--- title: First-Time Home Buyer Guide for Maryland, DC and Virginia description: First home in Silver Spring, Germantown, Washington DC or Alexandria? Learn budgeting, lender choices, assistance programs, offers and what closing involves. image: https://real-estate-search-and-sale.com/hubfs/blog-images/first-time-home-buyer-germantown-md.jpg --- [Skip to content](https://real-estate-search-and-sale.com/blog/first-time-home-buyer-guide-md-dc-va#main-content) ![Logo](https://real-estate-search-and-sale.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Logo.jpg?width=354&height=178&name=Logo.jpg) - Sell Show submenu for Sell - [Home Selling Services](https://real-estate-search-and-sale.com/home-selling-services-listing-agent) - [Fast Home Sales](https://real-estate-search-and-sale.com/fast-cash-offer) - [Private Home Sales](https://real-estate-search-and-sale.com/private-off-market-home-sales) - [Luxury Homes](https://real-estate-search-and-sale.com/luxury-home-buying-selling) - [Fixer-Upper Homes](https://real-estate-search-and-sale.com/fixer-upper-home-sales) - [Downsizing](https://real-estate-search-and-sale.com/downsizing-home-sales) - [Home Preparation and Vendor Network](https://real-estate-search-and-sale.com/home-preparation-vendor-network) - 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[Out-of-Area Referrals](https://real-estate-search-and-sale.com/out-of-area-real-estate-referrals) - [Gallery](https://real-estate-search-and-sale.com/#gallery) - [Blog](https://real-estate-search-and-sale.com/#blog) - [Home](https://real-estate-search-and-sale.com/) - [Contact us](https://real-estate-search-and-sale.com/blog/first-time-home-buyer-guide-md-dc-va#contact) [Contact us](https://real-estate-search-and-sale.com/blog/first-time-home-buyer-guide-md-dc-va#contact) Oct 30, 2026, 10:52:42 PM # First-Time Home Buyer Guide for Maryland, DC and Virginia ![Picture of Carolyn Thompson, Broker](https://real-estate-search-and-sale.com/hs-fs/hubfs/CAROLYN%20THOMPSON%20%20Realtor.png?width=50&name=CAROLYN%20THOMPSON%20%20Realtor.png) [Carolyn Thompson, Broker](https://real-estate-search-and-sale.com/blog/author/carolyn-thompson-broker) Share: [facebook-f icon](http://www.facebook.com/share.php?u=https://real-estate-search-and-sale.com/blog/first-time-home-buyer-guide-md-dc-va) [linkedin-in icon](http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https://real-estate-search-and-sale.com/blog/first-time-home-buyer-guide-md-dc-va) [Twitter icon](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?url=https://real-estate-search-and-sale.com/blog/first-time-home-buyer-guide-md-dc-va) [pinterest-p icon](http://pinterest.com/pin/create/link/?url=https://real-estate-search-and-sale.com/blog/first-time-home-buyer-guide-md-dc-va) [envelope icon](mailto:?body=https://real-estate-search-and-sale.com/blog/first-time-home-buyer-guide-md-dc-va) Buying a first home raises a long list of questions, and most of them come before you ever tour a house. How much can I afford? Do I need 20 percent down? Is there help for first-time buyers? This guide walks through the steps in order, with plain answers and pointers to the official programs available in Maryland, Washington DC and Virginia. For the full scope of how we help first-time buyers, visit our [first-time home buyer services](https://real-estate-search-and-sale.com/first-time-home-buyer-services) page. ## Step 1: Set a budget you are comfortable with A lender will tell you how much you qualify for. That is not always the amount you want to spend. Start with your monthly comfort level and include principal, interest, property taxes, homeowners insurance and any condominium or HOA fees. Add a cushion for maintenance and moving costs. A condominium near Downtown Silver Spring, a townhouse in Germantown near Black Hill Regional Park and a rowhouse in Washington DC can carry very different tax and fee structures, so compare total monthly cost, not just price. ## Step 2: Talk with more than one lender Loan options include conventional, FHA, VA and USDA loans, each with its own down payment and credit requirements. Many first-time buyers put down far less than 20 percent. Ask two or three lenders for a written loan estimate on the same scenario and compare interest rates, fees and mortgage insurance. A preapproval letter, based on documents the lender has reviewed, makes your offer more credible. Your lender, not your agent, is the right source