After years of thinking they weren’t ready, Isaac and his wife realized they’d been holding themselves back for the wrong reasons. In this episode, they share how financial fears, wedding expenses, and career changes delayed their decision to buy — and why they now believe starting earlier would have saved them money and stress. A real-world reminder that “readiness” doesn’t require perfection.

Meet Isaac, a first-time buyer who candidly shares the emotional and financial lessons learned on the road to homeownership. From a cross-country move to Florida and years of hesitation, Isaac and his wife postponed buying a home because they assumed they needed to pay off all debt and hit 20% down. But after connecting with the How to Buy a Home team, they closed on their dream home in just a few months — with less money down and full confidence.

This episode dives into:

• Why “waiting until you’re ready” can actually cost you
• The truth about buying with less than 20% down and paying PMI
• How they avoided a money pit thanks to the right agent
• The pitfalls of using a family friend as a realtor
• How Isaac’s view of affordability and timelines completely shifted after finding the right guidance

For anyone feeling overwhelmed or unsure if it’s the “right time” to buy, Isaac’s story is the reality check you didn’t know you needed.

“We should’ve done this in reverse order. Bought the house first, then planned the wedding.”

– Isaac

Highlights:

• Moving from Chicago to Florida: career change, wedding costs, and the turning point
• What made Isaac say “We waited too long”
• Their decision to buy with less than 20% down (and why it worked)
• The inspection that saved them thousands
• Why a “good vibe” isn’t enough when choosing your realtor
• How connecting with a unicorn agent accelerated their timeline
• Advice for anyone thinking they need to “fix everything” before buying

Connect with me to find a trusted realtor in your area or to answer your burning questions!

Subscribe to our YouTube Channel @HowToBuyaHome

Instagram @HowtoBuyAHomePodcast

Tik Tok @HowToBuyAHome

Visit our Resource Center to "Ask David" AND get your FREE Home Buying Starter Kit!

David Sidoni, the "How to Buy a Home Guy," is a seasoned real estate professional and consumer advocate with two decades of experience helping first-time homebuyers navigate the real estate market. His podcast, "How to Buy a Home," is a trusted resource for anyone looking to buy their first home. It offers expert advice, actionable tips, and inspiring stories from real first-time homebuyers. With a focus on making the home-buying process accessible and understandable, David breaks down complex topics into easy-to-follow steps, covering everything from budgeting and financing to finding the right home and making an offer.

Subscribe for regular market updates, and leave a review to help us reach more people. Ready for an honest, informed home-buying experience? Viva la Unicorn Revolution - join us!

Buying your first home? This episode breaks down the new vs. resale debate with clear pros, cons, and strategies to help you make the best choice for your future.

For first-time buyers, the choice between a brand-new home and a resale property can feel overwhelming. Each option has unique benefits and hidden challenges, and the best decision depends on your budget, lifestyle, and long-term goals.

In this episode, David Sidoni unpacks everything you need to know about:

• The perks of new builds (energy efficiency, customization, less immediate maintenance)
• The realities of resale homes (lower prices, established neighborhoods, potential repair surprises)
• The importance of budgeting for upgrades vs. remodeling later
• How timing and market conditions can shift the balance
• The types of new home purchases — from land builds to semi-custom, quick move-ins, and spec homes

David brings 20+ years of first-time buyer coaching to the table, helping you weigh your options with confidence. If you’re asking yourself, “Should I go new or resale?” this is your playbook.

• New homes offer efficiency and customization but often come at higher costs.
• Resale homes are more affordable and located in established areas but may bring hidden repairs.
• Budgeting plays a critical role — upgrades vs. renovations.
• Quick Move-In (QMI) and spec homes can be a faster path to ownership.
• There’s no one-size-fits-all answer — your personal goals and timing are key.

Referenced Episodes:

• 388 - The Playbook VOL. 1 - The Rent Replacement Strategy
• 389 - The Playbook VOL. 2: Your Last Lease Ever

Connect with me to find a trusted realtor in your area or to answer your burning questions!

Subscribe to our YouTube Channel @HowToBuyaHome

Instagram @HowtoBuyAHomePodcast

Tik Tok @HowToBuyAHome

Visit our Resource Center to "Ask David" AND get your FREE Home Buying Starter Kit!

