How to Buy a Home

Moving is one of the most stressful parts of homebuyingso before you decide to relocate for affordability, remote work, or a dream lifestyle, this episode helps you figure out if youre really ready. David sits down with Mariette Frye, host of the Moving Tips & Tricks podcast, who has moved 20 times in 24 years and developed a practical and emotional framework to help people plan better moves. From financial prep to emotional readiness and community-building tips, this episode is all about knowing what to do before you commit to a new city or neighborhoodespecially if youre planning to rent first, test out a market, or buy remotely.

Whether youre dreaming of New York, San Diego, or just moving two zip codes over, this episode helps you get clear on how to test your dream before making a major life transition.

Quote:

You have to grieve your old home and your old lifebecause once you move, its a complete reset. Whether youre ready for it or not, its coming for you. Mariette Frye

Highlights:

• How do you know if youre actually ready to relocateor just reacting to burnout, grief, or frustration?
• What is the FRED framework? A 4-part system to evaluate your next city using lifestyle filters, not just affordability.
• Can you test-drive a city before committing? Why short-term rentals, online communities, and proof-of-concept visits matter more than a Zillow search.
• Why renting in a luxury building might backfire if your long-term plan is to buy affordably in the same area.

Referenced Resources:

• Mariettes podcast: Moving Tips & Tricks
• DecidingToMove.com Mariettes workbook and relocation planning tool

Connect with me to find a trusted realtor in your area or to answer your burning questions!

Subscribe to our YouTube Channel @HowToBuyaHome

Instagram @HowtoBuyAHomePodcast

Tik Tok @HowToBuyAHome

Visit our Resource Center to "Ask David" AND get your FREE Home Buying Starter Kit!

David Sidoni, the "How to Buy a Home Guy," is a seasoned real estate professional and consumer advocate with two decades of experience helping first-time homebuyers navigate the real estate market. His podcast, "How to Buy a Home," is a trusted resource for anyone looking to buy their first home. It offers expert advice, actionable tips, and inspiring stories from real first-time homebuyers. With a focus on making the home-buying process accessible and understandable, David breaks down complex topics into easy-to-follow steps, covering everything from budgeting and financing to finding the right home and making an offer.

Subscribe for regular market updates, and leave a review to help us reach more people. Ready for an honest, informed home-buying experience? Viva la Unicorn Revolution - join us!

VA loan myths, self-employment hurdles, and relocating with a toddlerJessicas story proves that even with obstacles, a smart plan and the right team make homeownership possible. Jessica is a military spouse, a self-employed business owner, and a momthree factors that many people assume make buying a home impossible. In this episode, she shares exactly how she proved them all wrong. With a VA loan, a unicorn real estate team, and months of early preparation, she bought a home in a dream neighborhoodeven after losing out on an earlier offer.

This interview is packed with hard-earned wisdom about organizing documents for underwriting, dealing with VA misconceptions, and navigating the emotional ups and downs of buying as a military family with limited local support. Whether youre active duty, self-employed, or just trying to figure out how to make homeownership work in tough circumstances, Jessicas story shows it can be doneand why its worth it.

Quote:

Its like a light in the darkout of nowhere, you suddenly have a lantern. And youve been walking around with a match. Jessica, Episode 335

Highlights:

1. Can you buy a home using a VA loan with no down paymentand still get taken seriously by sellers?
2. What steps can self-employed buyers take to prep their tax returns for mortgage approval?
3. What makes a unicorn real estate team essential for military families relocating?
4. How did buying a fixer-upper in a dream neighborhood become a better long-term win than a renovated home?
5. Why do VA loans come with extra scrutinyand how can buyers get ahead of it?
6. How does a toddler, a septic tank, and a $1964 stove all fit into a successful first home story?
7. Why starting early1224 months before your moveis the real game changer for military families

Connect with me to find a trusted realtor in your area or to answer your burning questions!

