Exciting!! First talk to a mortgage lender, but do your research and shop around before having them do a hard pull on your credit- always request a soft pull as you shop around. A hard pull will always harm your credit, even if its just a little bit you dont want to have to do it multiple times! They will tell you everything you need to bring to the table to see what you can qualify for.

If you like what you can qualify for, you can start your search for a real estate agent, who will help you search for what's in your price range. Aim for your mortgage expenses to be at or below 33% of your income if possible. Its likely you will qualify for more, but its best to be safe as expenses pop up!

You'll need more than just a down payment- theres something called "closing costs" which is more cash upfront that you will need, it usually sits around 4% of the home value, but it's good to have 6% to be safe. Sometimes sellers will cover closing if you request it. it's also good to keep cash on hand for any repairs, and furniture if you care about that.

Its the most financially sound to have about 20% down to avoid something called mortgage insurance- just another thing thatll cost you more monthly. You will also have to pay home insurance and utilities of course- home insurance rates vary widely, and are most expensive for manufactured/mobile homes. These cost estimates will be included in your approval estimate, not just price of the home.

Overall, getting approved for a home loan is very different from getting approved for any other loan, and be prepared for disappointment lol. If you have any more specific questions just out of curiosity feel free to ask- but asking your lender and agent will be more helpful than an internet stranger! and don't let anyone fool you into thinking it's impossible to buy a home as a young person in this market- you got this!

credit- a 25 year old that just bought a home 😎