How to Buy a Home - Step 6: Setting Your Home Buying Goals

Why do so many first-time homebuyers end up with regrets? Because they skipped this step. In Step 6 of the How to Buy a Home starter series, David breaks down how goal-setting — done the right way — isn’t just fluff. It’s a strategic tool that shapes your entire homebuying journey and helps you avoid costly mistakes.

You’re halfway through the 10 steps, and now it’s time to get serious. Step 6 is where emotional clarity meets strategic planning — and it’s one of the most overlooked parts of the process. In this episode, David introduces two critical types of goals every buyer needs: long-term “entire purchase goals” and short-term “action step goals.” You’ll learn how defining your big-picture WHY makes it easier to stick to your HOW — the tactical goals tied to your credit, debt, and savings.

This episode helps you get clear on what homeownership actually means to you — not just this year, but decades from now. Whether you’re months or years away from buying, setting these goals will help you stay motivated, reduce stress, and give you a roadmap for every decision ahead.

“Entire purchase goals help you define your ‘why.’ Action goals help you define your ‘how.’”

• The number one reason buyers end up in horror story situations — and how to avoid it
• How to create financial clarity before you ever pick a house
• Why your first home doesn’t need to be perfect to be powerful
• The secret link between stress and goal-setting (and how to fix it)
• How to break down your final lease into bite-sized financial milestones
• Why most goal-setting advice misses the mark for real first-time buyers

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David Sidoni, the "How to Buy a Home Guy," is a seasoned real estate professional and consumer advocate with two decades of experience helping first-time homebuyers navigate the real estate market. His podcast, "How to Buy a Home," is a trusted resource for anyone looking to buy their first home. It offers expert advice, actionable tips, and inspiring stories from real first-time homebuyers. With a focus on making the home-buying process accessible and understandable, David breaks down complex topics into easy-to-follow steps, covering everything from budgeting and financing to finding the right home and making an offer.

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