{"id":1467,"date":"2021-09-14T18:04:00","date_gmt":"2021-09-14T16:04:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.everyday-guide.com\/site\/?p=1467"},"modified":"2022-08-16T20:50:50","modified_gmt":"2022-08-16T18:50:50","slug":"first-time-home-buyers-guide","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.everyday-guide.com\/site\/first-time-home-buyers-guide\/","title":{"rendered":"First time home buyers guide"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>The majority of first time home buyers start off very excited. However, they soon feel overwhelmed by the maze of procedures involved in the home buying process.<\/p><div id=\"relatedsearches1\" class=\"every-content-2\" style=\"height: 450px;\"><script>console.log(\"RSOC loading..\");<\/script>\r\n<!-- Initialize Google CSA object - Required for ad functionality -->\r\n<script type=\"text\/javascript\" charset=\"utf-8\">\r\n\t(function(g,o){g[o]=g[o]||function(){(g[o]['q']=g[o]['q']||[]).push(\r\n\t\targuments)},g[o]['t']=1*new Date})(window,'_googCsa');\r\n<\/script><\/div><style>\r\n  #relatedsearches1,\r\n  #relatedsearches2 {\r\n    \/* Base container styles - final appearance *\/\r\n    margin-bottom: 20px;\r\n    padding: 15px;\r\n    background-color: #111827; \/* Final background color (gray-900) *\/\r\n    border-radius: 8px;\r\n    min-height: 250px; \/* Restore a reasonable min-height *\/\r\n    box-sizing: border-box;\r\n    overflow: hidden;\r\n    position: relative; \/* Needed to contain the absolute overlay *\/\r\n  }\r\n\r\n  \/* REMOVED .skeleton-active styles *\/\r\n\r\n  .skeleton-overlay {\r\n    position: absolute;\r\n    inset: 0; \/* Cover parent *\/\r\n    z-index: 10; \/* Ensure it's on top *\/\r\n    pointer-events: none; \/* Prevent interaction *\/\r\n    border-radius: 8px; \/* Match parent *\/\r\n\r\n    \/* --- Skeleton visuals applied directly to the overlay --- *\/\r\n    --skeleton-bar-height: 35px;\r\n    --skeleton-gap-height: 15px;\r\n    --skeleton-unit-height: calc(var(--skeleton-bar-height) + var(--skeleton-gap-height));\r\n    --skeleton-padding: 15px;\r\n    --skeleton-bar-color: #374151; \/* gray-700 *\/\r\n    --skeleton-bg-color: #1f2937;  \/* gray-800 *\/\r\n    --skeleton-shimmer-color: rgba(52, 211, 153, 0.1); \/* emerald-400 10% *\/\r\n\r\n    background-color: var(--skeleton-bg-color);\r\n    background-image:\r\n      linear-gradient(to right, transparent, var(--skeleton-shimmer-color), transparent),\r\n      linear-gradient(var(--skeleton-bar-color) var(--skeleton-bar-height), transparent 0);\r\n    background-size:\r\n      200% var(--skeleton-bar-height),\r\n      calc(100% - (2 * var(--skeleton-padding))) var(--skeleton-unit-height);\r\n    background-repeat: repeat-y;\r\n    background-position:\r\n      calc(-200% + var(--skeleton-padding)) var(--skeleton-padding),\r\n      var(--skeleton-padding) var(--skeleton-padding);\r\n    animation: shimmer 1.5s infinite linear;\r\n    \/* --- End Skeleton Visuals --- *\/\r\n\r\n    \/* --- Visibility Control --- *\/\r\n    opacity: 0;\r\n    transition: opacity 0.3s ease-out;\r\n  }\r\n\r\n  .skeleton-overlay.skeleton-visible {\r\n    opacity: 1;\r\n  }\r\n\r\n  @keyframes shimmer {\r\n    to {\r\n       background-position:\r\n        calc(200% + var(--skeleton-padding)) var(--skeleton-padding),\r\n        var(--skeleton-padding) var(--skeleton-padding);\r\n    }\r\n  }\r\n\r\n  \/* No longer need rules for .skeleton-loading class or :empty *\/\r\n\r\n<\/style>\n\n\n\n<p>You have to crunch your cash numbers to know what you can afford, work with real estate agents and sellers, find a lender with the best terms, and more.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The good news, though, is that you have access to several incentives, including federal and state grants, subsidized loans, and tax credits.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>We understand how stressful it can be to navigate the process. That's why we want to share first time home buyer tips to steer you in the right direction to avoid expensive mistakes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Let's get started.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>1. Start saving for the down payment and closing costs<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Most loan programs require providing a down payment, which can be as low as 3% of your home price. The more <a href=\"https:\/\/www.everyday-guide.com\/site\/wy8j\" title=\"Quicken\" class=\"pretty-link-keyword\"rel=\"nofollow sponsored \" target=\"_blank\">money<\/a> you put down, the lower mortgage interest rates you're likely to get. You won't need a down payment if you are an active military service member, veteran, or surviving spouse.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/www.everyday-guide.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/bruno-emmanuelle-azsk_6IMT3I-unsplash-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1470\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.everyday-guide.