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Buy a home · Step by step
Even if it is your first time: the steps in order, each with its guides, calculators and your county’s numbers. Start with the one you need today and go at your own pace.
With your county, the calculators and the steps use your numbers.
Guides verified against official sources · last verified: October 31, 2026 · 385 official sources
Your number
Move the price and the down payment. The payment uses this week’s average rate, your county’s property tax and an insurance example.
Starts at the typical value in the United States.
That is $11,645.
Place: the United States
What you type stays in this browser; it is not sent anywhere.
Estimated monthly payment
$2,759
FHA loan over 30 years: principal, interest, tax, insurance and mortgage insurance if it applies.
Cash to get started
$21,626
Down payment of $11,645 plus example closing costs (3% of the price).
To pay $2,759 a month without going over 28% of your income, your household would need to earn about $9,855 a month. If you earn less, try a lower price or look at down payment assistance.
Three paths at this price
FHA, 3.5% down
$2,759 a month
$21,626 to start
Conventional, 5%
$2,698 a month
$26,616 to start
ITIN (example), 15%
$2,610 a month
$59,886 to start
Same price and rate; the ITIN example adds 1.5 points to the rate because private lenders make these loans. Each lender sets its own terms.
See the full calculationHow much home can you buy?Down payment assistanceClosing costs
An educational estimate, not a loan offer.
How we calculate it: the mortgage calculator’s formula, with example home insurance and closing costs. Starting values: American Community Survey (average 2020–2024), Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey (as of November 5, 2026), and Conforming loan limits (2026 data).
See the full methodStep by step
Buying a home in the United States takes months and passes through different hands: the lender, the agent, the inspector, the appraiser and the title company. The steps below follow that order; each one says what gets done, why it matters and which guide or tool helps you at that moment.
ID, proof of income, tax returns and bank statements. If you are self-employed or paid in cash, the order of your papers matters even more.
Get your free report, fix errors and know your score before you talk to a lender. If you have no history, there are ways to start.
Not what they will lend you, but what fits your month: payment, taxes, insurance and what you still want to save. Compare it with real prices in your county.
Key tool: How much house can I afford?
State and local programs help with the down payment and closing costs. Many are requested through a participating lender, before you sign anything.
Key tool: Which programs might I qualify for?
Compare offers from several lenders and understand which loan type suits you. A preapproval does not tie you to anyone.
Set the area, the size and your price ceiling. Know your rights: no one can refuse you a home because of your national origin, your religion or your family status.
The offer, the earnest money deposit, the inspection and the appraisal. This is where you negotiate, and where rushing costs the most.
Read the Closing Disclosure calmly, confirm any payment instructions by phone, and sign. The keys are the last step.
Escrow, taxes, insurance and upkeep. What arrives in the mail, what you pay yourself and what the loan pays for you.
The national numbers
The typical home value, the lowest FHA loan limit and this week’s rate. Your county may be far above or below: look it up and the numbers turn into yours.
Housing and money guides, with official sources
The most complete guides on buying a home, from the paperwork to the keys. Start with the featured one; each one says which sources we verified and when.
Mortgage loans 14 minute read
See all 36 guides on Buying a home See all 25 guides on Mortgage loans
Common mistakes and scams
Almost every stumble when buying a home comes from advice that sounds logical but is not true, or from a rush that someone takes advantage of. Here are the costliest, with what the official source says beside them.
What they tell you Scam
The trap: following payment instructions that arrive by email
The reality
In the closing scam, wire instructions are swapped by email. Confirm by phone, using the number you agreed on beforehand, and never follow instructions received by email.
Source: CFPB, “Mortgage Closing Scams: How to protect yourself and your closing funds”
What they tell you Myth
The mistake: waiting until you have the “full” down payment
The reality
There are loans with much smaller down payments than most people think, and programs that help with the rest. Check each loan type’s minimum, with its source, before deciding you are not ready.
Read the guide: How much do you need for a down payment?Source: CFPB, “Your home loan toolkit: A step-by-step guide”
What they tell you Myth
The mistake: taking the first loan offer
The reality
The CFPB recommends getting official loan offers from several lenders and comparing them. A preapproval does not commit you to anyone.
Read the guide: Mortgage loan types: FHA, conventional, VA and USDASource: CFPB, “Buying a house”
What they tell you Myth
The mistake: signing without reading the Closing Disclosure
The reality
It must reach you three business days before closing, exactly so you can compare it with your Loan Estimate and ask about anything that does not add up.
What it means: Closing DisclosureSource: CFPB, “Closing Disclosure Explainer”
What they tell you Scam
The trap: paying a “notario” for legal or ITIN paperwork
The reality
In the United States a notary public cannot give immigration legal advice. Only an attorney or a representative accredited by the Department of Justice can.
Read the guide: What an ITIN is and what it is forSource: USCIS, “Common Scams (notario público)”
What they tell you Myth
The mistake: not talking to a housing counselor
The reality
HUD-approved counselors give independent advice on buying, missed payments and credit, often free or at low cost. It is the best first step if you do not know where to start.
Source: CFPB, “Find a Housing Counselor”
Buy a home
The questions we hear most about buying a home, with short answers. When an answer depends on your case, we tell you where to find the exact rule.
It depends on the loan type: each one has its own residency and identification rules, and federal programs change theirs from time to time. The ITIN guide explains what is out of reach and which kinds of lenders consider the ITIN.
Read the guide: What an ITIN is and what it is forIt depends on the loan type, the home price and the assistance in your state. The down payment guide shows each loan’s minimum with its source, and the calculator gives you the number for your county.
Read the guide: How much do you need for a down payment?The numbers first: your credit, your budget and a preapproval. That way you search in the right range and your offer carries more weight when you make it.
Open the tool: How much house can I afford?HUD-approved counselors often help for free or at low cost. They help with the budget, assistance programs and the paperwork, without selling you anything.
See the free helpOnly in your browser. We have no accounts or forms: what you type here stays on your phone or computer, and you can clear it whenever you like from the footer.
See the free help
A HUD-approved housing counselor goes over your budget, the assistance programs and the paperwork with you before you talk to a lender, without selling you anything. If your question is legal or about immigration, free legal aid offices and accredited representatives are the way.
This site explains and links what official sources publish; it does not give individual advice. For your case, these organizations help for free or at low cost:
HUD-approved housing counselors give independent advice, free or at low cost. Find your county and we show you the nearby agencies with the languages they serve, or go straight to HUD’s directory.
Five questions, none personal. You get the steps in order, with the guides and calculators that fit you.
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