Your First Home: How To Buy a House For First-Time Home Buyers - Details, episodes & analysis

Podcast details

Technical and general information from the podcast's RSS feed.

Your First Home: How To Buy a House For First-Time Home Buyers

Stacie Rihl

Education

Leisure

Frequency: 1 episode/7d. Total Eps: 59

Welcome to Your First Home Podcast - I'm your host and homebuying expert Stacie Rihl and I've spent the last 8 years helping first-time homebuyers like you make their dreams of owning a home reality. Buckle up, because we're about to demystify the process and learn everything we should have been taught in school about the biggest and most exciting purchase you'll ever make. Your first home.

Recent rankings

Latest chart positions across Apple Podcasts and Spotify rankings.

Apple Podcasts

Spotify

No recent rankings available

Shared links between episodes and podcasts

Links found in episode descriptions and other podcasts that share them.

See all

RSS feed quality and score

Technical evaluation of the podcast's RSS feed quality and structure.

See all

RSS feed quality

To improve

Score global : 52%

Publication history

Monthly episode publishing history over the past years.

Year

Latest published episodes

Recent episodes with titles, durations, and descriptions.

See all

58. 14 Things No One Tells You Before Buying Your First Home

Wednesday, November 4, 2026 • Duration 19:54

How to buy a house should be taught in school, but it isn’t, so most first-time homebuyers go in without knowing what to expect. I’m sharing 14 things no one tells you before you buy your first home, from how long it really takes to save and why your lender’s credit score won’t match Credit Karma to why your monthly payment can go up after closing. I also get into the money you’ll spend after you get the keys, why refinancing isn’t the safety net people make it out to be, and why setting your budget is your job, not your lender’s.

➞ Buying in the next 12 months? Get matched with a first-time homebuyer friendly FAME agent in your area. It's free and takes about 2 minutes.

WHAT YOU’LL LEARN TODAY:

Why it takes the average American seven years to save for a house, and why that timeline is completely normal
Why your first home doesn’t need to be perfect, and why most buyers are purchasing older homes built in the ’90s
How to think about resale value when house hunting, even if you plan to stay for years
Why your credit score might be 20 points higher or lower when a mortgage lender pulls it
The real cost of refinancing, and why you should never buy a house counting on rates to drop
How property tax reassessments can raise your monthly mortgage payment after you move in
Why interest rates can change after pre-approval, and when to ask your lender for an updated quote
How much to set aside for post-closing expenses, and why you should wait to buy furniture and move in

MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

Mortgage News Daily (daily rate updates and email alerts)

RELATED EPISODES:

START HERE:

Get matched with a FAME agent in your area (free)
Not ready for an agent yet? Take my free Home Buying 101 class
Figure out how much house you can afford with my workbook

CONNECT WITH ME:

Instagram: @iamstacierihl
Visit my website

CHAPTERS:

00:00 — Why nobody teaches you how to buy a house
01:04 — #1: It takes 7 years on average to save for a house
02:24 — #2–3: Your first home won’t be perfect (and it’ll probably be older)
04:35 — #4–5: Resale value and why finding the right home takes time
06:41 — #6: Why your lender’s credit score won’t match Credit Karma
08:39 — #7: Refinancing isn’t free or guaranteed
10:05 — #8: Why your monthly payment can go up after closing
11:53 — #9–10: Mortgage interest and rate changes after pre-approval
14:13 — #11–12: Post-closing expenses and why to wait on furniture
16:45 — #13: Don’t move in the day after closing
17:27 — #14: Your budget is your job, not your lender’s
18:31 — Your next step: connect with a first-time homebuyer agent

Read moreCollapse

57. 10 Red Flags to Look for When Buying a House (That No One Ever Mentions)

Wednesday, October 28, 2026 • Duration 18:35

When you’re touring homes, it’s easy to fall for the staging and miss the warning signs that could cost you tens of thousands of dollars. I’m walking you through the red flags I personally look for when I tour a house, and every one of them is something you can spot without being a home inspector. You’ll learn where to look first, what the basement and electric panel can tell you, how to spot foundation and water issues, and the exterior red flags that can turn a dream home into a money pit.

➞ Buying in the next 12 months? Get matched with a first-time homebuyer friendly FAME agent in your area. It's free and takes about 2 minutes.