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/bruno-emmanuelle-azsk_6IMT3I-unsplash-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.everyday-guide.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/bruno-emmanuelle-azsk_6IMT3I-unsplash-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.everyday-guide.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/bruno-emmanuelle-azsk_6IMT3I-unsplash-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.everyday-guide.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/bruno-emmanuelle-azsk_6IMT3I-unsplash-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.everyday-guide.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/bruno-emmanuelle-azsk_6IMT3I-unsplash.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>When it comes to closing costs, you may incur anywhere between 2% to 5% of the loan amount.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Considering home costs run into hundreds of thousands of dollars, down payment and closing costs can prove significant even with the lowest rates.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Let's assume a home costs $250,000. The down payment cost would be at least $7,500. For closing costs, the fees would range from $5,000 to $12,500.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Therefore, it's best to start setting <a href=\"https:\/\/www.everyday-guide.com\/site\/wy8j\" title=\"Quicken\" class=\"pretty-link-keyword\"rel=\"nofollow sponsored \" target=\"_blank\">money<\/a> aside early, as this allows you to break down the amount into smaller targets that you can easily meet every month.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Opening a Certificate of Deposit (CD) is an excellent way to chase your financial target, particularly if you have a couple of years (1-3) before buying a home. A CD offers above-average interest rates that can shield your savings against inflation. A high-yield, FDIC-insured savings account could be ideal for short-term home saving targets, typically 6-12 months.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Besides down payment and closing costs, savings can help you cover other expenses, such as private mortgage insurance (PMI), home repairs, and furnishings.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>2. Run some numbers&nbsp;<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Mortgage payments require a long-term financial commitment. As such, you need to carefully evaluate your finances to know how much you can afford to commit without getting yourself into a financial strain. Ensure you account for all your personal, healthcare, transportation, housing, and miscellaneous expenses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Keep in mind lenders run affordability checks to ensure your debt-to-income ratio (DTI) doesn't exceed a specific percentage. Ideally, the cost of your monthly mortgage payments should be less than 28% of your income.<\/p><div id=\"every-576543953\" class=\"every-content-4\"><div class='content_4' style='min-width: 300px; min-height: 250px;'>\r\n  <\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>You can use a home affordability calculator to determine your estimated ideal mortgage amount.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>3. Build up your credit score<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Banks, credit unions, and other financial institutions rely on your credit score to make lending decisions. For most loan types, lenders require home buyers to have a minimum credit score of 620. But you can secure a loan with a credit rating of 500s. A higher score can mean qualifying for lower interest rates on mortgages.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>So how do you go about improving your credit score?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u00b7&nbsp;&nbsp;<strong>Check the accuracy of your credit reports&nbsp;<\/strong>\u2014&nbsp;Request copies from<strong>&nbsp;<\/strong>Experian, TransUnion, or Equifax to see if negative remarks are affecting your credit. These credit reporting agencies give reports for free. If you find an error, dispute it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u00b7&nbsp;&nbsp;<strong>Make all your payments on time<\/strong>&nbsp;\u2014&nbsp;Payment history accounts for 35% of your FICO score.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u00b7&nbsp;&nbsp;<strong>Keep your credit utilization low<\/strong>&nbsp;\u2014&nbsp;Credit utilization rate (CUR) accounts for 30% of your FICO score. Generally, you'll want to use less than 30% of your credit limit.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u00b7&nbsp;&nbsp;<strong>Don't close your old credit cards<\/strong>&nbsp;\u2014&nbsp;Otherwise, you'll lose your credit limit, and your overall CUR will increase. This can ding your score.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u00b7&nbsp;&nbsp;<strong>Be careful when applying for new credit<\/strong>&nbsp;\u2014&nbsp;It is best to wait at least six months between credit card applications.