Your First Home Is Not Your Forever Home — And That’s Exactly the Point

by Peter Jones

If you’re a first-time homebuyer in Des Moines, chances are you’ve felt this tension:

“I don’t want to make the wrong decision.”
“What if I buy the wrong house?”
“Shouldn’t my first home be… perfect?”

Here’s the honest truth most people don’t hear early enough:

Your first home is not supposed to be perfect.
It’s supposed to get you out of rent, help you build equity, and give you options.

Waiting for the “perfect” first home is one of the biggest reasons buyers stay stuck on the sidelines for years. And in a market like Des Moines, that hesitation can quietly cost you momentum.

That’s exactly why we’re hosting a free First-Time Homebuyer Webinar on January 13th — to help you shift from emotional guessing to strategic clarity.

Why First-Time Buyers Overthink Their First Home

Most first-time buyers put an enormous amount of pressure on their first purchase. They want:

The perfect neighborhood
The perfect layout
The perfect timing
The perfect price

And while that sounds responsible, it often leads to paralysis.

In reality, your first home is a starting point, not a forever decision. It’s a stepping stone that allows you to:

Stop paying rent
Start building equity
Learn how homeownership actually works
Create flexibility for your next move

The goal isn’t perfection.
The goal is progress.

The Strategic Way to Think About Your First Purchase

When buyers approach their first home strategically instead of emotionally, everything changes.

That means understanding:

What truly matters right now
What can be upgraded or changed later
How long you realistically plan to stay
How your first purchase fits into a longer-term plan

This mindset is especially important in the Des Moines metro, where different neighborhoods, housing types, and price points offer very different opportunities for first-time buyers.

And that’s not something you should be trying to figure out alone or based on internet advice.

What We’re Covering in the January 13th Webinar

On Tuesday, January 13th, I’m co-hosting a live First-Time Homebuyer Webinar designed specifically for buyers who want clarity before making a big decision.

I’ll be joined by Matt Nolan, a trusted lender with Community Choice Credit Union, so you’re getting both the real estate strategy and the financing perspective in one place.

We’ll break down:

How to think strategically about your first home
Why your first purchase doesn’t have to be “forever”
How first-time buyers in Des Moines are approaching the market right now
What matters most — and what doesn’t — when you’re just getting started

This is not a sales pitch.
It’s education designed to help you decide if buying makes sense for you and what your next step should be.

Who This Webinar Is For

This webinar is a great fit if you:

Are renting and thinking about buying your first home in Des Moines
Feel overwhelmed by conflicting advice
Want to understand your options before touring homes
Prefer clarity over pressure

And just as important — it’s not about rushing you into a decision. It’s about giving you the information you need to move forward confidently when the timing is right for you.

Seats Are Limited — Here’s How to Join

This is a live webinar, and seating is limited.

If you want confidence instead of confusion — and a clear understanding of how first-time buyers are actually getting started in Des Moines — I’d love to have you join us.

👉 Register now for the January 13th First-Time Homebuyer Webinar
Or, if you’ve been following along on social, comment “FIRST TIME” on one of my posts and I’ll send you the registration link directly. You can also message me with questions anytime.

Your first home doesn’t have to be perfect.
It just has to get you started.