Your guide to buying your first home
Practical guides on down payment assistance, mortgage rules, and how to bring your community together to make homeownership happen.
New here? Start with a guide: first-time homebuyer guide, down payment assistance guide or what is cash to close.
Buyer Education
Buyer EducationOctober 11, 2026 · 5 min read
Your First-Time Home Buyer Guide: 7 Plain-English Steps From Renter to Keys
To buy your first home, set a price goal, learn your four numbers, build a down payment, budget for closing costs and work through lenders to closing day. Here are the seven steps.
Buyer EducationSeptember 24, 2026 · 6 min read
The Down Payment Registry: What Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac Actually Allow for Wedding Gifts
A little-known Freddie Mac provision lets wedding guests, related or not, gift money that counts toward a down payment.
Buyer EducationSeptember 24, 2026 · 5 min read
What Happens After You Reach Your Down Payment Goal? A Step-by-Step Guide
Hitting your down payment number is a milestone, not the finish line. Here are the seven steps between goal reached and keys in hand.
Buyer EducationSeptember 15, 2026 · 6 min read
From Renter to Owner: The Real Homebuying Timeline and How to Speed It Up
The homebuying timeline is rarely one number. Here is what actually determines how long the renter-to-owner path takes, and the moves that shorten it.