Buying a Home —
where to start
A step by step process with well-known external resources. We link to the lenders, calculators, and guides that show up most in expert recommendations — nothing we made up.
rebs.org — real estate resource directory
Find Your Way Through
Find Your Way Through
Real Estate
We don't sell, list, or lend. We link to the resources, services, and data that are actually worth your time — organized by where you are in the process.
Phoenix, AZ·
Denver, CO·
Dallas, TX·
Atlanta, GA·
Seattle, WA·
Miami, FL·
Chicago, IL·
Las Vegas, NV·
Charlotte, NC·
Tampa, FL·
Phoenix, AZ·
Denver, CO·
Dallas, TX·
Atlanta, GA·
Seattle, WA·
Miami, FL·
Chicago, IL·
Las Vegas, NV·
Charlotte, NC·
Tampa, FL·
Source: FRED / S&P Case-Shiller HPI · auto-refreshes every 6 hrs once FRED_API_KEY is set in Cloudflare Pages
Resources by Topic
Links to trusted external guides and services — we earn a small commission on some, at no cost to you.
Buying a Home —
30-Yr Fixed Rate
6.65%
Avg mortgage rate
as of Jan 2025 · updating…
Median Sale Price
$416K
US median (existing homes)
as of Q4 2024 · updating…
Selling — tools and services worth using
We don't value your home or list it. These are the external services and guides that help you price correctly and find an agent.
Rate comparison is the first thing to do
A 0.25% difference on a $400K loan is roughly $20K over 30 years. These are the comparison sites most buyers use — we link out, they do the comparing.
Metro HPI — YoY %
Case-Shiller Index
Year-over-year price change by metro. Pulls live from FRED.
Phoenix, AZ+5.1% YoY
Denver, CO+0.8% YoY
Dallas, TX+3.9% YoY
Atlanta, GA+5.4% YoY
Miami, FL+6.0% YoY
Seattle, WA+4.2% YoY
Chicago, IL+5.8% YoY
Las Vegas, NV+3.5% YoY
Homeownership
65.6%
US homeownership rate
as of Q3 2024 · updating…
Insurance
Homeowners Insurance
Compare quotes via Policygenius, HomeInsurance.com, or your state marketplace — not something we provide directly.
Compare quotes ↗ InvestingReal Estate Investing
Crowdfunding platforms (Fundrise, RealtyMogul), rental analysis tools, and 1031 exchange guides — external links only.
Explore platforms ↗ Property SearchWhere to Search Listings
Zillow, Redfin, Realtor.com, and MLS.com — the main listing aggregators, all external.
Browse listings ↗Common Questions
Real Questions, Straight Answers
What is REBS.org?
A curated link directory for US real estate. We don't sell homes, offer mortgages, employ agents, or provide any real estate services. We organize links to external resources — guides, tools, and third-party services — and display live national market data from FRED (Federal Reserve Economic Data). We earn a small commission on some outbound links.
What credit score do I need to buy a house?
Most conventional loans require a minimum 620 score. FHA loans accept as low as 580 with 3.5% down. Scores of 740 or higher typically unlock the best available rates — often saving $40,000–$60,000 over a 30-year loan compared to a borderline score. Before applying, check your credit report for errors; disputes take 30–60 days to resolve and are worth doing early.
What is the first step to buying a home?
Get mortgage pre-approval before searching properties. It establishes your real budget, signals to sellers that you're a credible buyer, and speeds up closing once you find the right home. Standard practice is to get quotes from at least three lenders before committing — even a quarter-point rate difference compounds to thousands over the life of the loan.
How do I get the best price when selling?
Price using a comparative market analysis from a licensed agent — automated estimates (Zillow Zestimate, etc.) can be 5–12% off in either direction. Fresh neutral paint and curb appeal consistently return 3–5× their cost. Listing Thursday or Friday so the home is live for peak weekend browsing, in spring (March–May), tends to produce the most competitive offers in most US markets.
What changed after the 2024 NAR settlement?
As of August 2024, buyer's agent compensation is no longer automatically paid by the seller. Buyers must now sign a written buyer-broker agreement specifying the agent's fee before touring homes. This means buyer-side commissions are fully negotiable — treat agent selection as carefully as you treat the property search.
Where does the market data on this page come from?
National stats (30-yr mortgage rate, median home price, homeownership rate) are pulled automatically from the FRED API (Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis). Metro price change data comes from the S&P/Case-Shiller Home Price Indices, also via FRED. Data refreshes every 6 hours; underlying series update weekly or quarterly depending on the indicator.