WHAT YOU’LL LEARN TODAY:

Why professional staging is a sales tactic, and how to see a house for what it actually is on your first walkthrough
The “look up, look around, look down” method for spotting ceiling stains, drywall cracks, and sloping floors
What a seller’s basement storage habits reveal about flooding and water issues
How to tell if the electrical is outdated, including what two-prong outlets and missing GFCI outlets mean
How to estimate the age of the water heater and HVAC system, and why house flips often skip these upgrades
The foundation cracks that are a dealbreaker
Why cracked or stained stucco can be an $80,000+ problem, and how to estimate roof replacement costs
How yard slope and tree placement can cause water and foundation damage

RELATED EPISODES:

START HERE:

56. How to Buy a House Solo in Your 20s, with Sarena Tseng

Wednesday, October 21, 2026 • Duration 34:39

Can you actually buy a house on your own in your 20s in this market? My guest Sarena Tseng did it at 26, buying in the Austin area in 2025 as a solo first-time homebuyer. She's sharing the real numbers with us: how much she had saved, why she put just 3% down and happily pays PMI, how house hacking with roommates makes her mortgage work, and the $12,000 kitchen refresh that turned an outdated house into one she loves. We also get into the costs nobody warned her about and what owning a home alone looks like once you have the keys.

➞ Buying in the next 12 months? Get matched with a first-time homebuyer friendly FAME agent in your area. It's free and takes about 2 minutes.

WHAT YOU'LL LEARN TODAY:

How much a solo first-time homebuyer actually had saved before buying, and why you want liquid cash instead of pulling from investments
Why she chose a 3% down conventional loan through a Fannie Mae first-time homebuyer program, and what her PMI really costs each month
The closing costs and ongoing expenses that caught her off guard, including lender's title insurance, prepaid HOA dues, and homeowners insurance
How house hacking with roommates made a mortgage affordable on a single income
Why mortgage calculators on Zillow tend to underestimate your real monthly payment
How she turned an older, "technically turnkey" home into her dream space with a $12,000 kitchen update
Why the house she bought wasn't her favorite online, and how a must-have list kept her open-minded
What life looks like after closing as a solo homeowner, from furnishing on a budget to window treatments

MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

Follow Sarena on Instagram and TikTok

RELATED EPISODES:

Episode 40: Buying a House Solo vs With a Partner: What First-Time Homebuyers Need to Know

55. Where to Start to Buy a House: Step 4 - When to Start Looking

Wednesday, October 14, 2026 • Duration 18:01

You've set your budget, found your agent, and gotten pre-approved. Now comes the part you've been waiting for: actually looking at houses. I walk you through how house hunting works for first-time homebuyers, from searching listings on the MLS to knowing when to start touring homes in person. Then I cover exactly how to make an offer on a house once you find one you love. I'll also share how a "maybe" became a "heck yes" on two of the three homes we bought, and why your must-have list matters more than a pretty kitchen.

➞ Buying in the next 12 months? Get matched with a first-time homebuyer friendly FAME agent in your area. It's free and takes about 2 minutes.

WHAT YOU'LL LEARN TODAY:

What the MLS is, how listings travel from the MLS to Zillow and Redfin, and why searching the MLS gives you the most accurate, up-to-date information
Why you should start touring homes about four months before you want to move, and how state timelines like attorney review periods change that
Why touring homes before you're ready can backfire and leave you comparing every house to the one you couldn't buy
How to use your must-have and nice-to-have list to turn a "maybe" into a confident yes without settling
How quickly you need to make an offer based on days on market and competition from other buyers
What goes into a written offer contract: price, closing date, home inspection, loan type, and lender
How much your first deposit typically is, and when it's due
How long it takes to close after your offer is accepted
Why it can take more than one offer to win a home in a hot market, and why starting early gives you room to try again

START HERE:

Get matched with a FAME agent in your area (free)
Not ready for an agent yet? Take my free Home Buying 101 class
Figure out how much house you can afford with my workbook

54. Where to Start to Buy a House: Step 3 - How to Get Pre-Approved

Wednesday, October 7, 2026 • Duration 16:30

Once you've had your planning meeting and found your realtor, the next step is getting pre-approved. But there's a real difference between pre-qualified and pre-approved, and most first-time buyers don't know it until it costs them the house. I'm walking through how to choose a trustworthy lender, exactly what documents they'll ask for, and the difference between a quick pre-qualification and a full pre-approval, so you're ready the moment the right home hits the market.

