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You are here: Home / Blog / Breaking Into the Market: Smart Moves for First-Time Buyers

Breaking Into the Market: Smart Moves for First-Time Buyers

February 12, 2025 by John Sibley

Breaking Into the Market: Smart Moves for First-Time Buyers Simplifying The Market

If you’re like a lot of aspiring homebuyers, there’s a major hurdle standing in your way — the cost of living. From groceries to gas, eggs, and just about everything else, prices have gone up. And that rings true for home prices, too.

But even when everything feels expensive, there are still ways to make homeownership more than an item on your wish list. You may just need to think about where you plan to buy a bit differently.

Think of Your First Home as a Stepping Stone 

One of the biggest misconceptions among buyers is that their first home has to be their forever home – or that it has to check all the boxes of what they want right out of the gate. In reality, it’s just a starting point.

Once you own a home, you start to build equity, which grows over time as home prices rise. Down the road, if you want to move — whether to a larger space, a better location, or both — the equity you’ve gained can help you do just that.

So rather than waiting until you can afford your dream home in your ideal neighborhood, consider starting with something that works for now.

Expand Your Search To Find More Affordable Options 

If high home prices in your favorite area are holding you back, it’s time to cast a wider net. By keeping an open mind and being flexible with location, you may be surprised at what’s possible within your budget. Many buyers find success by looking in surrounding areas – and some even choose to move out of state.

According to a report from Realtor.com, these are some of the best markets for first-time homebuyers this year (see chart below):

Of course, moving to a different state isn’t for everyone – and isn’t a necessity. The right agent can help you find more cost-effective options wherever you are.

If you want to stay local, looking just outside your preferred neighborhood could help you find something you can afford that’s still pretty close to your favorite restaurants, shops, and activities. Sometimes, moving as little as 10 minutes away makes a big difference.

And the best way to see what’s available is to work with a real estate agent who understands the local market and can help you identify hidden gems nearby. An agent can point you to communities you may not have considered that have lower price tags now and are steadily gaining value and appeal. That way you can buy your first home and be set up to gain equity through the years.

Bottom Line

Today’s cost of living is a challenge for many homebuyers. But by exploring different areas and working with a knowledgeable agent, you can take that first step toward owning a home — and building equity for your future. 

How far outside of your area would you look to make homeownership happen? Connect with a local agent to chat through your options. 

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Filed Under: Blog, Buying Tips, First-Time Buyers, For Buyers

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Ashley, New Orleans, LA
 

I worked with Gana, OMG what a GEM !!! Gana made this entire experience pleasurable. Her knowledge, patience and go-getter attitude won me over 100%.

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Monique C Thomas
 

I worked with Gana to purchase my first home in March 2018. Gana definitely helped me out during this process. She stayed in contact with me and was very good with her timeliness on updates. She was there throughout the whole process and was very knowledgeable when i had any questions. Gana made sure I understood any documents that I had to sign before I completed the action. I would definitely recommend her!

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Lamar, Slidell, LA
 

There are not enough words that can describe Lana. She absolutely made our experience of finding a home as easy and stress free it could be. Her communication skills are top notch. She answered all of our questions, which were many, in a very timely manner. She went out of her way to set up appointments and send us links for everything that we needed to get done. She did everything in a spirit of excellence. There is no other person I would want or recommend as an agent than, Lana Leonard(...)

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Shawn & Suzanne, Lacombe, LA
 

I bought my first home!!! Jordan provided exceptional service. At first, I was looking to rent, but she showed me I could get more of what I needed for less if I considered purchasing a home. It is an investment in my future and I am so glad she helped me feel confident in my ability to buy a home. The Sibley Group is a wonderful team that is there for your needs and supports you every step of the way. I highly recommend them, especially Jordan. She was attentive, resourceful, knowledgea(...)

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Melissa, Covington, LA
 

Mrs. Gana is quite the gem, in fact, the entire Sibley Group were all so helpful and made our first home buying experience a breeze.

We were totally lost when it came to finding a mortgage company and having a realtor with such expertise and experience really put us at ease. She set up connections with several lenders and from there we were put on a path to home ownership!

I would recommend Mrs.Gana a million times again and the Sibley(...)

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Michelle, Slidell, LA
 

The decision to sell our home and to use the Sibley Realty Group was a year long process. We were concerned about determining the right time to sell and determining a fair and appropriate asking price. We had questions about how to adequately prepare our home for photos and showings. We were concerned about security and showing our home while we were away on vacation. John Sibley addressed all of our questions and concerns. He walked us through the process from listing to closing. He was a(...)

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Annemarie & Jerry, Slidell, LA
 

We were having troubles trying to figure out the particulars of buying a house and were a little intimidated about approaching a Real Estate agent. Those fears were put to rest after meeting Gana.

She not only guided us through the entire process, but made it a point to go over the contract with verbiage that we understood as first time home buyers- that was important.

The entire experience was smooth, as she laid to rest any fears we(...)

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Willliam, Slidell, LA
 

Everyone at the Sibley Realty Group was exceptional. From the first phone call to the closing of the home we had the best service. I would recommend Jordan and her team to anyone. Awesome Job Guys! And thanks again.

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Anonymous, New Orleans, LA
 

Gana made this transaction easy to understand for us as first time home buyers. Gana was very in tune with us when she could tell I didn't understand something. She slowed everything down and made sure I understood before we moved on.

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Anonymous, Slidell, LA
 

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About Us

The Sibley Group has a team of Realtors to meet all of your real estate needs throughout the New Orleans Metropolitan area. We have agents that specialize on the Northshore and Southshore, including New Orleans, Slidell, Metairie, Covington, Mandeville, Pearl River, and Lacombe.


Trust a real estate team with a long-standing tradition of service, expertise, and professionalism in the local area.


John Sibley reviews
The Sibley Group
Keller Williams Realty 455-0100

3197 Richland Ave, Metairie, LA 70002

Northshore: 985.326.9755
Southshore: 504.571.9755
Broker: 504.455.0100

From Our Blog

Housing Market Forecasts for the Second Half of the Year

From rising home prices to mortgage rate swings, the housing market has left a lot of people … [Read More]

Why Some Homes Sell Faster Than Others

As you think ahead to your own move, you may have noticed some houses sell within days, while others … [Read More]

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