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

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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.

Part two of this special series dives into three critical pieces of the 2025 housing market shift: home sales, inventory, and affordability. David Sidoni breaks down the numbers, explains why headlines can be misleading, and shows how today’s changes open up new opportunities for first-time buyers.

The 2025 housing market is in the middle of a transformation unlike anything seen in decades. In part two of this three-part series, David Sidoni unpacks the latest on home sales, shifting inventory, and affordability. He shares how existing home sales have dropped to just over 4 million in recent years, but new data and falling mortgage rates are signaling a move back toward healthier levels. Headlines might scream contradictions — sluggish sales one day, rising applications the next — but that’s exactly why staying educated matters. Inventory is building, builders are offering incentives, and affordability is showing signs of life. For first-time buyers, understanding these shifts is the key to beating the rush and securing a home before competition heats back up.

Quote: “If you take advantage of this shift now, you can beat the bum rush of a bazillion other buyers.”

Highlights:

• Existing home sales data from 2019–2025 and what it means for first-time buyers
• Why headlines about sales and applications seem contradictory
• The role of new construction and builder incentives in boosting supply
• How declining mortgage rates are already improving affordability
• Actionable insights on how to prepare for the next market phase

Referenced Episodes:

• Part 1 of this 2025 Crucial Housing Market Shift series (home prices & mortgage rates)
• 355 - Real Answers Pt 4: Should I Rent or Buy in 2025?

Sources:

Zillow, Redfin, Goldman Sachs, Housing Wire, Ris Media, US News, Bloomberg, The National Association of REALTORS®, Realtor.com, Homes.com, Zelman & Associates, Brian Buffini and other housing economists, The Mortgage Bankers Association, U.S. Census Bureau, Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, financial Samurai, Moody’s, Inman, US News, Apollo Global, Wells Fargo, and the National Association of Home Builders.

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.

For the first time in over a decade, real change is reshaping the housing market. Prices, inventory, and affordability are shifting in ways that could finally give first-time buyers a new opportunity.

In this episode, David Sidoni delivers a data-packed breakdown of the biggest housing market change in 17 years. After years of historically low inventory, rising prices, and brutal bidding wars, 2025 is bringing something different: falling prices in many metros, improving affordability, and a rare increase in available homes.

David explains why this isn’t a crash, but a shift toward semi-normal conditions — and how you can use this to your advantage. With most experts predicting 2–4% appreciation in 2025, smart buyers who act early can secure homes before the public catches on.

This is part one of a three-part market update series designed to help you build a winning 2025–2026 strategy.

“For the first time in 17 years, inventory is actually improving — and that changes everything.”

• Why home prices are actually falling in many metros.
• The surprising percentage of listings with price cuts this summer.
• How builders are slashing prices and narrowing the gap with resale homes.
• What most experts really predict for home values in 2025.
• How first-time buyers can take advantage of this rare shift.

Sources:

Zillow, Redfin, Goldman Sachs, Housing Wire, Ris Media, US News, Bloomberg, The National Association of REALTORS®, Realtor.com, Homes.com, Zelman & Associates, Brian Buffini and other housing economists, The Mortgage Bankers Association, U.S. Census Bureau, Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, financial Samurai, Moody’s, Inman, US News, Apollo Global, Wells Fargo, and the National Association of Home Builders.

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.

Think you can’t buy a home until your debt is gone and your savings are massive? Think again. In this episode, David Sidoni breaks down the real math behind saving for a down payment while managing debt — and why waiting too long could actually cost you more.

For first-time homebuyers, the internet is full of misinformation: you need zero debt, a huge down payment, and perfect timing. Wrong. In this episode, David tackles one of the biggest fears holding renters back — how much you actually need to save, and whether it’s possible to do that while still carrying debt. Spoiler: it is.

Building on Rosie’s inspiring story from the last episode (a single mom who bought her first home in 2025 after bankruptcy), David unpacks the myths that scare buyers into renting for far too long. He explains the strategies that let you save and pay down debt at the same time, and why the rising age of first-time buyers — now at a shocking 41 years old — is proof that misinformation is keeping people trapped.

If you’re stuck renting because you think your debt or small savings disqualify you, this episode is your wake-up call. Homeownership is possible sooner than you think — if you know the facts.