➞ Buying in the next 12 months? Get matched with a first-time homebuyer friendly FAME agent in your area. It's free and takes about 2 minutes.

WHAT YOU'LL LEARN TODAY:

Why getting pre-approved is step three, not step one, and why the order actually matters
How to find a trustworthy lender
The real difference between a pre-qualification and a full pre-approval
Exactly what documents your lender will ask for: bank statements, pay stubs, W-2s, and more
How gift funds from family work in the pre-approval process
Why you should tell your lender your actual monthly budget, not just take the number they approve you for
How long your pre-approval lasts and how rate shopping with multiple lenders actually works

START HERE:

Get matched with a FAME agent in your area (free)
Not ready for an agent yet? Take my free Home Buying 101 class
Figure out how much house you can afford with my workbook

CONNECT WITH ME:

Instagram: @iamstacierihl
Visit my website

53. Where to Start to Buy a House: Step 2 - How to Find a Realtor

Wednesday, September 30, 2026 • Duration 14:42

Once you've had your planning meeting, the next step is finding the right realtor, but not just any realtor will do. I'm breaking down the FAME framework I use to vet realtors for first-time buyers: first-time homebuyer friendly, available, market knowledge, and experience. You'll learn exactly when to reach out, what questions to ask, and how realtor compensation actually works so nothing catches you off guard.

➞ Buying in the next 12 months? Get matched with a first-time homebuyer friendly FAME agent in your area. It's free and takes about 2 minutes.

WHAT YOU'LL LEARN TODAY:

Why you should connect with a realtor 6 to 12 months before you want to move (and the math behind that timeline)
The FAME framework for vetting a realtor: first-time homebuyer friendly, available, market knowledge, and experienced
The exact numbers to ask about: years of experience, total sales, and how many are with first-time buyers
Why the busiest realtor in town might not be the right realtor for you
How realtor compensation actually works, and why it usually doesn't cost you anything out of pocket
What happens on your first call with a realtor and what they'll ask you

START HERE:

Get matched with a FAME agent in your area (free)
Not ready for an agent yet? Take my free Home Buying 101 class
Figure out how much house you can afford with my workbook

CONNECT WITH ME:

Instagram: @iamstacierihl
Visit my website

52. Where to Start to Buy a House: Step 1 - Getting Organized

Wednesday, September 23, 2026 • Duration 18:48

Where do you actually start when you want to buy a house? Before you talk to a realtor or a lender, there's one conversation you need to have first, and skipping it is why so many buyers panic or overspend the moment the right house hits the market. This is the first episode in a new series walking through exactly where to start, and today it's your planning meeting: your finances, your location, and your must-haves, so you can move fast and with confidence when the time comes.

➞ Buying in the next 12 months? Get matched with a first-time homebuyer friendly FAME agent in your area. It's free and takes about 2 minutes.

WHAT YOU'LL LEARN TODAY:

Why you have to make your big decisions before you start looking, not while you're standing in the house you love
The two money questions to answer first: how much you can spend upfront, and how much you're comfortable spending monthly
How to set a "flex number" above your budget for the exact right home, before emotions are involved
How to narrow down your top neighborhoods and search radius before you start touring
How to build a must-haves, nice-to-haves, and deal breakers list, and why doing it separately from your partner first matters
Why taking your time means doing the prep work early, not looking at 60 houses before deciding

RELATED EPISODES:

Episode 33: How to Set a Realistic Budget for Your First Home (Without Going House Poor)

START HERE:

Get matched with a FAME agent in your area (free)
Not ready for an agent yet? Take my free Home Buying 101 class
Figure out how much house you can afford with my workbook

51. How Do You Know If You're Ready to Buy a House? A Checklist of What You Need

Wednesday, September 16, 2026 • Duration 12:37

Wondering if you're actually ready to buy a house, or just going through the motions because that's what you're "supposed" to do? There are four specific things you need in place before you're ready: knowing your why, a plan to stay put for at least five years, enough saved, and a monthly payment you can comfortably afford. I'm walking through all four so you know exactly where you stand, and exactly what to work on if you're not there yet.

