First-time buyers
A clearer path through your first mortgage
No jargon, no pressure. Learn the vocabulary, run your own numbers, and talk to a professional only when you are ready.
- 01
Understand affordability
Start with a comfortable monthly payment, not a maximum purchase price.
- 02
Prepare your documents
Income, assets, and identification documents are typically requested by a lender later in the process.
- 03
Review credit considerations
Check your reports for accuracy through the official annual report channels.
- 04
Learn down-payment options
Requirements vary by program, and state assistance programs change over time.
- 05
Write down your questions
Bring a list to your first conversation so you can compare answers.
- 06
Decide whether to request a match
Optional, consent-based, and never an obligation.
Educational content only. Program availability, assistance funds, and requirements vary by state and change over time. Nothing here is an approval or a loan offer.