Your First Home
Welcome to Your First Home Podcast - I'm your host and homebuying expert Stacie Rihl and I've spent the last 8 years helping first-time homebuyers like you make their dreams of owning a home reality.
- Indexed episodes, last 90 days
- 9
- Latest publication
- Sep 2, 2026
- Audience
- Checking…
- Earliest in this view
- Jul 8, 2026
Latest episodes
49. How Much Should You Have Saved Before You Start Looking to Buy Your First Home? (opens the original)
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Most first-time buyers think the minimum down payment is all they need saved before they start touring homes… but that's only half the number. In this episode, I'm breaking down exactly how much you need for your down payment, your closing costs, and the buffer you'll want after closing, using real dollar examples so you know your actual savings target before you start house hunting. Ready to take the first step of finding your first home? Connect with a FAME agent in your area (it's free!) WHAT
48. Buying a House in the Next 6-12 Months? Here's Exactly Where to Start. (opens the original)
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If your goal is to buy a house in the next six to twelve months, you've probably wondered whether you're supposed to get pre-approved first or start touring homes first... and most people freeze right there. I'm walking through exactly what to do at 12 months out, 6 months out, and 3 to 4 months out, from researching neighborhoods and setting your search criteria to connecting with a realtor and lender. By the end, you'll know exactly where you are in the process and what to do next. Ready to ta
47. Home Inspection Red Flags Every First-Time Home Buyer Need to Know, with James Lee (opens the original)
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When you're touring homes for the first time, it's easy to get caught up in the staging and the kitchen and start mentally moving in before you've even left. But there are things you should be paying attention to that most first-time buyers completely miss. In this episode, I sit down with home inspector James Lee of GBG Inspection to talk about the red flags you can spot during a tour, why mold is his biggest deal-breaker, what most people get wrong about new construction, and how to find an in
46. Can You Buy a House With Student Loans? What First-Time Buyers Actually Need to Know (opens the original)
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Student loan debt is one of the biggest reasons first-time buyers assume they can't qualify for a mortgage… but the data says otherwise. One-third of first-time homebuyers in 2025 had student loan debt when they closed (and I'm one of them). In this episode, I'm breaking down exactly how lenders calculate your student loan payment for approval, whether you should pay off your loans before buying, and how to run the debt-to-income numbers yourself before you ever talk to a lender. Ready to take t
45. How to Shop for a Mortgage Lender (And Save $60,000 on Your First Home) (opens the original)
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Most first-time homebuyers only talk to one lender, and it's one of the most expensive mistakes you can make. Research shows that shopping around for mortgage lenders can save you over $60,000 across a 30-year loan, and the process is a lot simpler than most people think. In this episode, I share my insider perspective as a former mortgage loan officer and break down exactly how to compare lenders, what to look for beyond the interest rate, and how to use competing quotes to negotiate a better d
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