First-Time Buyer · Start Here
Buy Your First Home, One Simple Step at a Time
Thinking about trading rent for a place of your own? This is the short version — six plain-English steps and a calculator that shows what your real monthly payment would look like. No jargon, no 40-page guide, no leaving this page.
★ 5.0 on Google, Yelp & Zillow
Licensed in 9 states
Free pre-approval, no credit ding to look
The whole thing, in six steps
Buying a home feels huge because nobody lays it out simply. Here it is, start to keys. Read it in two minutes, then use the calculator in Step 2.
1
Figure out if you’re ready
You don’t need perfect credit or 20% down — those are myths. You need steady income, a credit score around 620+, and enough saved for a down payment plus a small cushion. If that’s roughly you, keep going.
The one thing that matters: lenders care most that your total monthly debts stay comfortably under about 43% of your income. The calculator below checks this for you.
2
DO THIS NOW
Know your numbers
Before you fall in love with a listing, find out what you can comfortably afford and what the monthly payment actually includes — principal, interest, taxes, insurance, and HOA. Use the calculator just below to get a real number in about 30 seconds.
The one thing that matters: your payment is more than the loan. Taxes and insurance can add hundreds a month. Better to know now.
3
Get pre-approved
A pre-approval is a lender confirming, in writing, how much they’ll actually lend you. It’s free, takes a day or two, and it’s what makes sellers take your offer seriously. Get this before you tour homes, not after.
The one thing that matters: a pre-approval turns “I think I can afford this” into “I’m approved for this.” Sellers can tell the difference.
4
Find your home
Now the fun part. A buyer’s agent costs you nothing up front and helps you tour, compare, and spot problems. Shop inside your pre-approval number so you never fall for a house you can’t comfortably carry.
The one thing that matters: stick to the payment you were comfortable with in Step 2 — not the maximum a lender will allow.
5
Make an offer & go under contract
Your agent helps you offer a price and terms. Once the seller accepts, you’re “under contract.” Then comes the inspection (check the house) and appraisal (confirm the value) — both protect you.
The one thing that matters: keep an inspection contingency. It lets you walk away or renegotiate if something serious turns up.
6
Close & get your keys
You’ll review final numbers, wire your down payment and closing costs, and sign. A few days later the loan funds, the home is legally yours, and you get the keys. That’s it — you’re a homeowner.
The one thing that matters: don’t open new credit or change jobs between pre-approval and closing — it can delay or sink the loan.
Know Your Numbers
Answer a few questions the way a lender would ask them. We’ll show a home price you can comfortably afford and a real monthly payment — principal, interest, taxes, insurance, and HOA — estimated for where you’re buying. Nothing is saved and it never leaves this page.
Sets local property-tax and insurance estimates.
Sets a typical HOA estimate — you can fine-tune it below.
Total household income before taxes, per month.
Car / loans · credit-card minimums · student loans. Skip rent — that goes away when you buy.
First-time buyers often put down 3–5%. 20% avoids PMI but is not required.
Money you’ll keep in the bank after buying (emergencies, repairs). Separate from your down payment.
HOA / mo
Rate %
Target price
Leave “Target price” blank to see the most you can comfortably afford. Enter a price to check a specific home.
You can comfortably afford about
$0
with your down payment and today’s rates
Principal & interest$0
Property taxes$0
Homeowners insurance$0
HOA dues$0
Mortgage insurance (PMI)$0
Your monthly payment$0
Debt-to-income0% / 43%
Fill in your numbers to see where you stand.
Get My Free Pre-Approval →Estimates only, for planning. Property tax, insurance, and HOA vary by home; PMI depends on your credit and down payment. Your actual rate and payment come from a real pre-approval. OnPoint Mortgage Pro · Victor Santos, Irvine mortgage broker.
What’s actually in that monthly payment?
Your payment is five pieces. Tap any card to flip it over for the plain-English version.
🏦
Principal & Interest
Tap to flip →The loan itself. Principal pays down what you borrowed; interest is the lender’s fee. This is the biggest piece, and it stays fixed for the life of a 30-year loan.
