From Renting to Owning
Buying a first home is a journey that includes many new experiences and decisions. We’ve created a set of resources to help you consider and understand aspects of buying your first home.
Do You Buy or Continue to Rent?
Most people still believe in the “American Dream” of homeownership, but the decision to rent or buy is not as simple as a preference for one living arrangement or another. Purchasing a home involves both a financial and emotional commitment, as well as a long-term plan. Plus, there are some Important considerations to reach a conclusion about whether it’s time to buy a home.
Find Out How Much Home You Can Afford
If you’re renting, you might not be aware of how much you can borrow, how much money you need to earn to purchase your home or what your monthly payments might be. We’ve created easy-to-use calculators to help you assess your situation and help you set a goal. And if you’re ready to take the next step, learn about our pre-approval process and find out just how much home you can buy.
What Homes Can I Afford in Different Neighborhoods?
Our new Smarter Home Search let’s you easily enter a monthly payment amount and see what homes are available for in that range. Change the neighborhood. Change the amount. See the differences.
Learn About My Financing Options
*Assumes 6.75% APR, 20% down, and 30-year fixed.
First-Time Buyer Knowledge
There are many aspects to purchasing a first home. From what makes up a credit score to what are alternate sources of a down payment, we’ve collected easy-to-read information that will help you on your path to homeownership.
See Facts & FiguresA First Home Also Means Choosing a Community
Finding your first home also means selecting the community that you’ll establish some roots. We’ve got detailed information on hundreds of communities. Plus, leverage our market insights on thousands of markets across the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast.
Focusing on the Home Features that Matter to You
Finding the right home for the amount you can afford starts with not only understanding your needs and wants but also prioritizing them. What are your must-haves? Nice-to-haves? Deal-breakers? We created a simple, interactive tool to help you.
To start prioritizing, open the topics that matter most to you. Choose your must-haves and drag them onto your top ten list. Pull qualities up or down to rank them, save your list and share it if you’d like.
You've Already Picked 10 Priorities
We suggest focusing on ten, or fewer, house hunting priorities that really matter to you. Remove a few items to add more attributes to your shopping list.
I Need a Place with...
- Bedrooms
- Bathrooms
- Home office
- Master suite
- Man cave
- In-law suite
- Accessory apartment
- Plenty of closets
- Storage
- Front desk
- Fitness room
My Style Is...
- Bungalow
- Cabin
- Cape Cod
- Colonial
- Cottage
- Craftsman
- European
- Farmhouse
- Modern
- Ranch
- Traditional
I Want to Live Near...
- Near green spaces
- Close to trails
- By the water
- In the mountains
- Close to nightlife
- Close to a golf course
- With great dining
- Near family in
- Near friends in
- With plenty of shopping
- In the countryside
- Near my job in
My Work Effort Can Be...
- New construction
- Move-in ready
- Cosmetic updates
- Complete renovation
- Low maintenance
- Turnkey
Outside, I Need...
- car garage
- Big Yard
- Pool
- Garden
- Patio
- Barn
- Acres
My Kids Need...
- Good schools
- GreatSchools rating of
- Parks & playgrounds
- Low crime
- Families nearby
- Close-knit neighborhood
- Quiet Streets
- Cul de sac
My Transit Priorities Are...
- A WalkScore of
- Near the airport
- City buses
- Subway
- Commuter rail
- Highway Access
My Budget Requires...
- Low taxes
- Rental potential
- Must be under $
- Payments under $
My Offer Requires...
- Contingent on financing
- Contingent on the sale of my current home
- Close before
- Close after
We're Here to Help
Helping you find your place to call home is not only our mission; it’s our promise to you. We’ll be there to guide and encourage you every step along the way. How can we help you?
We Make It Easy for First-Time Home Buyers
When you're ready to buy, we coordinate all of our "in-house" key services for you, from securing a mortgage to homeowner's insurance to moving and more.