Quote: “You don’t need a big down payment and no debt. Nope, nope, nope.”

Highlights:

• The myth of needing zero debt before buying a home — busted.
• How to save for a down payment while paying down debt.
• Why waiting too long could cost you more in rising prices and rents.
• Rosie’s real-life story: from bankruptcy in 2019 to buying in 2025.
• The shocking truth: average first-time buyer age has jumped to 41.

References (If Applicable):

• 186 - INTERVIEW: Buying a Home with 300K of Student Debt?
• 305 - Debt Management: Homebuying 101 - Step 4
• 233 - Interview With Stephanie Who Had 200K In Student Loans, And STILL Bought A Home!
• 339 - Don’t Get Pre-Qualified—Get a Plan (INTERVIEW)
• 340 – Down Payment Assistance, Discovery Calls & Lending Myths (INTERVIEW)
• 327 - From “Maybe Next Year” to Homeowner in 4 Months – Elizabeth’s Story (INTERVIEW)
• 330 - From Renter to Homeowner with a Home Business – Christina’s Story (INTERVIEW)
• 347 - She Fired Her Realtor—and Bought the Right Home in 3 Days (INTERVIEW)
• 351 - How a Drama Teacher Bought a Home Solo (INTERVIEW)

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!

Rosie’s journey proves that even if you start off alone, overwhelmed, or unsure, the right support can change everything. In this episode, you’ll hear how one first-time buyer turned a rocky beginning into a smooth close by connecting with a trusted local expert — and how leaning into education, patience, and the right guidance helped her do what felt impossible.

Rosie’s journey wasn’t smooth — it was full of the exact hurdles that make most first-time buyers give up. She started with a realtor who ghosted her, a process she didn’t fully understand, and serious doubts about whether homeownership was even possible for her. But she didn’t walk away. Instead, she regrouped. She reached out, asked for help, and found a unicorn agent who helped her rethink everything.

Why is Rosie’s story is so powerful? Because she did everything the way most people don’t. She took her time. She built the team that actually worked for her. And when things got hard, she didn’t rush — she kept going with clarity and purpose. This episode is a blueprint for anyone who feels like homeownership is out of reach but isn’t ready to give up.

Quote: "I'm super happy. I feel very grateful that I got connected to you and the team and all of that.” - Rosie

You’ll hear:

• How Rosie went from bankruptcy, student loans, and single motherhood to homeownership
• What she did when her first realtor ghosted her
• How a podcast shoutout led to a game-changing connection
• Why she mixed and matched her agent and lender to build the perfect team
• How patience and education helped her win
• What she'd do differently (and what she’s glad she didn’t change)
• The value of combining a reliable lender with a responsive local expert
• Why communication and trust were more important than speed or convenience

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 buying a short-term rental is the fast track to homeownership? In this episode, David Sidoni unpacks the real math behind Airbnb investing — and why it might be the wrong move if you’re still renting.

With affordability at an all-time low, many first-time homebuyers are exploring creative ways to get into real estate. One trend gaining popularity: buying a short-term rental like an Airbnb in a cheaper market instead of purchasing a primary residence. But in this brutally honest episode, David Sidoni reveals why that plan could backfire.

David breaks down the 2025 short-term rental landscape, explaining how increased competition, regulations, and declining profits have changed the game. More importantly, he highlights the financial risks renters take when they try to become investors before becoming homeowners.

This episode dives into the math, the mindset, and the myths — showing you why owning your own home first is the smartest play. If you're tempted by Airbnb hype, you need to hear this before making a costly mistake.

Quote: "The golden goose of Airbnb is losing its feathers and turning into a turkey super quick."

Highlights:

• Why short-term rental investing isn’t what it used to be in 2025
• The financial danger of skipping rent replacement
• How tax laws, maintenance, and financing make STRs riskier than they look
• A breakdown of real costs vs. projected income
• What first-time buyers should do instead of chasing Airbnb profits

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 this episode, David sits down with Bhavik and Suhani, a first-time buyer couple who beat the odds and bought a home in one of the most expensive markets in the country. They share the strategies that helped them overcome fears of high monthly payments and why getting clear on their goals changed everything. If you're stuck in the rent trap and terrified that buying will cost you thousands more per month, this episode is for you. Bhavik and Suhani didn’t just guess or hope—they ran the numbers, educated themselves, and made confident decisions with the help of their unicorn real estate team.

