Cornerstone Blog

Set Your Financial Journey

Tips for First-Time Homebuyers: Your Journey Starts Here

  • May 14,2025
  • Less than a 1-minute read
Purchasing your first home is a major milestone - and at Abound, we want to ensure you are well equipped to begin your journey.
It's overwhelming - we get it! Here's some tips to get you started.
  1. Familiarize yourself with the costs - Before you begin house hounting, take the time to assess your finances. Beyond the price of the home itself, you'll want to account for closing costs, utilities, property taxes, homeowner's insurance, and potential maintenance expenses. Including these in your budget early on will help you avoid unexpected surprises later.
  2. Get pre-qualified - A Mortgage pre-qualification gives you a clearer picture of how much you can borrow. It allows you to stay focused on homes that are within your price range and gives you a competitive edge, especially in fast moving markets. Our team makes the process simple and stress-free, so you can search with confidence. You can apply here to take the first step toward your new home.
  3. Build your down payment - The more you put down upfront, the less you'll need to finance and the lower you monthly payments could be. You can set up automatic transfers to a Savings Account to help grow your down payment steadily over time. Also, be sure to explore state and federal programs that offer down payment assistance for first-time buyers.
  4. Explore your options - Not every Home Loan is the same. At Abound, we offer a variety of Home Loan options designed to meet your unique needs. From Conventional Mortgages to government-backed loan programs, we've got you covered. You can view your options here and connect with our knowledgeable team - we'll guide you to the loan that fits your lifestyle and long-term goals.
Ready to get started? Apply online or visit your local branch today!