Buying your first home in New Hampshire is exciting, but the process can feel overwhelming when you're not sure what happens next.

How much home can you afford? Should you get pre-approved before looking at homes? What is NHHFA, and can you qualify for down-payment assistance? How much money do you really need to buy a house? What happens after your offer is accepted? And what should you expect on closing day?

The good news is that you don't have to figure it all out at once.

This step-by-step guide walks you through the New Hampshire home-buying process, from preparing your finances and getting a mortgage pre-approval to making a competitive offer, completing inspections and appraisal, navigating underwriting, and finally getting the keys to your new home.

If you're a first-time home buyer in Concord, Bow, Hopkinton, Manchester, or the surrounding Central New Hampshire communities, understanding the process before you begin can make a big difference.