You’ll hear how Suhani used open houses to learn what she actually wanted in a home, why Bhavik found peace of mind sitting down with a trusted agent, and how their mindset changed from overwhelmed to empowered. They even considered creative strategies like house hacking to make the math work.

This story proves that even in high-cost areas, preparation and perspective can help you buy smart.

Quote: "I just started going to open houses. That helped me figure out what I really wanted." - Suhani

Highlights:

• Why looking at homes early in the process helped Suhani clarify her priorities
• How a trusted agent made complex steps feel manageable for Bhavik
• What made them realize the extra $2,000/month was an investment, not a loss
• How planning ahead gave them control instead of fear
• The power of seeing real numbers, not assumptions
• What house hacking looked like in their situation

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 this final part of the Homebuyer Checklist series, David Sidoni covers crucial inspection tips, what to expect at closing, and the smart moves to make immediately after getting your keys. Learn how to protect your purchase and set yourself up for long-term success.

Buying your first home isn’t just about finding the right property — it’s about navigating the process without costly missteps. In this episode, David Sidoni wraps up his three-part Homebuyer Checklist with an in-depth look at the final stages: inspections, closing, and the first steps of homeownership. You’ll discover why having a vetted, experienced real estate team (“a unicorn”) from the start is the ultimate money-saver, and how to approach your inspection without overreacting to the inevitable list of issues. David also walks through the closing process, highlighting the importance of reviewing your Closing Disclosure, avoiding wire fraud, and confirming repairs during your final walkthrough. Finally, he outlines the essential actions to take right after you close, from changing the locks to filing for a homestead exemption. Whether you’re weeks or years from buying, this checklist will keep you prepared and confident.

Quote: “Every home inspection will find something wrong — the question is, does it matter to your safety or your budget?”

Highlights:

• Could choosing your real estate team early be the key to saving thousands?
• What is the “Dad effect” during inspections — and how can you avoid it?
• How can you get the most out of your inspection?
• Which critical steps will protect you at closing?
• What should be on your post-closing to-do list as a new homeowner?

Referenced Episodes

• 332 – Home Inspections: What’s Normal vs Red Flag? (110 Replay)
• 348 – How Much Do You Really Need for Closing Day?
• 198 - PMI Is a Privilege
• 216 - PMI Is Still A Privilege And Still Not The Devil
• 352 - Real Answers to the Most Asked Homebuying Questions (Part 1)
• 259 - Why Zillow is a SCAM (Mostly)
• 361 - 2025 Midyear & Market Update
• 364 - REDO 237 – (High Rates, No Problem - Your First Time Home Buying Guide for 2024)
• 301 - Introduction to Homebuying 101: Getting Started in 30 min
• 302 - HOMEBUYING 101: Deciding Your Goals | STEP 1
• 303 - HOMEBUYING 101: Choosing A Realtor & Lender | STEP 2
• 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
• 307 - Choosing House Must-Haves: Homebuying 101 - Step 6
• 308 - DIY Education & Online Research: Homebuying 101 - Step 7 & 8
• 309 - Stop Fearing Your Future Mortgage | STEP 9 | HOMEBUYING 101
• 310 - HOMEBUYING 101: Understanding Today's Market | STEP 10

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 rapid-fire guide to the next steps in your homebuying journey, from boosting your credit score to nailing negotiations and knowing exactly what to do after your offer is accepted.

In Part 2 of the 2025 Ultimate Homebuying Checklist, David Sidoni delivers another round of actionable, must-know tips to help first-time homebuyers prepare for their purchase — even in today’s stalled summer market. Building on Part 1 (Episode 373), this episode dives into five critical areas: credit score preparation, neighborhood sleuthing, loan and financing strategy, negotiation tactics, and your immediate to-dos after an offer is accepted. Learn how to check and improve your credit score, avoid common loan pitfalls, research neighborhoods beyond online listings, and negotiate for more than just price. David also outlines the crucial first moves to make post-offer so you can close with confidence. Whether your purchase is months or years away, this checklist will keep you focused and ready to act when the time is right.

Quote: “Before you even dream shop on Zillow, start with your credit score.”

