Top 3 Mistakes First-Time Home Buyers Make
Moving Fort Wayne · Episode 3
Top 3 Mistakes First-Time Home Buyers Make
with Tiffany Ham, Noll Team Real Estate
Brad Noll and Tiffany Ham, a former teacher turned Noll Team Realtor, break down the three mistakes first-time home buyers make most: shopping before pre-approval, underestimating the total cost of ownership, and letting emotions drive decisions. They walk through the full buying process step by step and show the math behind building wealth with a first home.
▶ Listen to the episodeKey Takeaways
- Get pre-approved before you shop. Knowing exactly what you can afford keeps you from falling for a home outside your budget, and sometimes shows you can afford more than you thought.
- Plan for the full cost of ownership. Closing costs, inspections, insurance, and ongoing maintenance all add up. Tiffany says homeownership works best for people with an emergency fund.
- Emotions belong in the decision, not behind the wheel. Brad says buyers buy emotionally and justify logically. Tiffany brings buyers back to the needs they named in the consultation.
- A call to the listing agent can win the house. Tiffany won a multiple offer situation by learning the seller was stressed about clearing an outbuilding and offering to let her buyer handle it.
- The purchase agreement holds real money. Brad counts almost 500 lines and 92 checkboxes with financial implications, with terms worth about 3 to 5 percent of the sale price.
- A small down payment can earn a big return. On a $255,000 home appreciating 3 percent a year, Brad shows a 5 percent down payment returning about 318 percent over five years.
Chapters
- 00:00Welcome and first home stories
- 03:53The top three mistakes
- 04:46Shopping before pre-approval
- 06:09Total cost and emotional decisions
- 09:01The buyer consultation and pre-approval
- 15:15Shopping for homes and making an offer
- 19:36Earnest money, inspections, and closing
- 25:03Financial benefits of homeownership
- 28:05The return on a down payment
- 32:03Final advice and a dinner timeout
Read the article
The Top 3 Mistakes First-Time Home Buyers Make in Fort Wayne
The full story behind the episode, written to be read, shared, and found on Google.
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