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Buying Your First Home.
Buying a first home is a series of clear, manageable steps. Here is the general path, along with official programs and counselors worth knowing about before you begin.
The path to your first home
Set a comfortable budget
Look beyond the purchase price to the full monthly cost of ownership — the loan payment, property taxes, homeowners insurance, and any association dues — along with cash for the down payment and closing costs.
Get pre-approved
A lender reviews your income, assets, and credit and indicates how much it may be willing to lend. A pre-approval helps you search with confidence and shows sellers you are prepared.
Search with focus
Decide which areas, home types, and features matter most, then tour homes with your agent and weigh each one against those priorities.
Make an offer
Your agent helps you prepare a written offer: the price, your financing, the timeline, and the conditions — called contingencies — that protect you while you complete your review.
Inspections and contingencies
Once your offer is accepted, you typically schedule professional inspections, review disclosures, and complete the appraisal and loan approval within the contingency periods in your contract.
Escrow and closing
In both California and Arizona, a neutral escrow or title company typically holds funds and documents until every condition is met. You review your final loan documents, sign, and receive the keys once the sale closes.
What “first-time homebuyer” usually means
You may qualify as a first-time homebuyer even if you have owned a home before. Assistance programs set their own definitions; many use a three-year look-back, treating you as a first-time buyer if you have not owned a principal residence during that period. Always confirm the definition with the specific program.
Homebuyer education
Many first-time buyer and assistance programs require a homebuyer education course before closing. Even when it is not required, a course is a useful way to understand the process, the paperwork, and the responsibilities of ownership. HUD-approved housing counseling agencies offer education and one-on-one guidance.
State programs to explore
Both programs below are offered through approved lenders rather than directly to the public. Eligibility, terms, and availability are set by each program and change over time, so review the official program pages and ask a participating lender what applies to you.
- California Housing Finance Agency (CalHFA) (opens in a new tab)
California’s state housing finance agency; its homebuyer programs are offered through CalHFA-approved lenders.
- Arizona HOME+PLUS (opens in a new tab)
A down payment assistance program from the Arizona Industrial Development Authority, offered through approved lenders.
Independent guidance
- HUD-approved housing counselors (opens in a new tab)
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s search for HUD-approved housing counseling agencies.
- Consumer Financial Protection Bureau: Buying a House (opens in a new tab)
The CFPB’s step-by-step guide and tools for shopping for a mortgage and buying a home.
More resources
General information only — not legal, tax, or lending advice. Program details change; confirm with the program administrator or a licensed professional.