Every first-time buyer asks some version of the same question: “What am I supposed to do, and in what order?” Here’s the honest answer. Want this as a printable, one-page reference? Download the free First-Time Buyer Checklist (PDF) and keep it handy through the process.
1. Get pre-approved first, not last
Before you tour a single house, talk to a lender and get pre-approved — not just pre-qualified. Pre-approval means a lender has actually looked at your income, credit, and debt and told you a real number. It does two things: it keeps you from falling in love with a house you can’t afford, and it makes your offer credible when you find the right one. In a market where a good listing can get multiple offers, a seller takes a pre-approved buyer more seriously than one who’s “still figuring out financing.” Not sure what a payment would even look like at different price points? Run some numbers with the mortgage payment calculator before you talk to a lender, so you walk in with a realistic range in mind.
A note for veteran and active-duty buyers
If you’ve served, a VA loan is worth exploring before anything else — it can mean 0% down and no PMI, which changes the math on what “pre-approved” even looks like for you. Dave’s a veteran himself and works with VA buyers regularly; see the veteran homebuying section on the financing page for what to expect.
2. Separate “must-haves” from “nice-to-haves”
Write down what you actually need — bedrooms, commute distance, school district, lot size — versus what would just be nice. First-time buyers who skip this step tend to either drag out the search for months chasing a perfect house that doesn’t exist, or panic-buy something that doesn’t fit because they didn’t have clear criteria.
3. Budget for closing costs, not just the down payment
Closing costs typically run 2-5% of the purchase price on top of your down payment — covering things like the appraisal, title work, lender fees, and prepaid taxes/insurance. First-time buyers are sometimes surprised by this number late in the process. Ask your lender for a rough estimate early so it’s not a last-minute scramble. If you’re also selling a home to buy your next one, the seller net proceeds calculator can give you a rough idea of what you’ll have available to put toward the purchase.
4. Know what a home inspection actually does (and doesn’t)
An inspection isn’t a pass/fail test — it’s information. In Northwest Ohio’s mix of older farmhouses and newer builds, common findings include aging roofs, older electrical panels, and well/septic questions on rural properties. The inspection gives you leverage to negotiate repairs or credits, or in some cases walk away — it doesn’t mean the deal is dead if something turns up.
5. Don’t skip the walkthrough before closing
A final walkthrough, usually 24-48 hours before closing, confirms the property is in the condition you agreed to and any negotiated repairs were actually done. Skipping it is one of the few genuinely avoidable mistakes in this process.
6. Decide what kind of property you’re actually buying
“First home” doesn’t always mean a house in a subdivision. If you’re weighing a home with acreage or a rural property, the process picks up a few extra questions around wells, septic systems, and land — see our guide on buying land or farm property for what changes.
Get the free printable checklist
Prefer a version you can print and check off by hand? Download the First-Time Buyer Checklist (PDF) — it covers all six steps above on one page, free, no sign-up required.
What this looks like with Dave
None of this needs to be figured out alone. Dave walks first-time buyers through each of these steps as they come up — not all at once — and stays available for the “wait, is this normal?” questions that come up along the way.
Ready to start? Tell Dave what you’re looking for and he’ll help you build a plan, or browse Dave’s buyer services for more on how he works with buyers.