The First-Time Homebuyer Roadmap
Buying your first home feels huge, until you break it into steps. Work through these nine stages at your own pace and check things off as you go. Your progress saves in this browser.
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Where are you starting from?
Pick the line that sounds most like you and we’ll jump you to the right stage.
Nine stages to your first home
Many buyers spend a few months to a year on Stages 1–2. Once your offer is accepted, closing typically takes 30–60 days. Click any stage to open it.
What would my monthly payment be?
Lenders look at your whole monthly housing cost, not just the loan. Change the numbers to see how price, down payment, rate, and location affect your payment. Starting values are illustrative examples, not a quote.
Estimates only. Starting numbers are illustrative. Mortgage insurance varies with credit score, down payment, and loan type (roughly 0.3–1.5%/yr for conventional PMI; FHA is typically 0.50–0.55%/yr plus an upfront premium; VA has no monthly mortgage insurance but usually a one-time funding fee). For financed purchases, cash to close ≈ down payment + about 3% for closing costs and prepaid items. For a 100% cash purchase, the home price is shown separately from closing costs, which still apply and vary. Tax rates from the City of Richmond and Henrico, Chesterfield, and Hanover counties (tax year 2026). Compare real offers with the CFPB rate explorer and your official Loan Estimate. Income and debt fields are not saved.
Homebuying glossary
Half the battle is knowing what everyone’s talking about. Search any term.
No matching terms. Try a different word.
Beginner-friendly places to keep learning
Free sources from government agencies, nonprofits, and Virginia Housing. Start with the first item in each column.
Virginia & Richmond
- Virginia Housing: Free homebuyer education Free in-person, virtual, and online classes
- Virginia Housing home loans State-sponsored loan programs for first-time buyers
- Virginia Housing down payment grants Grant help with your down payment, for eligible buyers
- Richmond-area property tax rates by county City vs. Henrico vs. Chesterfield vs. Hanover
Courses & guided tools
- CFPB: Buying a House Step-by-step guide from the federal consumer watchdog
- Fannie Mae HomeView® Free online homebuyer education course
- Freddie Mac My Home Budgeting, credit, and buying guides
Free, personal help
- Find a HUD-approved housing counselor Free or low-cost one-on-one coaching near you
- Down Payment Resource Search assistance programs by address
- Find your state housing finance agency Moving from out of state? Find your state’s programs here
Loan programs
- FHA loans (HUD) Lower down payment, more flexible credit
- VA home loans For eligible veterans, service members, and surviving spouses
- USDA home loans No-down-payment options in eligible rural areas
Protect yourself
- AnnualCreditReport.com The official site for free credit reports from all three bureaus
- CFPB: Beware of mortgage closing scams How wire fraud works and how to avoid it
- FBI IC3: Report wire fraud Report right away if closing funds are ever misdirected
You don’t have to do this alone.
In a free buyer consultation, we map your budget, target areas, timeline, and financing, then set your price range and next steps before you start touring. No pressure, no obligation.
Book a free buyer consultation
This roadmap is for general education only and isn’t financial, legal, tax, or lending advice. Loan programs, assistance, tax rates, and timelines vary by state, locality, and lender, and they change over time. Talk with a licensed lender, a real estate professional, and (where appropriate) a real estate attorney about your situation. Calculator results are estimates, not a loan offer. Checklist progress is stored only in your browser; income and debt fields are never saved or sent anywhere.