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Watch a short about how buying your first home works.
Play videoFirst-time Homebuyer
Buying your first home can feel overwhelming, but you do not have to understand everything before you begin.
This page will help you understand the basic steps, estimate a comfortable payment, learn what lenders look for, and know what questions to ask.
Start here
A simple way to begin if you are buying your first home and are not sure what to do first.
Estimate
Use our payment calculators to estimate a comfortable monthly payment.
Open calculator
Understand
Read a simple first-time buyer guide to learn what happens before and after you apply.
Read guide
Move forward
Ready to take the next step? Start your application here.
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Plan your payment
Before you focus on a home price, start with the monthly payment. Buying your first home usually feels easier when you understand how payment, down payment, taxes, insurance, and loan terms work together.
Payment calculator
See how you down payment and loan term affect your mortgage payment.
Open calculatorAffordability calculator
See how payment, taxes, insurance, and down payment affect how much home you can afford.
Open calculatorBuy vs. rent calculator
Compare the long-term cost of renting with the potential cost and benefits of buying a home.
Open calculatorExtra payment calculator
See how making extra payments could reduce interest and shorten the life of your mortgage.
Open calculatorCan I qualify?
First-time buyers often have questions about credit, income, savings, and down payment.
Featured qualification topic
Can I Qualify With Student Loans?
Learn how student loans are counted when qualifying for a mortgage, including deferred loans, income-based repayment plans, and differences among conventional, FHA, USDA, and VA guidelines.
More qualification topics
- Can I Qualify With Limited Savings? How Much Money Do I Need to Close? Learn how down payment, closing costs, prepaid expenses, escrow deposits, insurance, taxes, and prepaid interest combine to determine the total funds needed to close.
- Can I Qualify With Limited Savings for a Down Payment? Learn how much down payment may be needed to buy a home, including low-down-payment and no-down-payment mortgage options such as conventional, FHA, VA, and USDA loans.
- Can I Qualify With Limited Savings for Closing Costs? Learn what closing costs and prepaid expenses are, how they affect the cash needed to buy a home, and why no-closing-cost offers should be reviewed carefully.
More ways we can help
Some loan options are designed around a specific goal or situation. If one of these fits what you're trying to do, visit the page to request details or answer a few questions.
Could a mortgage interest tax credit boost your tax refund?
A mortgage interest tax credit may reduce your federal tax bill and put more money back in your pocket. Take the quiz to see whether this benefit may apply.
Take the quizCan you get down payment assistance in Texas?
Down payment assistance may make buying a home more realistic than you think. Take the quiz to see whether you may qualify.
Take the quizCommission-only?
You can buy a home!
Commission income can be hard to document, especially when it is new or variable. This option may help commission-only buyers understand whether they can still qualify.
Request detailsCould a mortgage interest tax credit help you buy more home?
A mortgage interest tax credit may increase your effective qualifying income and help you explore a larger home budget. Take the quiz to see whether it may fit.
Take the quizHelpful articles
More reading if you want to go deeper.
- What Not to Do Before Closing on a Home Avoid common mistakes before closing on a home, including new credit, job changes, large deposits, moving money, late payments, and spending funds needed to close.
- Down Payment Assistance: What Texas Homebuyers Should Know Learn how down payment assistance may help Texas homebuyers cover down payment, closing costs, or prepaid expenses, and what to consider before using an assistance program.
- First-Time Homebuyer Options in Texas Explore common first-time homebuyer options in Texas, including low-down-payment loans, down payment assistance, MCCs, gift funds, seller contributions, and lender credits.
- What Is Title Insurance? Learn what title insurance is, why lenders require it, how it protects against title problems, and the difference between lender and owner title policies.
What clients say
“Steven at Texas Lone Star Lending was wonderful to work with. He was very helpful and kept us informed during the entire process. The ability to provide and sign documentation online made the process so easy. We would highly recommend Texas Lone Star Lending.”
— Carla and Chris V.
From the kitchen
Because life is not all mortgages. Click on a recipe card to enlarge and print it.
Crock Pot Chicken Stew
Peaches and Cream Popsicles
Ready to move forward?
When you're ready, the next step is simple.
Have a question? Use the chat icon in the bottom right - we're here to help.