How one first-time buyer left city renting behind and built her rural dream life — with just 5% down.

Dreaming of wide open space, a garden, and room for animals? Samantha made it happen. In this episode, David Sidoni talks with Samantha, a first-time buyer who left apartment living to purchase a 2-acre homestead in Texas. Her journey shows how early planning, flexibility, and the right team can turn a dream into reality.

Samantha shares how she timed her purchase with her lease, worked with a unicorn realtor to find trusted lender options, and adjusted her checklist without losing sight of her must-haves. She also opens up about the tough but valuable lessons she learned from rural inspections — including septic and well systems — and how she knew when to walk away.

Whether you’re dreaming of a rural property or just wondering if 5% down is enough, this story proves that the right strategy makes even the biggest lifestyle shifts possible.

“Definitely have a checklist of things that you value and you want with your home. But also don’t be afraid of tweaking it, especially as you see homes.” — Samantha

• Why starting the homebuying process months in advance reduces stress
• How to work with a unicorn realtor to find a trusted lender
• Balancing must-haves with flexibility in the search
• Red flags in rural inspections: septic systems, wells, and flipper properties
• How Samantha bought her dream with just 5% down
• Using homeownership to build toward bigger life goals

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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.

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