Subscribe to our YouTube Channel @HowToBuyaHome

Instagram @HowtoBuyAHomePodcast

Tik Tok @HowToBuyAHome

Visit our Resource Center to "Ask David" AND get your FREE Home Buying Starter Kit!

David Sidoni, the "How to Buy a Home Guy," is a seasoned real estate professional and consumer advocate with two decades of experience helping first-time homebuyers navigate the real estate market. His podcast, "How to Buy a Home," is a trusted resource for anyone looking to buy their first home. It offers expert advice, actionable tips, and inspiring stories from real first-time homebuyers. With a focus on making the home-buying process accessible and understandable, David breaks down complex topics into easy-to-follow steps, covering everything from budgeting and financing to finding the right home and making an offer.

Subscribe for regular market updates, and leave a review to help us reach more people. Ready for an honest, informed home-buying experience? Viva la Unicorn Revolution - join us!

Stock market swings, Fed pivots, and tariff chaos all hit in April—here’s how it’s really impacting mortgage rates, builder incentives, and your buying plan. A surprise tariff announcement in early April caused the largest single-day stock drop since 2022—but does that mean the housing market is crashing? Not even close. In this episode, you’ll hear how trade turmoil, media panic, and rate fluctuations connect to real first-time buyer decisions.

David explains how April’s brief rate dip created new affordability windows, what the Fed’s shifting tone means, and why fear-based headlines often create quiet openings for strategic buyers. He also calls out rising builder incentives, condo deals, and ways to stay ahead when everyone else hits pause.

Quote:

“Use the public panic to your advantage. You know more than most people do. Yeah, you do.” — David Sidoni

Highlights:

1. Why did April’s tariffs trigger a 12% market drop—and what does it really mean for rates?
2. Could builder costs rise in 2025 due to materials and trade impacts?
3. How April’s 1%+ mortgage rate swing changed monthly payments for buyers.
4. Is buyer fear creating stealth deals in the condo market right now?
5. What role is the Fed playing—and why their next move matters for your timeline.
6. How to prepare—not pause—when uncertainty hits the market.

Referenced Episodes:

• Episode 94 – Real Estate Terms & Definitions
• Episode 198 & 216 – PMI Strategy
• Episode 301–310 – The 10-Step First-Time Buyer Plan
• Episode 326 – Assumable Mortgages
• Episode 328 – 10 Real Action Steps for First-Time Buyers

Connect with me to find a trusted realtor in your area or to answer your burning questions!

Subscribe to our YouTube Channel @HowToBuyaHome

Instagram @HowtoBuyAHomePodcast

Tik Tok @HowToBuyAHome

Visit our Resource Center to "Ask David" AND get your FREE Home Buying Starter Kit!

David Sidoni, the "How to Buy a Home Guy," is a seasoned real estate professional and consumer advocate with two decades of experience helping first-time homebuyers navigate the real estate market. His podcast, "How to Buy a Home," is a trusted resource for anyone looking to buy their first home. It offers expert advice, actionable tips, and inspiring stories from real first-time homebuyers. With a focus on making the home-buying process accessible and understandable, David breaks down complex topics into easy-to-follow steps, covering everything from budgeting and financing to finding the right home and making an offer.

Subscribe for regular market updates, and leave a review to help us reach more people. Ready for an honest, informed home-buying experience? Viva la Unicorn Revolution - join us!

In just two months, Conan went from renting in Michigan to owning a condo in Chicago—with a unicorn team, 5% down, and a plan built around his daughter and his goals. Buying from out of state? Recently divorced? Facing a competitive market? Conan tackled all of that and more—without overbidding, overpaying, or compromising on what mattered. After losing a few bidding wars, Conan pivoted to a fixer-upper, used his strong credit to keep PMI low, and leaned on his unicorn team for everything from FaceTime home tours to mold remediation negotiations.

This is a story of speed, strategy, and smart choices, with takeaways for buyers who need to move fast, stay flexible, and win in today’s market.