David Sidoni, the "How to Buy a Home Guy," is a seasoned real estate professional and consumer advocate with two decades of experience helping first-time homebuyers navigate the real estate market. His podcast, "How to Buy a Home," is a trusted resource for anyone looking to buy their first home. It offers expert advice, actionable tips, and inspiring stories from real first-time homebuyers. With a focus on making the home-buying process accessible and understandable, David breaks down complex topics into easy-to-follow steps, covering everything from budgeting and financing to finding the right home and making an offer.

Subscribe for regular market updates, and leave a review to help us reach more people. Ready for an honest, informed home-buying experience? Viva la Unicorn Revolution - join us!

Finally — some good news for first-time homebuyers. Housing supply is rising, interest rates are dipping, and builders are offering real incentives. This episode breaks down why 2025 may finally be your chance to buy smarter — before competition heats back up.

David Sidoni explains what this means for your monthly payment, why timing matters, and how to create your personal rent replacement strategy before bidding wars return. You’ll also hear a success story from listeners Will and Annie, who started their planning early and are now thriving as homeowners in their 20s.

If you’ve been waiting for your opening, this could be the time to act.

• Why seven U.S. cities just tipped into official buyers markets
• How FHA loans at 5.5% can save first-time buyers nearly $400 a month
• The surprising drop in new construction home prices across one-third of major markets
• What builder incentives really mean for your budget
• Why starting your rent replacement strategy now gives you a big advantage
• Real first-time buyer success story: Will and Annie, ages 26 & 27

• 388 - The Playbook VOL. 1 - The Rent Replacement Strategy
• 389 - The Playbook VOL. 2: Your Last Lease Ever

Connect with me to find a trusted realtor in your area or to answer your burning questions!

Subscribe to our YouTube Channel @HowToBuyaHome

Instagram @HowtoBuyAHomePodcast

Tik Tok @HowToBuyAHome

Visit our Resource Center to "Ask David" AND get your FREE Home Buying Starter Kit!

David Sidoni, the "How to Buy a Home Guy," is a seasoned real estate professional and consumer advocate with two decades of experience helping first-time homebuyers navigate the real estate market. His podcast, "How to Buy a Home," is a trusted resource for anyone looking to buy their first home. It offers expert advice, actionable tips, and inspiring stories from real first-time homebuyers. With a focus on making the home-buying process accessible and understandable, David breaks down complex topics into easy-to-follow steps, covering everything from budgeting and financing to finding the right home and making an offer.

Subscribe for regular market updates, and leave a review to help us reach more people. Ready for an honest, informed home-buying experience? Viva la Unicorn Revolution - join us!

After back-to-back rental letdowns, Tim and Vanessa decided they’d had enough. This episode dives into their journey from frustration to finally buying their first home in Tarpon Springs, Florida, with insights every first-time buyer can use.

Tim and Vanessa’s story begins with a double blow from their landlord — first being kicked out for renovations, then again just weeks later when the landlord decided to sell. The final straw came during their wedding anniversary weekend, in the middle of a hurricane, when they got the dreaded 30-day notice. Instead of giving up, they turned their anger into determination.

With persistence and guidance from a unicorn realtor, they navigated the emotional rollercoaster of home shopping. They refused to settle, even when it felt tempting, and leaned on their realtor’s network of lenders and inspectors to stay confident in the process. Their patience paid off: in early 2025, they closed on a $388,000 two-bedroom, two-bath home in Tarpon Springs, FL.

This interview highlights the importance of resilience, choosing the right team, and never letting setbacks define your outcome. For anyone feeling stuck in the cycle of renting, Tim and Vanessa’s journey is proof that perseverance and the right guidance can turn things around.

Quote: “Don’t settle. We tried to talk ourselves into it several times, and it just wouldn’t have worked out.” – Vanessa

Highlights:

• The rental nightmare that finally pushed them to buy
• How a unicorn realtor changed everything
• The emotional toll of the search — and why persistence matters
• Why refusing to settle was their key to success
• Their final win: a $388K home in Tarpon Springs, FL

Connect with me to find a trusted realtor in your area or to answer your burning questions!

Subscribe to our YouTube Channel @HowToBuyaHome

Instagram @HowtoBuyAHomePodcast

Tik Tok @HowToBuyAHome

Visit our Resource Center to "Ask David" AND get your FREE Home Buying Starter Kit!

