True Confessions: Is Buying Your First Home Still a Smart Financial Move?

One of the most common questions buyers are asking right now is:
“Is buying a first home really worth it?”

In today’s True Confessions with your trusted real estate professionals, I want to talk honestly about buying your first home—especially in light of the growing number of social media influencers claiming that homeownership is not a good financial investment.

And while I understand where some of those conversations are coming from, I respectfully disagree—as a whole.

When Renting Makes Sense—and When It Doesn’t

Let me be clear: there are situations where renting makes more financial sense than buying. If you’re carrying significant debt, juggling high credit card balances, overwhelmed by student loans, planning a long-distance move in the next one to two years, or simply not financially stable yet, buying a home may not be the right move right now.

In those cases, patience and preparation matter.

But this is where the homeownership vs. renting conversation often loses important nuance.

The Long-Term Power of Homeownership

When you look at long-term data comparing individuals who own their homes versus those who rent long-term, the difference in net worth at retirement is staggering.

Why?

Because homeowners aren’t just paying for housing—they’re building equity through homeownership. Instead of paying someone else’s mortgage, they’re investing in their own future. Over time, that equity becomes a powerful tool for long-term financial stability, flexibility, and wealth-building through real estate.

For many people, owning a home is one of the most proven ways to build net worth—especially when the home is held long term.

A Real-Life First-Time Homebuyer Example

This topic has been especially meaningful to me recently because I’m currently working with a first-time homebuyer whose family I’ve had the privilege of serving before.

Years ago, I helped her parents buy a home. Now, I’m helping their daughter—a second-generation buyer—purchase her very first house.

She’s 20 years old.

She’s graduated from college, has an excellent job, carries zero debt, and is buying her first home at half the national average age of a first-time homebuyer, which currently sits around 40.

That’s not just impressive—it’s intentional.

She’s setting herself up early for equity growth, long-term financial security, and stability. And while her path won’t look like everyone else’s, it’s a powerful reminder that timing, preparation, and education matter far more than internet hot takes.

As a Colorado real estate professional, this is the kind of buyer journey that reinforces why thoughtful, informed homeownership still matters—especially in the Denver and Colorado real estate market.

So… Is Buying a First Home Worth It?

Here’s the honest answer:
👉 It depends on your financial picture.
👉 It depends on your goals.
👉 It depends on timing and preparation.

But for many buyers, responsible homeownership remains one of the strongest tools for building a secure financial future.

My encouragement to anyone watching influencer debates about buying vs. renting is this:

• Don’t take everything you hear as absolute truth

• Do your own research

• Understand your financial situation

• Talk with experienced real estate professionals who understand the market

At the Reed Estate Team, we believe deeply in Home for Today and Hope for Tomorrow. And for many first-time homebuyers, buying a home is a meaningful step toward long-term wealth, stability, and opportunity.

If you’re wondering whether buying your first home in Colorado makes sense for you, we’d love to have that conversation—no pressure, just clarity and honest guidance.