Quote:

“Even after going through a divorce and a money drain, I was still able to buy a home three months later. That just shows—anyone can do this.” — Conan

Highlights:

1. How did a divorced dad living out of state buy a home in 60 days?
2. Can 5% down with PMI really be smarter than putting 20% down?
3. What made Conan pivot back to a fixer-upper—and why it paid off.
4. Why FaceTime tours and a “no-pressure” realtor changed everything.
5. What’s it like to buy in a Chicago bidding war bloodbath—and still come out ahead?
6. How did his unicorn team negotiate mold remediation and pest cleanup before closing?
7. What makes condo living with a low HOA fee a smart first step toward ownership?

Referenced Episodes:

• Episode 94 – Real Estate Terms & Definitions
• Episodes 175–177 – How to Win a Bidding War
• Episode 328 – 10 Real Action Steps for First-Time Buyers
• Episode 330 – From Renter to Homeowner With a Home Business

Connect with me to find a trusted realtor in your area or to answer your burning questions!

Subscribe to our YouTube Channel @HowToBuyaHome

Instagram @HowtoBuyAHomePodcast

Tik Tok @HowToBuyAHome

Visit our Resource Center to "Ask David" AND get your FREE Home Buying Starter Kit!

David Sidoni, the "How to Buy a Home Guy," is a seasoned real estate professional and consumer advocate with two decades of experience helping first-time homebuyers navigate the real estate market. His podcast, "How to Buy a Home," is a trusted resource for anyone looking to buy their first home. It offers expert advice, actionable tips, and inspiring stories from real first-time homebuyers. With a focus on making the home-buying process accessible and understandable, David breaks down complex topics into easy-to-follow steps, covering everything from budgeting and financing to finding the right home and making an offer.

Subscribe for regular market updates, and leave a review to help us reach more people. Ready for an honest, informed home-buying experience? Viva la Unicorn Revolution - join us!

The home inspection process is one of the most intimidating parts of buying your first home. That’s why this episode, originally aired as Episode 110, has been updated with critical 2025 insights on smart homes, solar panels, attic access, and more.

David explains why inspections feel overwhelming (spoiler: they’re supposed to), what your general inspector actually does, and how to spot real red flags vs. normal wear and tear. Learn why a sewer scope is worth every penny, how inspections affect negotiations, and how to turn your report into a personalized to-do list instead of a panic attack.

Quote:

“The inspection is not a pass/fail test—it’s a to-do list. And it could be your best negotiation tool if you know how to use it.” — David Sidoni

Highlights:

1. Why does your inspection report make it feel like your home is falling apart?

2. What’s the difference between cosmetic issues and safety hazards?

3. How can a $250 sewer scope save you from an $8,000 sinkhole?

4. Do inspectors check attics, electrical panels, and smart home systems? (They should!)

5. What does “working condition” really mean—and why sellers love that term?

6. Should you ever waive your inspection in a competitive market?

7. How do you turn a scary inspection into a smart homeowner checklist?

Referenced Episodes:

• Episode 94 – Real Estate Terms & Definitions

• Episode 328 – 10 Real Action Steps for First-Time Buyers

Connect with me to find a trusted realtor in your area or to answer your burning questions!

Subscribe to our YouTube Channel @HowToBuyaHome

Instagram @HowtoBuyAHomePodcast

Tik Tok @HowToBuyAHome

Visit our Resource Center to "Ask David" AND get your FREE Home Buying Starter Kit!

David Sidoni, the "How to Buy a Home Guy," is a seasoned real estate professional and consumer advocate with two decades of experience helping first-time homebuyers navigate the real estate market. His podcast, "How to Buy a Home," is a trusted resource for anyone looking to buy their first home. It offers expert advice, actionable tips, and inspiring stories from real first-time homebuyers. With a focus on making the home-buying process accessible and understandable, David breaks down complex topics into easy-to-follow steps, covering everything from budgeting and financing to finding the right home and making an offer.

Subscribe for regular market updates, and leave a review to help us reach more people. Ready for an honest, informed home-buying experience? Viva la Unicorn Revolution - join us!