Financial Decoder

What Should You Consider When Buying a New Home?

Oct 27, 2025
Rob Williams, managing director and head of wealth management research at the Schwab Center for Financial Research, brings expertise in financial and income planning. He walks through the home-buying steps and key players. He explains mortgage pre-approval, down payment trade-offs, closing costs, and protecting emergency savings. He covers timing, behavioral traps, and a final checklist for practical decision-making.
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ADVICE

Confirm Homeownership Is Your Goal

  • Decide if homeownership is truly your goal before proceeding.
  • Consider personal timing more than trying to perfectly time the real estate market.
ADVICE

Audit Your Financial Readiness

  • Check your finances, credit, and emergency savings before buying.
  • Work out how a mortgage fits your income and expenses honestly.
ADVICE

Get Pre-Approved — Then Reassess

  • Get mortgage pre-approval so you can act quickly when you find a home.
  • Treat the pre-approval as a lender's maximum, not what you necessarily should borrow.
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