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>4. Know your main mortgage options&nbsp;<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>\u00b7&nbsp;&nbsp;<strong>Federal Housing Administration (FHA) loans<\/strong>&nbsp;\u2014&nbsp;With a FICO score of at least 580, you can qualify for FHA loans, which require a 3.5% down payment. If your rating is below 579, the down payment rate can go up to 10%.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u00b7&nbsp;&nbsp;<strong>Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) loans<\/strong>&nbsp;\u2014&nbsp;VA-backed home loans are designed for active-duty service members, veterans, and eligible surviving spouses. No down payment is needed in the qualification step. VA loans don't have a minimum credit score, but it lies in the 600s.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u00b7&nbsp;&nbsp;<strong>U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) loans<\/strong>&nbsp;\u2014&nbsp;These loans are for rural first time home buyers. Like VA loans, the USDA loans have no down payment requirements. Also, the lenders set their own FICO scores, but you're likely to get the best deals with a rating over 640.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u00b7&nbsp;&nbsp;<strong>Jumbo loans<\/strong>&nbsp;&#8211; Since jumbo loans exceed the Federal Housing <a href=\"https:\/\/www.everyday-guide.com\/site\/wy8j\" title=\"Quicken\" class=\"pretty-link-keyword\"rel=\"nofollow sponsored \" target=\"_blank\">Finance<\/a> Agency (FHFA) set limits, lenders require a FICO score of around 700 or higher. Down payments for conforming mortgage loans are about 10% to 15% of the home cost.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u00b7&nbsp;&nbsp;<strong>Conventional loans&nbsp;<\/strong>\u2014&nbsp;You access this type of home loan through a private lender, not a government agency. However, there are two government-sponsored enterprises offering these loans; Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.<strong>&nbsp;<\/strong>You'll find conventional lenders offering products with a 3% down payment, but they'll require mortgage insurance if you put down less than 20%. You also need a 620 FICO score or higher to qualify.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>5. Compare rates and terms of mortgage lenders for first time buyers<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>No two mortgage lenders are equal. Getting the best deal can mean saving thousands of dollars over the course of your mortgage period.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/www.everyday-guide.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/iStock-96221882-1-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1281\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.everyday-guide.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/iStock-96221882-1-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.everyday-guide.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/iStock-96221882-1-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.everyday-guide.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/iStock-96221882-1-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.everyday-guide.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/iStock-96221882-1.jpg 1254w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>There are several costs associated with mortgages, such as interest rates, application fees, underwriting costs, and closing costs. Take your time to request loan estimates from multiple lenders&nbsp;\u2014&nbsp;conventional banks, credit unions, mortgage brokers, non-bank mortgage lenders, etc.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Negotiate as many of the fees as possible, and work with the lender to see if you qualify for down payment assistance programs to lower your mortgage costs further.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The length of mortgage repayment is usually 10 to 30 years, but the popular options are the 15-year and 30-year mortgages. A 15-year fixed home loan requires higher monthly payments. However, you enjoy lower interest rates. The interest rate of a 30-year fixed mortgage never changes throughout the loan repayment period.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Mortgage lenders for first time buyers also offer adjustable-rate mortgages (ARMs). The interest rate of an ARM is subject to change after the set fixed-rate period expires. These loans are riskier if the rates shoot up significantly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>6. Obtain a mortgage pre-approval&nbsp;<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>It's advisable to consider getting pre-approved for a mortgage before you hit the market. A lender evaluates your debt-to-income ratio and provides approval that demonstrates your creditworthiness.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A pre approval mortgage letter can give you an idea of the budget you'll need to bring to closing. It can also give you a competitive advantage and increase your negotiation power when you make an offer to the seller.