First-Time Buyers
Essential guides and tips for first-time homebuyers in San Antonio and the Texas Hill Country.
FIRST-TIME BUYERS
How Long Does It Take to Buy a Home? A First-Time Buyer's Timeline from Pre-Approval to Keys
A realistic first-time homebuyer timeline from pre-approval to closing keys: the seven phases, typical durations, a full cost breakdown on a $300,000 home, and the mistakes that add weeks.
Read Article
FIRST-TIME BUYERS
How to Buy a New House Before Selling Your Current Home
Patrick Kevin Fagan explains buy first, sell later: how to make a non-contingent offer by wrapping your existing home into the program. Who qualifies (equity, credit, conventional-only), how the internal bridge loan works, the stipulations, and the benefits.
Read Article
FIRST-TIME BUYERS
How to Buy a HUD Foreclosure Home with a $100 Down Payment
Patrick Kevin Fagan explains how to buy a HUD foreclosure home with the FHA $100 down payment: finding homes on the HUD Home Store, the bidding process, qualifying with credit and DTI, the primary-residence rule, the 203(k) renovation option, and a worked $300,000 example.
Read Article
FIRST-TIME BUYERS
6 Biggest Concerns First-Time Homebuyers Should Look for During a Home Tour
Patrick Fagan walks first-time buyers through the six biggest concerns to evaluate during a home tour: roof, foundation, HVAC, electrical, water heater, and plumbing.
Read Article
FIRST-TIME BUYERS
How to Close on a Home Without Going Crazy
Patrick Kevin Fagan walks you through the entire home closing process step by step, from earnest money and inspections through underwriting, closing costs, and getting your keys.
Read Article
FIRST-TIME BUYERS
When Is the Best Time to Buy a Home? Save Thousands This Season
Patrick Fagan breaks down when the best time to buy a home is, seasonal patterns, market timing, and why waiting for perfect conditions often costs more.
Read Article
FIRST-TIME BUYERS
3 Credit Score Hacks That Help First-Time Buyers Qualify
Patrick Fagan shares 3 proven strategies to boost your credit score before buying a home from rental history reporting to authorized user tricks.
Read Article
FIRST-TIME BUYERS
5 Things You Must Know Before Buying a Home (2026 Guide)
Patrick Fagan breaks down the 5 things every buyer must know before buying a home from credit score requirements to cash-to-close calculations.
Read Article
FIRST-TIME BUYERS
10 Mistakes First-Time Buyers Make (and How to Avoid Them)
Discover the most common pitfalls that trip up first-time homebuyers and the strategies to protect your money and your deal.
Read Article
FIRST-TIME BUYERS
The Complete First-Time Home Buyer's Roadmap
A step-by-step guide covering everything from pre-approval to closing, so you always know what comes next in the home buying process.
Read Article FIRST-TIME BUYERS
How to Buy a Home With No Money Down: 3 Real Transaction Examples
Patrick Fagan shows 3 real transactions where buyers used DPA and seller concessions to reduce cash-to-close to $0 or near-zero.
Read Article
FIRST-TIME BUYERS
Buy a $300,000 Home With Only $1,000 Cash to Close
Patrick Kevin Fagan shows how to buy a $300K home with only $1,000 total cash to close using an FHA loan, down payment assistance, and seller concessions. Real numbers inside.
Read Article