Highlights:

• Why now is the perfect time to prepare for your future purchase
• Credit score tips that can save you thousands
• The one site you should use to check your credit report weekly
• Neighborhood research beyond online listings
• Loan shopping myths and truths
• How to negotiate for more than just price
• Post-offer steps to protect your deal

Referenced Episodes:

Credit

• 3 – What Do You Need To Know About Credit
• 8 – Quick Credit Tips For First Time Home Buyers
• 61 – More FICO Fun - Some Good News, For Once, About Credit Scores - And More Credit Hacks!
• 90 – Credit Repair For 300-669 - “Bad” Or “Fair” Credit Scores
• 182 – Interview: From ZERO Credit Score to Homeowner
• 199 – Boomer’s Homes Were CHEAPER – Plus Credit Pull Myths!
• 304 – Improve Your Credit: Homebuying 101 - Step 3
• 349 – Credit Score Solutions for First-Time Buyers (INTERVIEW)

Internet Tips for Home Shopping

• 227 – Using The Internet To Research Your First Home

New Homes vs. Resale

• 279 – New Build vs Resale Houses for First Time Homebuyers

Bidding Wars (3-episode series)

• 175 – How to win in BIDDING WARS in the 2023 market
• 176 – How to win in BIDDING WARS in 2023 – Part 2
• 177 – How to win in BIDDING WARS in 2023 – Part 3

Market Updates

• 361 – 2025 Midyear & Market Update
• 364 – REDO 237 – (High Rates, No Problem - Your First Time Home Buying Guide for 2024)

10 Steps (301–310)

• 301 – Introduction to Homebuying 101: Getting Started in 30 min
• 302 – HOMEBUYING 101: Deciding Your Goals | STEP 1
• 303 – HOMEBUYING 101: Choosing A Realtor & Lender | STEP 2
• 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
• 307 – Choosing House Must-Haves: Homebuying 101 - Step 6
• 308 – DIY Education & Online Research: Homebuying 101 - Step 7 & 8
• 309 – Stop Fearing Your Future Mortgage | STEP 9 | HOMEBUYING 101
• 310 – HOMEBUYING 101: Understanding Today's Market | STEP 10

Loans & Mortgage Planning

• 346 – How to Build the Perfect Mortgage Plan (Before You Apply)
• 345 – Why You’re Asking the WRONG Question About Interest Rates
• 237 – High Rates, No Problem: Your First Time Home Buying Guide for 2024
• 339 – Don’t Get Pre-Qualified—Get a Plan (INTERVIEW)
• 340 – Down Payment Assistance, Discovery Calls & Lending Myths (INTERVIEW)
• 242 – 10 (MORE) Listener Questions ANSWERED: How to Buy Your First Home Pt 2
• 250 – Down Payment Assistance is BACK (Save Major $$$ Buying a House)

Real Questions for 2025 (7-part series: 352–359)

• 352 – Real Answers to the Most Asked Homebuying Questions (Part 1)
• 353 – Real Answers Pt 2: Mortgage Myths, Interest Rates & Buying Timing
• 354 – Real Answers Pt 3: PMI Panic, Bad Advice & David Unleashed
• 355 – Real Answers Pt 4: Should I Rent or Buy in 2025?
• 356 – Real Answers Pt. 5: What You Must Know Before Making Your First Offer
• 357 – Real Answers Pt 6: How to Handle Homeownership Costs Without F

Renee and Tom spent 16 years renting before finally becoming homeowners. In this episode, they share how persistence, education, and the right team helped them turn skepticism into success.

After 16 years in the same rental, Renee and Tom were told they had to move. For Tom, buying a home seemed impossible at 60, especially with some credit bruises. But Renee had a different vision. Known as the "Research Goddess," she dove into the How to Buy a Home podcast, learned the language of homebuying, and built a plan. They improved their credit, saved strategically, and connected with HBH-vetted Realtors James and Andy. To their surprise, the process was smoother and easier than expected. This episode is a testament to the power of preparation, the right guidance, and believing that homeownership is possible at any stage of life.

Quote: "The biggest surprise was how easy and painless it was once we had the right team in place."

Highlights:

• How a forced move pushed Renee and Tom to finally pursue buying.
• Overcoming credit challenges later in life.
• Why early education and research made all the difference.
• The importance of having the right real estate team.
• How the process turned out to be smoother than they ever imagined.

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!