➞ Buying in the next 12 months? Get matched with a first-time homebuyer friendly FAME agent in your area. It's free and takes about 2 minutes.

WHAT YOU'LL LEARN TODAY:

Why "buying is better than renting" isn't a good enough reason on its own, and the real question to ask before you commit
How to identify your one true non-negotiable, even in a market where you'll have to compromise on almost everything else
Why you need a plan to stay in your next home for at least five years, and what it costs you if you sell sooner
The minimum you actually need saved before you're ready to buy
How to know if your monthly payment is actually comfortable, not just what a lender approves you for
What to do next if you're missing one (or more) of these four pieces

RELATED EPISODES:

50. The Tax Benefits of Buying a House in 2026: What Homeownership Actually Saves You at Tax Time

Wednesday, September 9, 2026 • Duration 11:35

If you've heard that owning a home comes with big tax write-offs, the real answer is more nuanced than that. I'm breaking down exactly what's tax deductible when you own a home (mortgage interest, discount points, and property taxes) plus the 2026 SALT cap change that just raised how much homeowners can deduct. I'll also walk through the difference between itemizing and taking the standard deduction, and why I don't think you should buy a house for the tax benefits alone.

Quick disclaimer: I'm not a tax professional or CPA. This is general education, not tax advice. Talk to an accountant about your specific situation.

➞ Buying in the next 12 months? Get matched with a first-time homebuyer friendly FAME agent in your area. It's free and takes about 2 minutes.

WHAT YOU'LL LEARN TODAY:

The two main categories of homeowner tax deductions: mortgage interest and property taxes
How discount points and home equity line of credit interest can also count as deductions
What changed with the 2026 SALT cap (property tax deduction limits went up under the "Big Beautiful Bill")
The difference between the standard deduction and itemizing — and how to know which one actually saves you money
Why your Form 1098 matters at tax time and where to find it
Why I don't recommend buying a home based on the tax benefits alone

START HERE:

Get matched with a FAME agent in your area (free)
Not ready for an agent yet? Take my free Home Buying 101 class
Figure out how much house you can afford with my workbook

CONNECT WITH ME:

49. How Much Should You Have Saved Before You Start Looking to Buy Your First Home?

Wednesday, September 2, 2026 • Duration 11:06

Most first-time buyers think the minimum down payment is all they need saved before they start touring homes… but that's only half the number. In this episode, I'm breaking down exactly how much you need for your down payment, your closing costs, and the buffer you'll want after closing, using real dollar examples so you know your actual savings target before you start house hunting.

➞ Buying in the next 12 months? Get matched with a first-time homebuyer friendly FAME agent in your area. It's free and takes about 2 minutes.

WHAT YOU'LL LEARN TODAY:

Why 3% down doesn't mean you only need 3% of the purchase price saved to start looking
The real dollar breakdown of down payment plus closing costs on a $400,000 home
When a seller assist can let you finance closing costs instead of paying them upfront, and when it won't fly in a competitive market
Why a lower down payment means a higher monthly payment (and how that affects what you can actually afford)
How much to set aside after closing for repairs, updates, and a real emergency fund
The one question to answer before you ever calculate a down payment: what monthly payment you're actually comfortable with

MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

START HERE:

Get matched with a FAME agent in your area (free)
Not ready for an agent yet? Take my free Home Buying 101 class
Figure out how much house you can afford with my workbook

Your First Home: How To Buy a House For First-Time Home Buyers - Details, episodes & analysis

Podcast details

Recent rankings

Apple Podcasts

Spotify

Shared links between episodes and podcasts

RSS feed quality and score

Publication history

Latest published episodes

Related Shows Based on Content Similarities

Apple Podcasts

Spotify

Related Shows Based on Content Similarities

Your First Home: How To Buy a House For First-Time Home Buyers - Details, episodes & analysis

Podcast details

Recent rankings

Apple Podcasts

Spotify

Shared links between episodes and podcasts

Other57

Instagram10

Apple Podcasts18

RSS feed quality and score

Publication history

Latest published episodes

Similar podcasts and content

Related Shows Based on Content Similarities

Apple Podcasts

Spotify

Related Shows Based on Content Similarities

Other57

Instagram10

Apple Podcasts18