The housing market is in shambles. Millennials and Gen Z are the generations that have suffered the most in the real estate market. News articles and trending social media influencers are constantly bickering about the reasons the last two generations can’t seem to afford a home. Some blame coffee and the trending avocado toast, while others blame a generation that wants everything handed to them. There are so many factors that contribute to someone’s inability to buy a decent home, and it shouldn’t be reduced to a single reason. There are a myriad of obstacles and considerations that get in the way of families getting the home of their dreams.
In this blog, we’re deep diving into what you can do to own a home, especially a first-time homeowner. While the process of buying a home for the first time can be overwhelming, we have simplified the process into bite-sized steps. Being prepared is the first step, but the most important thing to keep in mind is that you’ll need to protect your asset. The Psync Camera Genie S is your one-stop surveillance tool! It’s an affordable indoor camera that is perfect for new home buyers.
How to Prepare for Your First Home Purchase
Real estate gurus like Freddie Smith are popular due to their knowledge of trending real estate analytics, especially concerning statistics about how hard it is to buy a home. Home prices since the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic have increased exponentially, leading many would-be first-time buyers to rent apartments or lease homes for years. While trying to save money while renting is difficult, it is not impossible.
Here are some things you can do while saving for your down payment:
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Improve Your Credit Score: The first step to homeownership is to improve your debt-to-income ratio. It needs to be a desirable level before lenders will approve a home loan.
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How to Save for a Down Payment: Start putting a little money aside every month to build up your savings over time. Your goal is to save a minimum of 3%.
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Get Pre-Qualified Before House Hunting: Once you start feeling confident that your DTI is good and you have a chunk of savings, you’ll need to contact a lender to pre-approve you for a home purchase. They will provide you with a letter that tells you exactly how much you can afford.
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Choose the Right Realtor: Start researching the area for a well-established and experienced real estate agent. They will be your guide in buying your first home. Remember, make sure you vet your realtor thoroughly before choosing them. A new nationwide requirement requires you to sign a buyer-broker agreement before touring homes, locking you into working with that agent. (NAR, 2024).
What to Expect When Shopping for a Home
Once you have the basics down and you have prepared to buy your first home, you can begin house shopping and touring homes with your real estate agent. In a hot market area, homes will come and go quickly. It’s best not to get too attached to a home because you may be competing with several dozen families.
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House Search: You’ll be on websites like Realtor.com, Zillow, Redfin, and Trulia, and you'll be looking at MLS listings from your agent. Listings on Realtor are directly linked to the MLS and tend to be the most accurate.
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Home Tours: Sometimes, viewing homes in person is not possible. Some Realtors specialize in cross-state touring and can usually do virtual tours to accommodate out-of-state buyers. Regardless, always ask as many questions as possible during open houses or scheduled tours.
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Making Offers: Your real estate agent will assemble all the necessary documents to submit an offer to the seller. It’s recommended that you request that the seller pay for closing costs, but always consult your realtor for the best advice. Once your offer is approved, you’ll put down an earnest deposit to hold your interest in the home.
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Contingencies: These little obstacles need to be cleared before the lender approves your loan. Contingencies vary, but they’re usually the appraisal, financing, and a successful inspection. We recommend you don’t waive your right to an inspection, even if the area you’re buying in is highly competitive.
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Home Inspection: It’s recommended that you do deep research to find a licensed, professionally established home inspector. We recommend sending a construction specialist along with your inspector to catch things that may not seem like an issue, but become an issue later on.
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Repair Requests: If you discover that your home you’re buying has more issues than you anticipated, this is the best time to drop out of the purchase agreement. If the home passes inspection, this is when you submit all your repair requests to the seller. You can also request more concessions if your realtor recommends it.
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Appraisal: The appraisal gives the home its value. As the buyer, you’ll be responsible for paying some fees, so be sure to ask your real estate agent about them. Depending on whether your home is priced above or below the offer price, you may need to renegotiate the price of the home for the loan to fund.
How to Protect Your New Home from Day One
Congrats! You’re a homeowner! The homebuying process may seem simple on paper, but it's a long and arduous process in the end. You need a team of specialists and experts on your side to make things easier for you. Becoming a homeowner is said to be one of the biggest accomplishments in someone’s life. (San Diego Foundation, 2022).
Home security and surveillance are the first things you need to do as soon as you get your keys. Your home is officially your most valuable asset, and you need to protect it. Leaving your home without any kind of indoor home security leaves you vulnerable to scammers, deed fraud, squatters, and even the loss of your home.
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Change The Locks: As soon as you receive your keys, make sure to change the locks to the front and back of your house. You do not know who else has copies of your house keys.
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Change Garage Door Code: Similarly to changing your locks, you need to reset the garage door code so no one can access your garage.
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Set up Security Cameras: Invest in some affordable security cameras that you can place inside your home to monitor every corner. The Psync Genie S is the perfect, affordable, and new homeowner-friendly security camera that can keep an eye on every corner of your house.
Why Every New Home Needs an Indoor Security Camera
Protecting your new home doesn’t need to be complicated. A simple, effective way to add a layer of safety is by installing multiple indoor security cameras. This helps you monitor activity in real time and provides visual documentation if something unexpected happens.
Many new homeowners don’t realize that indoor surveillance can also lower their homeowners' insurance premiums. Several insurance providers offer discounts to policyholders who install verified indoor or outdoor security systems. It’s worth checking with your provider.
Psync Camera Genie S is designed to give you full control and peace of mind, without extra fees or confusing installs. It includes features that help you secure your space intelligently and stay connected from anywhere.
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PTZ (Pan-Tilt-Zoom): Manually or automatically scan rooms with a flexible view of every corner. Ideal for tracking motion across large or multi-use spaces.
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Smart Motion Tracking with Push Notifications: Be instantly alerted when the camera detects movement. Genie S follows the activity, so you don’t miss what matters.
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Two-Way Audio: Speak directly through the camera to respond to visitors or alert potential intruders. A clear voice can be an effective deterrent.
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Minimalist, Award-Winning Design: The compact form factor blends into any interior, making it one of the most discreet and modern indoor cameras available.
Make Security Part of the Plan
Buying a home is more than a financial milestone. It’s a long-term commitment that brings responsibility, growth, and personal reward. A reliable indoor camera system protects that investment from day one.
Smart home protection starts with awareness. Knowing what’s happening in and around your space helps you manage everyday routines, monitor pets or deliveries, and feel more confident, especially as a first-time homeowner.
The Psync Camera Genie S offers everything you need to secure your home with clarity, simplicity, and no monthly cost. Add it to your home setup to protect what you’ve worked so hard to build.
