51. Are You Ready to Buy a House? The 4 Things You Actually Need First

Wondering if you're actually ready to buy a house, or just going through the motions because that's what you're "supposed" to do? There are four specific things you need in place before you're ready: knowing your why, a plan to stay put for at least five years, enough saved, and a monthly payment you can comfortably afford. I'm walking through all four so you know exactly where you stand, and exactly what to work on if you're not there yet. Ready to take the first step of finding your first home? Connect with a FAME agent in your area (it's free!) WHAT YOU'LL LEARN TODAY: Why "buying is better than renting" isn't a good enough reason on its own, and the real question to ask before you commit How to identify your one true non-negotiable, even in a market where you'll have to compromise on almost everything else Why you need a plan to stay in your next home for at least five years, and what it costs you if you sell sooner The minimum you actually need saved before you're ready to buy How to know if your monthly payment is actually comfortable, not just what a lender approves you for What to do next if you're missing one (or more) of these four pieces RESOURCES MENTIONED: Connect with a FAME agent in your area (free) Free homebuying masterclass How much house can I afford? Workbook PAST EPISODES TO LISTEN TO: Episode 1: How Do You Know If You're REALLY Ready to Buy a House? Episode 29: Is Buying a House Worth It in 2026? The Truth First-Time Buyers Need to Hear Episode 18: The First-Time Buyer's Guide to Turning Your Home Into an Investment Episode 49: How Much Should You Have Saved Before You Start Looking to Buy Your First Home? CONNECT WITH ME: Follow me on Instagram Visit my website CHAPTERS: 00:00 — How do you know you're ready to buy a house? 02:04 — Key 1: Know your why (and your one non-negotiable) 05:52 — Key 2: Plan to stay in the home for at least 5 years 07:32 — Key 3: Have the savings (down payment + closing costs) 08:34 — Key 4: A monthly payment you can comfortably afford for 5–10 years 10:45 — Recap: the 4-point readiness checklist 11:21 — Your next step: connecting with a realtor