What if I told you the most outdated homebuying advice… is coming from your own family?

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Let’s rewind to a Sunday dinner not too long ago.

You’re sitting at the table, casually mentioning that you’re thinking about buying your first home. Maybe it’s just an idea, maybe you’ve already been peeking at listings, or maybe you’re just manifesting at this point. Either way, the moment the words “thinking about buying a house” leave your mouth, the advice starts flowing.

“Don’t buy now—wait until prices come down.”
“Pay off all your debt first.”
“You need to save up 20% for the down payment.”

Sound familiar?

Here’s the thing: our families mean well. That advice probably helped them in the 80s, 90s, even early 2000s. But the real estate game has changed—and those old rules? They don’t always apply today.

Let’s break it down…

“Just wait until prices come down.”

This one gets repeated a lot—and I understand why. Back in the day, the market had more dramatic ups and downs. Timing the market felt like something you could do.

But in today’s housing market? Home prices have been remarkably sticky. Even with higher interest rates, home values in many areas are holding strong. In some cities, they’re still climbing.

Waiting might feel safe… but in reality, the longer you wait, the more those prices could rise. The home that costs $450K today might be $480K or $500K a year from now—and that extra cost adds up in both monthly payment and down payment.

Timing the market is nearly impossible. The buyers winning today are the ones who ask, “Can I afford the monthly payment now?” instead of trying to predict what the market will do next.

“Pay off everything first.”

Look, paying down debt is always a good goal. But you don’t need to be 100% debt-free to buy a home.

Some of the most successful buyers I’ve worked with still had car payments, student loans, or a little bit of credit card debt. What matters more is your debt-to-income ratio, not whether your credit card balance is zero.

Waiting for some “perfect” financial moment where all debts are paid off, interest rates drop, and your dream home appears? That moment rarely exists.

Instead of aiming for perfection, focus on preparation. Talk to a lender, see what you qualify for now, and create a game plan from there.

“You need 20% down.”

This one might be the most common myth out there—and also one of the most harmful.

Yes, putting 20% down avoids PMI (private mortgage insurance), but it’s not a requirement. Plenty of buyers today are securing homes with 3%, 5%, even 0% down (yep—there are programs for that!).

And often, waiting to save up 20% can mean missing out on months (or years) of building equity while home prices keep climbing.

What if I told you putting 5% down on a home now could actually get you further ahead than waiting to save the full 20%?

Your parents’ playbook doesn’t match today’s game.

I’ll say it again: our families want the best for us. But just like you wouldn’t use a 1990s cell phone today, you shouldn’t be using 1990s homebuying advice either.

The market has changed. The rules are different. And the strategy needs to evolve with it.

If you’ve been feeling stuck between old-school advice and modern reality, you’re not alone. That’s why working with a real estate professional who understands today’s market is more important than ever.

We’re not just here to unlock doors—we’re here to help you build a plan that works for you, your goals, and your budget.

Thinking of buying soon? Let’s chat.
No pressure. No commitment. Just a real conversation about what’s possible for you in today’s market.

Because your dream home isn’t going to wait for outdated advice to catch up.