Buying your first home is exciting, but the common mistakes first-time buyers make often cause stress during a time when the focus should be on finding the right place.
The most frequent one is shopping before getting pre-approved. Knowing your number first means you look at homes you can actually buy, and it makes your offer far stronger when the right one appears.
The second is budgeting only for the purchase price. Closing costs, property taxes, insurance and the first round of repairs all land within the first year, and they add up quickly.