🏛
Property Taxes
Tap to flip →Paid to your county. Usually collected monthly and held in escrow, then paid for you. Rates vary a lot by state — that’s why the calculator asks where you’re buying.
🛡
Homeowners Insurance
Tap to flip →Protects the home. Required by every lender. Also escrowed monthly. Coastal and storm-prone states (hi, Florida and Texas) run higher.
🏠
HOA Dues
Tap to flip →Only some homes. Condos and planned communities charge dues for shared upkeep. Single-family houses often have none. Paid directly to the association, not the lender.
💰
Mortgage Insurance
Tap to flip →Only if you put under 20% down. PMI protects the lender, not you, and it drops off once you build 20% equity. It’s the price of buying sooner with a smaller down payment.
First-timer questions, answered straight
How much do I really need for a down payment?
Less than most people think. Conventional loans start at 3% down and FHA loans at 3.5%. On a $400,000 home that’s $12,000–$14,000, not $80,000. VA loans (for eligible veterans) can be zero down.
Putting down 20% lets you skip mortgage insurance, but it is not required — and waiting years to save it often costs more in rising prices and rent than the PMI would.
What credit score do I need to buy a house?
Around 620 opens the door to most conventional loans, and FHA can go lower with a larger down payment. Higher scores earn lower rates, so it’s worth a quick check — but you don’t need perfect credit to start.
If your score isn’t there yet, we’ll tell you the two or three specific moves that raise it fastest.
What are closing costs, and how much are they?
Closing costs are the one-time fees to set up the loan and transfer the home — things like appraisal, title, and lender fees. Budget roughly 2–5% of the price (the calculator uses 3%). On a $400,000 home that’s about $12,000.
Sellers can sometimes cover part of them, and some programs roll them in. That’s a conversation we have during pre-approval.
How do I know if I’m ready to stop renting?
You’re likely ready if: your income is steady, you plan to stay put a few years, your credit is around 620+, and you can cover a down payment plus a small cushion without draining every dollar. The calculator above checks the money side in seconds.
The emotional side matters too — buying makes most sense when you want to stay in one place long enough to build equity.
How long does the whole process take?
Pre-approval takes a day or two. House hunting is the wildcard — days to months. Once you’re under contract, closing typically runs 30–45 days. So from “serious” to keys is often 6–10 weeks, plus however long the home search takes.
Do I need a real estate agent, and does it cost me?
A buyer’s agent guides you through touring, offers, inspections, and closing. In most cases their fee is arranged as part of the transaction, so you get expert help finding and negotiating your home. Your lender (that’s us) and your agent work as a team on your behalf.
Rated 5.0★ by Real OnPoint Clients
Verified Google reviews from first-time buyers and homeowners we’ve guided across California and eight more states. The same broker who runs your numbers shops 20+ wholesale lenders and gets you to the closing table.
Ready to go a little deeper?
📚
The Full First-Time Buyer Guide
Programs, grants, timelines, and every detail — when you want the complete version.
Read the full guide →📊
Affordability Calculator
Go deeper on the numbers — compare loan types and see your stretch budget.
Run the numbers →🏡
Low Down Payment? FHA Loans
3.5% down and flexible credit — the classic first-home path.
See FHA loans →📈
Today’s Mortgage Rates
See where rates sit right now, updated daily.
Check rates →Questions? Talk to a real person.
No pressure, no obligation, and no credit hit just to ask. Victor will walk through your numbers, answer what a calculator can’t, and tell you honestly whether now is your moment to buy.
- ☎(949) 486-8200
- ✉Send a message
- 📍530 Technology Dr, Ste 100
Irvine, CA 92618 - 🕐Monday–Friday, 8:00am–5:00pm PT
- ★5.0★ on Google, Yelp & Zillow · A+ with the BBB
- 🌐Licensed in CA, CO, FL, ID, MD, NH, SC, TX & VA
OnPoint Mortgage Pro · NMLS #2134550 · CA DFPI (CRMLA) License 60DBO-140540 · Victor Santos, in the mortgage business since 2002.
Victor Santos
Founder & Mortgage Broker
OnPoint Mortgage Pro
Call (949) 486-8200
Get My Free Pre-Approval
Send a MessageOnPoint Mortgage Pro