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Please note that the pre-approval process involves lenders pulling your credit. If you intend to request pre approval mortgage letters from multiple lenders, consider waiting at least 30 days between inquires.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>7. Explore your home options&nbsp;<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Residential housing types include condominiums, single-family homes, multi-family homes, townhouses, and duplexes. The best option depends on your preferences, homeownership goals, and budget.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You'll come across fixer-upper homes with attractive deals when you enter the market. It is imperative to consider the repair, redecoration, or redesigning costs. If you're not careful, you might end up spending more than you would have paid for a move-in-ready home.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Once you have decided on the type of home you want, make a list of must-have features. This could be the local amenities, size of the lot, kitchen design, bathroom layout, fitted home appliances, etc.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>8. Hire a reliable real estate agent with an excellent reputation&nbsp;<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Working with a real estate agent is highly recommended. Real estate agents can:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u00b7 Advice you on home types to help you make more informed decisions<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u00b7 Search open listings to find properties that match your needs and are within your price range<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u00b7 Coordinate appraisals and inspections<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u00b7 Walk you through the negotiation and closing steps<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Keep in mind, though, the agent you hire matters. Do your homework to get a few leads from previous home buyers you might know, or search online. Interview a couple of agents, requesting a list of clients they have helped find homes in your interested area. Settle for an experienced agent you're comfortable working with.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>9. Schedule a home inspection<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Suppose a real estate agent has helped you to find your dream house. Or perhaps you did it yourself by scouring home for sale signs around the neighborhoods or online listings. Whatever the case, don't assume your potential home is in flawless condition. Make sure you involve a professional home inspection expert to check for issues the seller might not have disclosed.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If the inspector catches significant defects, the seller will likely accept negotiating the selling price or do the repairs. Even if an inspection doesn't flag anything, you can still negotiate for the seller to pay a portion of closing costs. However, your negotiating power would be swayed by the local market conditions. You're likely to leverage more in a seller-dominated market than a buyer's market.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>10. Be careful not to overshoot your budget<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>In a market dominated by buyers, you can easily go over your budget if you feel like you're likely to lose out on a good deal. Even if you have already set up an emergency fund, it's best to stick to properties within your affordable range. There's a home for you. Keep looking.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>11. Closing on a house<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>If you strike a deal, the next step is to close. Be prepared for tons of paperwork before finalizing your real estate transaction. And there is a long list of costs involved, including:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u00b7 Home appraisal<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u00b7 Title search<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u00b7 Title insurance<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u00b7 Homeowners insurance<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u00b7 Private mortgage insurance<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u00b7 Loan origination fees<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u00b7 Attorney fees&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u00b7 Credit report fees<\/p><div id=\"relatedsearches2\" class=\"every-content-5\"><script>console.log(\"RSOC bottom loading..