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How to Buy a Home: The #1 First Time Home Buyer Podcast

How to Buy a Home: The #1 First Time Home Buyer Podcast

Written by: David Sidoni
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Trying to buy your first house in 2026? Start at Episode 400 to start the trusted 10 Steps for Buying Your First Home. This system has helped thousands of renters across the United States say goodbye to their landlords and navigate the 2026 housing market.


How to Buy a Home is proud to be the #1 Podcast for First Time Homebuyers across the nation since 2019. Hosted by veteran realtor and 20 year consumer advocate for first time home buyers, David Sidoni, this podcast features expert insights, up to date real estate forecasts, and hundreds of interviews with real first time homebuyers so you can learn from real success stories.


If you're trying to buy your first home, you probably have questions like: Can I actually buy a house? How much do I need? Where do I start? The real estate industry overlooks first-time buyers, leaving them with myths, bad advice, and roadblocks. How to Buy a Home has helped thousands of renters become homeowners, coaching thousands across the country. Get real answers, insider strategies, and success stories from buyers just like you.


Homeownership might be closer than you think. Let’s get you there.

© 2019-2025, David Sidoni, All Rights Reserved 20fa8dc0-88fd-11f0-ad4e-8d1f3ba96a99 Economics Personal Finance Politics & Government
Episodes
  • First Time Homebuyers: Under Contract in Under 1 Week (Interview)

    First Time Homebuyers: Under Contract in Under 1 Week (Interview)
    Feb 2 2026

    Get the exact “move fast without panicking” checklist Gideon and Caroline used to get under contract in under a week—numbers first, must-haves clear, team aligned.

    Gideon and Caroline share how they got under contract in under a week by doing the prep that prevents regret: running numbers early, narrowing to a true non-negotiable, and leaning on a coordinated lender/realtor team. They also break down how they handled common first-time buyer sticking points—PMI, one borrower vs two, inspection tradeoffs, and avoiding closing-cost surprises.

    “I didn’t realize how smooth the process could be… they were all talking to each other in the background, and it was almost completely hands off for us.” — Caroline
    Highlights

    • When should you “run the numbers” so you can move fast without overbuying?
    • What’s the fastest way to identify your true non-negotiables (so you stop second-guessing)?
    • How can one must-have narrow your search and speed up the whole timeline?
    • Should you apply with one income or two—and why might it change your interest rate?
    • If PMI is scaring you off, what does it look like when you price it out with real math?
    • What does an “integrated” lender/agent/title relationship actually do to reduce stress and delays?
    • What inspection limits might you run into—and how do you decide what risk is acceptable?
    • How do you avoid surprise costs at closing (especially when everything moves quickly)?



    Check out our updated 2026 First Time Homebuyer's Episode Guide - Over 100 of our BEST Episodes of Detailed Homebuying Knowledge, Interviews, and MORE!


    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!
    Show More Show Less
    23 mins
  • February 2026 is a Buyers Market - What First Time Homebuyers Need to Know

    February 2026 is a Buyers Market - What First Time Homebuyers Need to Know
    Jan 30 2026

    This episode explains why a rare January buyer’s market is creating real affordability opportunities for first-time homebuyers right now, without waiting on government “fixes.”

    Synopsis

    With sellers outnumbering buyers by 47%—including 631,000 more sellers than buyers in January 2026—the episode breaks down why leverage has quietly shifted back to homebuyers. It outlines practical ways buyers are getting affordability through negotiations, seller credits, and builder incentives—plus rate buy-downs and closing cost help.

    It also explains why headline-driven policy talk doesn’t solve the real issue (inventory) and why affordability wins often come from local and market-based opportunities instead.

    Finally, it spotlights emerging state and local ideas that could reduce monthly payments—like property tax caps/exemptions and stacked grants—while encouraging first-time buyers to get proactive before spring competition returns.

    “Right now, there’s 631,000 more home sellers than there are home buyers in January 2026.”

    Highlights

    • How does a first-time homebuyer actually use a “47% more sellers than buyers” market to negotiate better terms and prices?
    • What affordability tools are working right now—seller credits, rate buy-downs, and builder incentives—and how do buyers stack them?
    • Which markets are being labeled more buyer-friendly, and what signals should first-time buyers look for in their own area?
    • What local policy changes (like property tax relief and expanded grant programs) could reduce your monthly payment without needing rates or prices to crash?



    Check out our updated 2026 First Time Homebuyer's Episode Guide - Over 100 of our BEST Episodes of Detailed Homebuying Knowledge, Interviews, and MORE!


    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!
    Show More Show Less
    52 mins
  • First Time Homebuyer FAQ: What Can I Actually Afford in 2026? - 443

    First Time Homebuyer FAQ: What Can I Actually Afford in 2026? - 443
    Jan 28 2026
    This episode breaks down the biggest myth in home buying: how affordability is really calculated.Most first-time buyers ask, “What can I afford?”—but that question leads to the wrong answers. David explains how bad math, bad advice, and outdated thinking have made homeownership feel further away than it actually is. Learn how debt-to-income ratios, down payments, and private mortgage insurance actually work in 2026. Real buyer examples prove you may be much closer to owning than you think.“Buying a home isn’t just a financial decision. It’s a plan that interacts with every other aspect of your life.” HighlightsWhat happens when you ask, “What can I afford?” too early in the process?Can saving $45,000 more really lower your monthly payment in a meaningful way?What’s the truth about PMI—and is it actually a smart tool for first-time buyers?How did some buyers get in for as little as $3,700… or even less?Is the January 2026 market creating unexpected opportunities for renters? Referenced Episodes300 – 300th EPISODE! What Can You Afford? Homebuyer Consultation Breakdown426 – Lowering Your Down Payment – Financially Prepare to Buy Your First Home – Pt. 7198 – PMI Is a Privilege216 – PMI Is Still A Privilege And Still Not The Devil355 – Real Answers Pt 4: Should I Rent or Buy in 2025?440 – First Time Homebuyer Playbook (Part 1): Rent Replacement Strategy441 – First Time Homebuyer Playbook (Part 2): The Last Lease Ever94 – First Time Home Buyer Terms And Definitions From A-Z...Well, Just A Actually169 – Woman Power: This Single Woman Bought Her First Home215 – That ADU Guy Interview - The Ultimate House Hacks To Make Buying Affordable321 – Buying in a High-Cost Area – Long Island, NY (INTERVIEW)399 – The Real Value of Buying: What Nick Gained Beyond a Mortgage430 – First Time Homebuyer: Escaping $3K/Month Crushing Rent With Just $12K Down (INTERVIEW)439 – First Time Homebuyer: Why Abigail Broke Her Lease and Bought in 90 Days424 – First Time Home Buyers: Chloe & Eduardo Close on a Home (INTERVIEW)Check out our updated 2026 First Time Homebuyer's Episode Guide - Over 100 of our BEST Episodes of Detailed Homebuying Knowledge, Interviews, and MORE! Connect with me to find a trusted realtor in your area or to answer your burning questions!Subscribe to our YouTube Channel @HowToBuyaHomeInstagram @HowtoBuyAHomePodcastTik Tok @HowToBuyAHomeVisit 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!
    Show More Show Less
    34 mins
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