I recently ran into someone I hadn't seen in awhile. I was surprised to see this person in the local grocery store, since last I knew, they lived a few hours south in Massachusetts. When I asked if they were visiting, they informed me they were actually staying up north with relatives while trying to find a house to buy before wintertime. As we continued talking, they explained they weren't yet working with a lender or a realtor, and expressed some doubt and frustrations with their timeline and search. I think they felt the process would be easier than it has been. I also think they were looking for me to offer up some advice, though I didn't feel I had much I could give or that I'm qualified to give it.

Buying a house for the first time is such an exciting experience, but all the unknown and new territory can feel unfamiliar and stressful. There are a lot of unique complexities to each individual's personal and financial situation, there is no one-size-fits-all approach. The best advice I could come up with at the moment actually still feels like the most practical and useful I am still able to provide, and that is to build a support team. Working with a lender and a realtor, as well as taking a first time homebuyers class, can make the homebuying process so much easier. Navigating the process solo isn't impossible, but it also isn't necessarily easy.

It's important to do everything you can to set yourself up for success when preparing to purchase your first home, such as taking a first time homebuyers class. 

I'm certainly not an expert on first time homebuying. In fact, there is so much of the homebuying process that I don't remember. I think that is due in part to having bought my house almost eight years ago, but also because the process was made fairly easy for me by the folks I was working with. Having a knowledgeable and supportive team in my corner made all the difference, and I know I would not have been able to complete the process on my own. Most things in life are made easier when you have a strong support system in place, and buying your first home is no different.

-Paige O. Roberts has a degree in Creative Writing from Southern New Hampshire University. Her work has appeared or is forthcoming in The Henniker Review, Sidereal Magazine, Rejection Letters, and Cypress. She has been nominated for a Best of the Net and Pushcart Prize. She lives in northern New Hampshire where she owns and operates a pet boutique called Tailswag.