy I know he is.

Ali M.

First Time Home Buyer

"

A True Expert With Heart, Energy, Empathy, Care, And Insight


I can't express how amazing it was to hear from someone with such energy, empathy, care and insight. A true expert! With a heart! I wish I had found this podcast a year ago. This is a man you want on your team. I listened to the podcast and episode 5 spoke to me. I reached out via email and in moments of fear before making our first offer, called him! It was the best call I made during this entire process.

Kailani P.

First Time Home Buyer

"

The Best Advice And Invaluable Knowledge

What can I say? David has been our realtor for buying our first home and helped us just sell that home. He has always given the best advice and his knowledge of the SO CAL housing market was invaluable. In both transactions David and his team are amazing the service they provide is 2nd to none. David was always available night and day to calm nerves and answer questions. Thank you David and team you are awesome.

Rusty H.

First Time Home Buyer

"

We Were Clueless And Scared...

David found us our house eight years ago. It was a foreclosure and our first house. We were clueless and scared. He held our hand through the whole process and helped us get the house we loved. We have just sold this same house through David for over asking price. We did it the first weekend of the open house. He is now helping us find our next house and I would recommend him to everyone.

Lindsay O.

First Time Home Buyer

"

Content To Help You Buy Your First House