Buying a home is the largest purchase most people will make in their lifetime. In today’s market of high mortgage rates, low inventory, and high prices, that big financial decision can quickly become an emotional—and intimidating—one.

As a first-time homebuyer, I can relate. When my partner and I started our buying journey in 2021, mortgage rates were lower, but inventory in my area was almost non-existent. Buyers were bidding tens of thousands of dollars over the asking price, bypassing inspections (don’t do this), and engaging in other financially risky behaviors like waving contingencies and paying for extra repairs to win deals. It was discouraging, to say the least. 

I quickly learned that while buying a home for the first time is a big deal, what matters most is patience, flexibility, and building a great team (such as a realtor, lender, lawyer, and even your local friend and colleague network). Our realtor helped us make smart, not rash, decisions. By shopping around for a lender, we secured a pre-underwritten mortgage that looked like a cash offer to sellers, giving our first-time buyer budget a leg up on the competition. Within a few months, we closed on our first home. Now it’s your turn. 

Investopedia talked to four real-life, first-time buyers who shared their stories. They mapped out their journeys, walking us through their timelines and offering creative insights on how to buy. Our biggest takeaway? There isn’t one single method to purchase a home, and with a little outside-the-box thinking, persistence, and teamwork, you can secure not just a property you love, but one you can actually afford. 

We hope these stories offer encouragement and motivation and that our supporting library helps inform every stage of your homebuying journey. Investopedia is here for you each step of the way. 

–Sienna Wrenn, Associate Editorial Director, Investopedia Special Projects