for loan advice. ## Step 3: Ask about first-time buyer assistance programs State and local housing agencies offer programs that may help with down payment or closing costs. Three to know: The Maryland Mortgage Program, administered by the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development, offers home loans and down payment assistance through participating lenders. In the District, the DC Department of Housing and Community Development runs the Home Purchase Assistance Program (HPAP), which has at times paused when funding ran out, so check its current status. In Virginia, Virginia Housing offers home loans and a Down Payment Assistance Grant through approved lenders. Eligibility rules, income limits, purchase price limits and program terms change, so confirm the current details directly with each agency and a participating lender. Some counties and cities offer their own programs as well. Ask your lender which ones you may qualify for. ## Step 4: Search with a plan Make a short list of must-haves and nice-to-haves. Think about commute, transit and the places you will use often, such as the shops and trails around Old Town Alexandria or the Red Line stations in Silver Spring. If schools matter to you, buyers must verify school assignment for any address directly with the school system. Our [buyer's agent services](https://real-estate-search-and-sale.com/home-buying-services-buyers-agent) page explains how the search and showings work. ## Step 5: Make an offer and get through inspections Your agent will provide recent comparable sales and the considerations that affect an offer, and you decide the price and terms. Expect a home inspection, an appraisal if you are financing and a review of any condominium or HOA documents. If the inspection turns up problems, your agent negotiates repairs or credits. Read more about [negotiation through inspection and appraisal](https://real-estate-search-and-sale.com/real-estate-negotiation). ## Step 6: Prepare for closing Before settlement, you will receive a Closing Disclosure showing your final loan terms and costs. Compare it with your loan estimate and ask your lender about any differences. Do not open new credit accounts or make large purchases before closing without asking your lender first. At settlement, you sign the documents, the funds transfer and you receive the keys. ## How Real Estate Search and Sale can help Carolyn Thompson has guided first-time buyers for more than 20 years across Maryland, Washington DC and Virginia, from budgeting and lender introductions through settlement. Carolyn is an Accredited Buyer's Representative (ABR) and a Certified Residential Specialist (CRS). Our vast network of trusted service providers includes lenders, inspectors and movers, so you have people to call at every step. Most of our business comes from referrals. Start with our [first-time home buyer services](https://real-estate-search-and-sale.com/first-time-home-buyer-services). ## Frequently asked questions **Do I need 20 percent down to buy my first home?** No. Many loan programs allow much less. Ask lenders to compare your options in writing. **Who counts as a first-time home buyer?** Definitions vary by program. Some count buyers who have not owned a home in recent years. Check each program's rules directly with the agency. **Can I combine a loan program with down payment assistance?** Sometimes. It depends on the program and the lender. A participating lender can tell you what combinations are allowed. **How long does it take to buy a first home?** It varies. Once an offer is accepted, settlement often takes several weeks, depending on the loan and contract terms. **Can you give me tax advice about buying a home?** No. Talk with your CPA or tax advisor about how buying a home affects your taxes. *References are available on request. Real Estate Search and Sale, LLC · 24-Hour Appointment Desk: 202-630-5070 · Open 24 hours. Equal Housing Opportunity.