@quenwilliamss: if i had to start over from scratch this is exactly what i’d do: step 1: fix my credit first. mine wasn’t even a 700 when i bought my house lol but your credit score impacts EVERYTHING—your rate, your loan terms, all of it. biggest ROI of your time honestly. step 2: figure out down payment + closing costs. notice i didn’t say save it all myself. i’d be applying for every homebuyer assistance program i could find. step 3: get pre-approved with 2-3 lenders and make them compete. shopping around is how you actually get the best rate. don’t just go with the first one. step 4: buy what i can afford RIGHT NOW. not my dream house. not what i’ll be able to afford in 5 years. the house i can swing today. you can always upgrade later. the goal is just to get in the game. #learnontiktokcontest #educatoraward