David Sidoni, the "How to Buy a Home Guy," is a seasoned real estate professional and consumer advocate with two decades of experience helping first-time homebuyers navigate the real estate market. His podcast, "How to Buy a Home," is a trusted resource for anyone looking to buy their first home. It offers expert advice, actionable tips, and inspiring stories from real first-time homebuyers. With a focus on making the home-buying process accessible and understandable, David breaks down complex topics into easy-to-follow steps, covering everything from budgeting and financing to finding the right home and making an offer.

Subscribe for regular market updates, and leave a review to help us reach more people. Ready for an honest, informed home-buying experience? Viva la Unicorn Revolution - join us!

Most renters can buy a home in 12 months or less — if they have the right system. In this episode, David Sidoni reveals the "Last Lease Ever" playbook, a practical step-by-step guide that helps first-time buyers turn rent payments into a customized strategy for homeownership.

The housing industry has failed first-time homebuyers, leaving most renters without guidance until they’re already “ready to buy.” But the truth is, with the right coaching and a clear plan, many renters could become homeowners in just a year.

In this episode, David Sidoni hands you the ultimate playbook for buying your first home — a proven system that focuses on the Big Three: credit, debt, and savings. Instead of navigating myths and industry neglect, you’ll discover:

• How to build a rent replacement strategy that sets you up for success
• Why you only need one action step per month to move forward
• The critical difference between pre-approval and pre-qualification
• How to calculate and understand your debt-to-income ratio (DTI)
• Why working with a unicorn realtor and lender early changes everything

This isn’t a crash course, a webinar, or a PDF — it’s a personalized, actionable plan. With just two free 45-minute meetings, you can map out your 12-month blueprint to turn your rent into a mortgage and finally start building wealth.

Quote: “You only need one action step a month. No fluff. No gimmicks. Just real results. That’s how you make this your last lease ever.”

Highlights:

• The “Last Lease Ever” playbook: a clear, customized 12-month roadmap
• Why the industry ignores first-time buyers during the planning phase
• The Big Three explained: credit, debt, and savings
• How to use DTI (Debt-to-Income Ratio) to understand your buying power
• The role of unicorn realtors and lenders in building your plan
• Why most renters could buy a home in 12 months or less

Referenced Episodes:

• 304 – Improve Your Credit: Homebuying 101 – Step 3
• 305 – Debt Management: Homebuying 101 – Step 4
• 306 – Saving To Buy Your Home: Homebuying 101 – Step 5
• 355 – Real Answers Pt 4: Should I Rent or Buy in 2025?
• 381 – Saving While in Debt: How Much Do First-Time Buyers Really Need in 2025?

Connect with me to find a trusted realtor in your area or to answer your burning questions!

Subscribe to our YouTube Channel @HowToBuyaHome

Instagram @HowtoBuyAHomePodcast

Tik Tok @HowToBuyAHome

Visit our Resource Center to "Ask David" AND get your FREE Home Buying Starter Kit!

David Sidoni, the "How to Buy a Home Guy," is a seasoned real estate professional and consumer advocate with two decades of experience helping first-time homebuyers navigate the real estate market. His podcast, "How to Buy a Home," is a trusted resource for anyone looking to buy their first home. It offers expert advice, actionable tips, and inspiring stories from real first-time homebuyers. With a focus on making the home-buying process accessible and understandable, David breaks down complex topics into easy-to-follow steps, covering everything from budgeting and financing to finding the right home and making an offer.

Subscribe for regular market updates, and leave a review to help us reach more people. Ready for an honest, informed home-buying experience? Viva la Unicorn Revolution - join us!

Winners don’t wait to feel ready. They train. In this episode, you’ll learn how to use the rent replacement strategy to practice homeownership before you ever buy — and build a mindset that wins in any market.

You don’t become a homeowner the day you close — you become one the day you start thinking like one.

This episode is your playbook. David Sidoni lays out a rent replacement strategy that isn’t just about saving money — it’s about training your brain and budget to operate like a homeowner before you own a home. That means practicing now. Living now. Saving now. Not waiting for the “right time.”

Just like athletes prep before the championship, smart buyers build the habits that get them across the finish line. Rent replacement is your training camp. It’s not sacrifice — it’s preparation. And it works.

