I bought a first home in 2025. Here are 7 mistakes I made or avoided. Educational only · NOT real estate or legal advice.
The 7 mistakes
1. Got pre-approved with only 1 lender. Should have shopped 3+. Saved $0.4% rate (huge over 30 years).
2. Skipped home inspection contingency. ‘Saved’ $400 inspection fee · cost $12,000 in roof repairs Year 1.
3. Underestimated closing costs. 2-3% of purchase price + escrow + insurance · ~$8K-15K total.
4. Didn’t ask about HOA fees fully. Hidden special assessments. Read 5 years of meeting minutes.
5. Optimistic about commute. 25 min became 50 min in traffic.
6. Underestimated maintenance. 1-3% of home value/yr ($3K-9K on $300K home).
7. Bought too much house. Lower mortgage = more retirement savings = compound impact.
⚠ NOT real estate or legal advice. Consult licensed agent + attorney.
⚠ AI-assisted research synthesis · human-edited by SUJI KIM · EU AI Act Art. 50 transparency
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By SUJI KIM · About · 30-day refund Gumroad standard