Skip to content
EXCELLENCE
Excellence Money
EXCELLENCE MONEY

Buy Your First Home

0/15STARS
LEVEL 1 · 0/3LEVEL 2 · 0/3LEVEL 3 · 0/3LEVEL 4 · 0/3LEVEL 5 · 0/3START
0/15 stars lit

The US home-buying route in plain English: preapproval first, down payments and PMI, gifts, programs and the IRA first-home rule, commute over square footage, condos and HOAs, owning together, closing costs and points, choosing a mortgage, cash to close, offers and contingencies, inspections and appraisals, closing and wire fraud, dropping PMI, refinancing and getting help early.

3h 16m5 constellations
AT THE SUMMIT, YOU WILL BE ABLE TO

01Choose a down payment and know when PMI applies, and ends

02Work out closing costs, points, cash to close and the true cost of a mortgage

03Check HOAs, inspections, radon, lead, flood and how you hold title

04Make evidence-based offers, stop wire fraud and get help early

Every lesson of Buy Your First Home

15 lessons in 5 levels, about 3 hours. Level 1 is free.

Level 1Ready to Buy?Free · 3 lessons
  1. What buying really takesSee every step from preapproval to keys, and why the loan comes first.12 min
  2. The down payment, decodedSee what down payment you really need, and when PMI applies.13 min
  3. Help with the down paymentUse gifts, local programs and an IRA without costly mistakes.13 min
Level 2Choosing a HomeMembership · 3 lessons
  1. Commute beats square footageWeigh the commute and running costs as heavily as the size of the home.12 min
  2. Condos, HOAs and the fine printCheck dues, reserves and assessments before you fall for a condo.13 min
  3. Buying with someone elseChoose how you'll hold title, and protect unequal down payments.12 min
Level 3The MoneyMembership · 3 lessons
  1. Closing costs, worked outKnow every closing cost, and when points are worth paying.13 min
  2. Choosing a mortgageCompare terms and lenders on total cost, not the first quote.14 min
  3. Cash to close, cost to ownBudget the cash for closing day and the true monthly cost.13 min
Level 4From Offer to KeysMembership · 3 lessons
  1. Making an offerMake an evidence-based offer that keeps your protections in place.14 min
  2. An inspection isn't an appraisalGet the right checks, and use what they find before closing.12 min
  3. Closing day and wire fraudCheck your papers, then protect the biggest transfer of your life.13 min
Level 5Owning ItMembership · 3 lessons
  1. Getting rid of PMIKnow the dates your PMI can end, and how to reach them sooner.14 min
  2. When rates or life changeKnow when refinancing pays, and what to do before a payment is missed.14 min
  3. Capstone: your first-home planTurn your down payment, budget, costs and timeline into one plan.14 min
FREE

Level 1 is open.

Membership opens every other level of this path.

See membership
AFTER THE CORE

Keep going where this path leads.

Big Money DecisionsRent or buy, and what a mortgage costs · 2h 59m
Rent a Home With ConfidenceYour rights while you save · 2h 57m