David’s coached thousands through this method, and in this episode, you’ll hear how to start practicing now so that when your homebuying moment comes, you’re ready to win.

Quote: “Rent is about survival. Buying a home is about growth."

Winners don’t wait to feel ready. They train. In this episode, you’ll learn how to use the rent replacement strategy to practice homeownership before you ever buy — and build a mindset that wins in any market.

You don’t become a homeowner the day you close — you become one the day you start thinking like one.

This episode is your playbook. David Sidoni lays out a rent replacement strategy that isn’t just about saving money — it’s about training your brain and budget to operate like a homeowner before you own a home. That means practicing now. Living now. Saving now. Not waiting for the “right time.”

Just like athletes prep before the championship, smart buyers build the habits that get them across the finish line. Rent replacement is your training camp. It’s not sacrifice — it’s preparation. And it works.

David’s coached thousands through this method, and in this episode, you’ll hear how to start practicing now so that when your homebuying moment comes, you’re ready to win.

Quote: “Rent is about survival. Buying a home is about growth."

Highlights:

• Why “training like a homeowner” means budgeting for your future mortgage now
• The power of automating savings and acting “as if” you already own a home
• How starting your plan early helps you beat rising prices and rates
• What it really means to practice replacing rent with equity — step by step
• Why mindset matters more than market timing when you’re buying your first home

Connect with me to find a trusted realtor in your area or to answer your burning questions!

Subscribe to our YouTube Channel @HowToBuyaHome

Instagram @HowtoBuyAHomePodcast

Tik Tok @HowToBuyAHome

Visit our Resource Center to "Ask David" AND get your FREE Home Buying Starter Kit!

David Sidoni, the "How to Buy a Home Guy," is a seasoned real estate professional and consumer advocate with two decades of experience helping first-time homebuyers navigate the real estate market. His podcast, "How to Buy a Home," is a trusted resource for anyone looking to buy their first home. It offers expert advice, actionable tips, and inspiring stories from real first-time homebuyers. With a focus on making the home-buying process accessible and understandable, David breaks down complex topics into easy-to-follow steps, covering everything from budgeting and financing to finding the right home and making an offer.

Subscribe for regular market updates, and leave a review to help us reach more people. Ready for an honest, informed home-buying experience? Viva la Unicorn Revolution - join us!

Think you're years away from buying your first home? You might be closer than you think. In this episode, real-life first-time buyers Tyler and Erin share how they went from overwhelmed to owning a home in just 90 days — all by finding the right help and staying focused on what really mattered.

Buying a home in one of the most expensive markets in the country might sound impossible — especially if you're trying to DIY the whole thing. But Tyler, a self-described spreadsheet guy, learned that numbers aren't enough. Once he and Erin connected with a unicorn real estate team through How to Buy a Home, everything changed. In this interview, they walk us through their fast-track journey from research to keys in hand — including the mindset shifts, practical tips, and surprising ease of the process once they had the right guidance.

You’ll learn:

• Why talking to your boss might be the first step in buying a home
• How Erin and Tyler chose a “must-have” that simplified everything
• What made them realize they were ready — even when they didn’t feel like it
• How unicorn agents make fast, informed decisions easier for buyers

This story will challenge your assumptions and remind you: you don’t have to do this alone.

Quote: "It can be overwhelming, but having one or two things to focus on — like a good kitchen — helped us feel grounded."

Highlights:

• Tyler and Erin closed on their New Jersey home in just 90 days
• Tyler emphasized the need to prep your employer for schedule flexibility
• Erin highlighted the power of choosing one “must-have” to stay focused
• Working with a unicorn agent clarified their finances and sped up the process
• Their experience reveals many buyers are closer to ready than they think

Referenced Episodes:

• Ep. 6: Choosing House Must-Haves
• Ep. 2: Choosing a Realtor and Lender
• Ep. 1: Deciding Your Goals

Connect with me to find a trusted realtor in your area or to answer your burning questions!

Subscribe to our YouTube Channel @HowToBuyaHome

Instagram @HowtoBuyAHomePodcast

Tik Tok @HowToBuyAHome

Visit our Resource Center to "Ask David" AND get your FREE Home Buying Starter Kit!

