John, something tells me you'll do just fine.
99% of the work is going to be finding a place in your price range that you're willing to accept, with a tax cost you're willing to accept, understanding the taxes do nothing but go up.
For my first home nearly 25yrs ago, I did a mortgage through the state (NY) called SONYMA. At the time it was for first time home buyers, who earned under a certain amount. The interest was crazy low, like 2.9% for a 30yr. My first home was $80K. With all taxes and insurance escrowed in, my monthly payment was around $650/mo. With SONYMA, if you sold the home w/in the first 5yrs, you paid a penalty back to the state. The max penalty was at year 2.5, then it ramped back down to zero by year 5.
For our second and current (hopefully last) home, we used a broker. I don't even think it cost anything at the time? We bought our current home in 2011. Our mortgage is through wells fargo at 4.8%/30yr.
99% of the work is going to be finding a place in your price range that you're willing to accept, with a tax cost you're willing to accept, understanding the taxes do nothing but go up.
For my first home nearly 25yrs ago, I did a mortgage through the state (NY) called SONYMA. At the time it was for first time home buyers, who earned under a certain amount. The interest was crazy low, like 2.9% for a 30yr. My first home was $80K. With all taxes and insurance escrowed in, my monthly payment was around $650/mo. With SONYMA, if you sold the home w/in the first 5yrs, you paid a penalty back to the state. The max penalty was at year 2.5, then it ramped back down to zero by year 5.
For our second and current (hopefully last) home, we used a broker. I don't even think it cost anything at the time? We bought our current home in 2011. Our mortgage is through wells fargo at 4.8%/30yr.