* ## Related posts [![Elegant stone-and-shingle home at twilight with professional landscaping and lighting in Chevy Chase, Maryland](https://real-estate-search-and-sale.com/hs-fs/hubfs/blog-images/home-sale-negotiation-chevy-chase-md-v2.jpg?height=200&name=home-sale-negotiation-chevy-chase-md-v2.jpg)](https://real-estate-search-and-sale.com/blog/home-sale-negotiation-inspection-appraisal) ## [Home Sale Negotiation: Offers, Inspections and Appraisal Gaps](https://real-estate-search-and-sale.com/blog/home-sale-negotiation-inspection-appraisal) ![Picture of Carolyn Thompson, Broker](https://real-estate-search-and-sale.com/hs-fs/hubfs/CAROLYN%20THOMPSON%20%20Realtor.png?width=50&name=CAROLYN%20THOMPSON%20%20Realtor.png) [Carolyn Thompson, Broker](https://real-estate-search-and-sale.com/blog/author/carolyn-thompson-broker) Oct 30, 2026, 10:58:19 AM Negotiation in a home sale does not end when an offer is accepted. For most transactions there are... [Read more](https://real-estate-search-and-sale.com/blog/home-sale-negotiation-inspection-appraisal) [![Bright, elegant living room with floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking a landscaped yard](https://real-estate-search-and-sale.com/hs-fs/hubfs/blog-images/buyers-agent-gaithersburg-md.jpg?height=200&name=buyers-agent-gaithersburg-md.jpg)](https://real-estate-search-and-sale.com/blog/what-a-buyers-agent-does-md-dc-va) ## [What a Buyer's Agent Does in Maryland, DC and Virginia](https://real-estate-search-and-sale.com/blog/what-a-buyers-agent-does-md-dc-va) ![Picture of Carolyn Thompson, Broker](https://real-estate-search-and-sale.com/hs-fs/hubfs/CAROLYN%20THOMPSON%20%20Realtor.png?width=50&name=CAROLYN%20THOMPSON%20%20Realtor.png) [Carolyn Thompson, Broker](https://real-estate-search-and-sale.com/blog/author/carolyn-thompson-broker) Oct 30, 2026, 3:57:17 PM Buyers today have more listing information at their fingertips than ever, so it is fair to ask what... [Read more](https://real-estate-search-and-sale.com/blog/what-a-buyers-agent-does-md-dc-va) [![Victorian home with a wraparound porch in Kensington, Maryland, in autumn](https://real-estate-search-and-sale.com/hs-fs/hubfs/blog-images/private-off-market-home-sale-kensington-md.jpg?height=200&name=private-off-market-home-sale-kensington-md.jpg)](https://real-estate-search-and-sale.com/blog/private-off-market-home-sale-pros-cons) ## [Private Off-Market Home Sales in MD, DC and VA: Pros and Cons](https://real-estate-search-and-sale.com/blog/private-off-market-home-sale-pros-cons) ![Picture of Carolyn Thompson, Broker](https://real-estate-search-and-sale.com/hs-fs/hubfs/CAROLYN%20THOMPSON%20%20Realtor.png?width=50&name=CAROLYN%20THOMPSON%20%20Realtor.png) [Carolyn Thompson, Broker](https://real-estate-search-and-sale.com/blog/author/carolyn-thompson-broker) Oct 30, 2026, 6:06:13 AM Some owners want to sell without a sign in the yard, a public listing or a weekend of open houses.... [Read more](https://real-estate-search-and-sale.com/blog/private-off-market-home-sale-pros-cons) [facebook-f icon](https://www.facebook.com/RealEstateSearchandSale) [linkedin-in icon](http://www.linkedin.com/in/carolynthompson) - Sell - Buy - Complex Sales - Estates & Families - Owners & Investors - [About](https://real-estate-search-and-sale.com/#about) - [Home](https://real-estate-search-and-sale.com/) --- [![Real Estate Search and Sale, LLC Luxury Home Sales](https://real-estate-search-and-sale.com/hs-fs/hubfs/RESS%20Logo%20blue.png?width=1536&height=1024&name=RESS%20Logo%20blue.png "Real Estate Search and Sale, LLC Luxury Home Sales")](https://real-estate-search-and-sale.com/) Carolyn Thompson, Broker | ‪24-Hour Appointment Desk: 202-630-5070‬ 1300 Piccard Drive Suite 204  Rockville, Maryland 20850 800 Park Drive Blacksburg, Virginia 24060 ![Equal Housing Opportunity Red](https://real-estate-search-and-sale.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Equal%20Housing%20Opportunity%20Red.png?width=96&height=48&name=Equal%20Housing%20Opportunity%20Red.png)   Copyright © 2026, Real Estate Search and Sale, LLC ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@type" : "BlogPosting", "author" : { "@type" : "Person", "name" : "Carolyn Thompson, Broker", "url" : "https://real-estate-search-and-sale.com/blog/author/carolyn-thompson-broker" }, "dateModified" : "2026-10-31T02:52:42.823Z", "datePublished" : "2026-10-31T02:52:42.000Z", "headline" : "First-Time Home Buyer Guide for Maryland, DC and Virginia", "image" : [ "https://real-estate-search-and-sale.com/hubfs/blog-images/first-time-home-buyer-germantown-md.jpg" ], "mainEntityOfPage" : { "@id" : "https://real-estate-search-and-sale.com/blog/first-time-home-buyer-guide-md-dc-va", "@type" : "WebPage" }, "publisher" : { "@type" : "Organization", "logo" : { "@type" : "ImageObject", "url" : "https://real-estate-search-and-sale.com/hubfs/RESS%20Logo%20blue.png" }, "name" : "Real Estate Search and Sale, LLC" } } ```