David Sidoni, the "How to Buy a Home Guy," is a seasoned real estate professional and consumer advocate with two decades of experience helping first-time homebuyers navigate the real estate market. His podcast, "How to Buy a Home," is a trusted resource for anyone looking to buy their first home. It offers expert advice, actionable tips, and inspiring stories from real first-time homebuyers. With a focus on making the home-buying process accessible and understandable, David breaks down complex topics into easy-to-follow steps, covering everything from budgeting and financing to finding the right home and making an offer.

Subscribe for regular market updates, and leave a review to help us reach more people. Ready for an honest, informed home-buying experience? Viva la Unicorn Revolution - join us!

A couple turns a rent hike into a homeownership strategy, navigating relocation, pregnancy, and smart financial planning to land a 1923 farmhouse in Maryland.

Chris and Niki’s journey from Manhattan renters to first-time homeowners shows how strategy, timing, and teamwork can overcome the high costs of living in expensive markets. After learning their $2,900 Manhattan rent was set to jump to $3,800, they began planning to redirect that money into equity. A relocation to Silver Spring, Maryland, brought lower rent and proximity to work, but it was Niki’s pregnancy that accelerated their timeline. With $300,000 saved, they split funds between a $150,000 down payment and $150,000 for renovations, ultimately purchasing a 1923 farmhouse for $675,000—$100,000 below asking. Smart lease planning, family carpentry help, and a unicorn real estate team made the process smoother and more affordable.

“Get a unicorn team, rely on them, ask questions. They will point you in the right direction.” - Chris

Highlights

• How a rent jump from $2,900 to $3,800 sparked a rent replacement strategy.
• Why the perfect home doesn’t exist—and how to prioritize what matters most.
• The benefits of open houses for clarifying wants versus needs.
• What it’s like to accelerate homebuying while expecting a baby.
• How $300,000 in savings was split between down payment and renovations.
• A unique negotiation strategy that reduced the final purchase price by $100,000.
• The role family expertise played in making an older home purchase feasible.
• Why a unicorn team was key to their success.

Referenced Episodes

• 350 - From ‘Years Away’ to Homeowner: Your Last Lease Ever
• 382 - 2025 Crucial Housing Market Shift Pt 1: Rates
• 383 - 2025 Crucial Housing Market Shift Pt 2: Sales, Inventory & Affordability
• 384 - 2025 Crucial Housing Market Shift Pt 3: Rent Math & Buying Power

Connect with me to find a trusted realtor in your area or to answer your burning questions!

Subscribe to our YouTube Channel @HowToBuyaHome

Instagram @HowtoBuyAHomePodcast

Tik Tok @HowToBuyAHome

Visit our Resource Center to "Ask David" AND get your FREE Home Buying Starter Kit!

David Sidoni, the "How to Buy a Home Guy," is a seasoned real estate professional and consumer advocate with two decades of experience helping first-time homebuyers navigate the real estate market. His podcast, "How to Buy a Home," is a trusted resource for anyone looking to buy their first home. It offers expert advice, actionable tips, and inspiring stories from real first-time homebuyers. With a focus on making the home-buying process accessible and understandable, David breaks down complex topics into easy-to-follow steps, covering everything from budgeting and financing to finding the right home and making an offer.

Subscribe for regular market updates, and leave a review to help us reach more people. Ready for an honest, informed home-buying experience? Viva la Unicorn Revolution - join us!

Overwhelmed by the market? This special Labor Day episode is your cheat code to clarity — a binge guide to six years of first-time homebuyer education.

The housing market in 2025 feels bananas — up, down, and sideways all at once. You can’t control interest rates, inflation, or prices, but you can control your knowledge. That’s what this episode delivers: clarity, confidence, and a roadmap through all 384 past episodes of How to Buy a Home.

Host David Sidoni breaks down exactly how to use the podcast library to build your own personal homebuying education plan. From the ten-step Homebuying 101 Starter Kit to practical strategies in the Last Lease Ever program, plus a real estate dictionary to crush confusing jargon, this guide is your ultimate playlist for a smarter path to homeownership.

Whether you’re starting from scratch, figuring out where you stand, or staying up-to-date with the latest market insights, this curated list of episodes will help you move from confused renter to confident buyer.

