Are You Ready to Buy a Home?
Take this 5-minute quiz to get an honest assessment of where you are in your homebuying journey and what you need to do next.
Your Homebuying Readiness Score
5 Myths That Keep People from Buying Homes
✗ MYTH: You need a 20% down payment
✓ TRUTH: Most first-time buyers put down 3-7%
FHA loans require only 3.5% down. Conventional loans can be as low as 3%. VA loans require 0% down for veterans. The 20% myth keeps people saving for years longer than necessary. In DFW's $380K median market, that's the difference between needing $76,000 vs. $11,400-$26,600.
✗ MYTH: You need perfect credit
✓ TRUTH: FHA loans approve scores as low as 580, conventional at 620+
Yes, higher scores get better rates. But you don't need an 800 score to buy. The median credit score of approved buyers is around 750, but plenty of buyers get approved in the 620-700 range. If your score is below 620, a 90-day improvement plan can often get you there.
✗ MYTH: Renting is throwing money away
✓ TRUTH: Both renting and buying have costs - it depends on your situation
Owning costs more than your mortgage (taxes, insurance, maintenance, HOA). In the first years, most of your payment goes to interest anyway. Renting makes sense if you're moving soon, not financially ready, or would stretch too thin to buy. Homeownership builds wealth over TIME, not immediately.
✗ MYTH: You should wait for the market to crash
✓ TRUTH: Timing the market is nearly impossible - time IN the market matters
Even if you buy at a "high" and values dip, they historically recover and grow over 5-10+ years. Waiting means paying rent instead of building equity. A 2024 study found buyers who purchased during "expensive" 2005-2007 still built significant wealth by 2024. The best time to buy is when YOU'RE ready.
✗ MYTH: First-time buyers should buy "starter homes"
✓ TRUTH: Buy what works for your 5-10 year plan, not what's "expected"
The "starter home, then move up" strategy made sense when transaction costs were lower. Today, with 6% realtor fees, closing costs, and moving expenses, every move costs tens of thousands. If you can afford a "forever home" (or at least a 10-year home) on your first purchase, that might be smarter financially.
Should You Rent or Buy in DFW?
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What Homeownership Actually Feels Like
The good: You're building equity with every payment. You can paint walls any color, get a dog, renovate the kitchen, and never worry about a landlord raising rent. You have stability, predictable housing costs (your principal and interest never change!), and you're building generational wealth.
The hard: When the AC breaks at 9 PM in August, you can't call a landlord—you're the landlord. Property taxes in DFW are HIGH (2-3% of home value annually). Maintenance costs roughly 1% of home value per year. You're responsible for everything from roof leaks to foundation issues to landscaping.
The emotional reality: Research shows 50% of homebuyers cry during the process. You'll feel excitement, fear, buyer's remorse, pride, anxiety, and joy—sometimes all in the same week. This is NORMAL. You're making the biggest financial decision of your life in a system designed to be confusing.
We'll guide you through every stage with honesty, education, and zero pressure. We make money when you succeed, not when you make rushed decisions. If now isn't your time, we'll tell you. If you're ready, we'll help you move forward confidently.