“You can’t control the market, but you can control your knowledge. This is your cheat code to home buying clarity.”

• Why fundamentals and education matter more than timing the market
• A step-by-step binge guide to 384 past episodes
• Homebuying 101 Starter Kit — ten must-know episodes for beginners
• Last Lease Ever program — practical tips while renting
• How to assess your place in the process and set a custom plan
• A real estate dictionary series to break down confusing jargon
• How to mix new episodes with the back catalog for maximum learning

FOR A COMPLETE LIST OF ALL THE REFERENCED EPISODES, PLEASE VISIT OUR UPDATED 2025 EPISODE GUIDE

Connect with me to find a trusted realtor in your area or to answer your burning questions!

Subscribe to our YouTube Channel @HowToBuyaHome

Instagram @HowtoBuyAHomePodcast

Tik Tok @HowToBuyAHome

Visit our Resource Center to "Ask David" AND get your FREE Home Buying Starter Kit!

David Sidoni, the "How to Buy a Home Guy," is a seasoned real estate professional and consumer advocate with two decades of experience helping first-time homebuyers navigate the real estate market. His podcast, "How to Buy a Home," is a trusted resource for anyone looking to buy their first home. It offers expert advice, actionable tips, and inspiring stories from real first-time homebuyers. With a focus on making the home-buying process accessible and understandable, David breaks down complex topics into easy-to-follow steps, covering everything from budgeting and financing to finding the right home and making an offer.

Subscribe for regular market updates, and leave a review to help us reach more people. Ready for an honest, informed home-buying experience? Viva la Unicorn Revolution - join us!

In the final part of the 2025 Market Shift Update, David Sidoni breaks down why affordability is finally improving — and why old affordability formulas don’t tell the full story. Discover how falling rates and shifting rent dynamics create opportunities for first-time buyers.

For five years, first-time buyers have faced brutal affordability math. Home prices skyrocketed from $315,000 in 2020 to $438,000 in 2025, far outpacing normal appreciation. But the tide is finally turning. In this episode, David Sidoni explains how flattening home prices and falling mortgage rates are reshaping the affordability index in buyers’ favor.

More importantly, David reveals the fatal flaw in traditional affordability formulas: they ignore rent. Rent is your biggest monthly output — and it’s rising no matter what. When you factor in rent replacement, buying often makes more financial sense than continuing to rent. David shows how to use this perspective to assess your readiness and why waiting for “perfect” affordability is a losing strategy.

Packed with myth-busting insights, this episode equips buyers with the clarity and tactics needed to move forward in today’s shifting market.

• Why affordability has been so brutal since 2020
• How today’s interest rate drop makes homes more affordable, even at higher prices
• The flawed formula economists use to measure affordability
• Why factoring in rent changes the entire equation
• Tactical steps first-time buyers can use in today’s market shift

• 382 - Part 1: Rates
• 383 - Part 2: Sales, Inventory & Affordability
• 279 - New Build vs Resale Houses for First Time Homebuyers
• 350 - From ‘Years Away’ to Homeowner: Your Last Lease Ever
• 355 - Real Answers Pt 4 – Should I Rent or Buy in 2025?
• 168 - Get Off Your Ass!

• www.getoffyourass.org

Connect with me to find a trusted realtor in your area or to answer your burning questions!

Subscribe to our YouTube Channel @HowToBuyaHome

Instagram @HowtoBuyAHomePodcast

Tik Tok @HowToBuyAHome

Visit our Resource Center to "Ask David" AND get your FREE Home Buying Starter Kit!

David Sidoni, the "How to Buy a Home Guy," is a seasoned real estate professional and consumer advocate with two decades of experience helping first-time homebuyers navigate the real estate market. His podcast, "How to Buy a Home," is a trusted resource for anyone looking to buy their first home. It offers expert advice, actionable tips, and inspiring stories from real first-time homebuyers. With a focus on making the home-buying process accessible and understandable, David breaks down complex topics into easy-to-follow steps, covering everything from budgeting and financing to finding the right home and making an offer.

Subscribe for regular market updates, and leave a review to help us reach more people. Ready for an honest, informed home-buying experience? Viva la Unicorn Revolution - join us!

This is one part of a 3 part series highlighting the most significant housing market shift since this podcast began in 2019. Check out the podcast library for the full series for a complete update.