\");<\/script>\r\n<\/div><script type=\"text\/javascript\" charset=\"utf-8\">\r\n    console.log('[DEBUG] Ad script block started');\r\n\r\n    \/\/ Debug function to log important events and states\r\n    function debugLog(type, message, data = null) {\r\n        const timestamp = new Date().toISOString();\r\n        console.log(`[${timestamp}] [${type}]`, message);\r\n        if (data) {\r\n            console.log('Debug data:', data);\r\n        }\r\n    }\r\n\r\n    \/\/ Validate required parameters before initialization\r\n    function validateConfig(config) {\r\n        const required = ['pubId', 'styleId', 'relatedSearchTargeting', 'resultsPageBaseUrl'];\r\n        const missing = required.filter(param => !config[param]);\r\n        \r\n        if (missing.length > 0) {\r\n            throw new Error(`Missing required parameters: ${missing.join(', ')}`);\r\n        }\r\n        \r\n        if (config.relatedSearchTargeting !== 'content' && config.relatedSearchTargeting !== 'query') {\r\n            throw new Error('relatedSearchTargeting must be either \"content\" or \"query\"');\r\n        }\r\n        \r\n        return true;\r\n    }\r\n\r\n    \/\/ Enhanced URL parameter parsing function with title fallback for referrerAdCreative\r\n    function getUrlParameter(name, defaultValue = '') {\r\n        try {\r\n            const urlParams = new URLSearchParams(window.location.search);\r\n            const value = urlParams.get(name);\r\n            \r\n            \/\/ Special handling for referrerAdCreative\r\n            if (name === 'referrerAdCreative' && !value) {\r\n                let siteTitle = document.title || defaultValue;\r\n                \r\n                \/\/ Clean up the site title if needed\r\n                if (siteTitle !== defaultValue) {\r\n                    siteTitle = siteTitle.replace(' \u2013 Everyday Guide \u2013 Your Source of Information for Daily Topics!', '').trim();\r\n                    debugLog('WARNING', 'Using modified page title as fallback for referrerAdCreative', {\r\n                        originalTitle: document.title,\r\n                        cleanedTitle: siteTitle,\r\n                        source: 'document.title'\r\n                    });\r\n                    return siteTitle;\r\n                }\r\n            }\r\n            \r\n            return value ? decodeURIComponent(value) : defaultValue;\r\n        } catch (error) {\r\n            debugLog('ERROR', `Failed to parse URL parameter: ${name}`, error);\r\n            return defaultValue;\r\n        }\r\n    }\r\n\r\n    \/\/ Add tracking domain and CID handling with validation\r\n    function getTrackingParams() {\r\n        const trackingDomain = getUrlParameter('td', '');\r\n        const cid = getUrlParameter('cid', '');\r\n        \r\n        \/\/ Only validate if tracking domain is provided\r\n        if (trackingDomain && !trackingDomain.match(\/^[a-zA-Z0-9.-]+\\.[a-zA-Z]{2,}$\/)) {\r\n            debugLog('WARNING', 'Invalid tracking domain format', {\r\n                provided: trackingDomain\r\n            });\r\n            return {\r\n                trackingDomain: '',\r\n                cid: cid\r\n            };\r\n        }\r\n        \r\n        return {\r\n            trackingDomain: trackingDomain,\r\n            cid: cid\r\n        };\r\n    }\r\n\r\n    const { trackingDomain, cid } = getTrackingParams();\r\n\r\n    \/\/ Get parameters from URL with defaults\r\n    const urlStyleId = getUrlParameter('styleid', '9024836547');\r\n    const urlTerms = getUrlParameter('terms', '');\r\n    const urlChannel = getUrlParameter('channel', '2273637055'); \/\/ edg 1871989443\r\n    const urlAdTitle = getUrlParameter('adtitle', '');\r\n    const urlCpid = getUrlParameter('cpid', '');\r\n    const urlOid = getUrlParameter('oid', '');\r\n\r\n    \/\/ Set tracking IDs immediately at script start, before any async operations\r\n    \/\/ Only call set_tracking_ids if it exists (tracker.js has initialized)\r\n    try {\r\n        \/\/ Debug tracker state\r\n        const trackerState = window._trackerInternalState || {};\r\n        const hasTrackerFunction = typeof window.set_tracking_ids === 'function';\r\n        const sessionData = sessionStorage.getItem('ctrkr_click_data');\r\n        let parsedSessionData = null;\r\n        try { parsedSessionData = sessionData ? 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JSON.parse(afterSessionData) : null; } catch(e) {}\r\n                    \r\n                    debugLog('TRACKING_DEBUG', 'Tracker state after setting IDs', {\r\n                        hasSessionData: !!afterSessionData,\r\n                        clickId: afterParsedData?.clickId,\r\n                        updatedParams: afterParsedData?.adParams\r\n                    });\r\n                } catch (e) {\r\n                    debugLog('TRACKING_DEBUG', 'Error checking session after update', e);\r\n                }\r\n            }, 50);\r\n            \r\n            debugLog('TRACKING', 'Successfully called set_tracking_ids');\r\n        } else {\r\n            debugLog('TRACKING', 'Tracker set_tracking_ids function not available');\r\n        }\r\n    } catch (e) {\r\n        debugLog('TRACKING_ERROR', 'Error in tracking setup', e);\r\n    }\r\n\r\n    \/\/ Define base URL constant\r\n    const BASE_RESULTS_URL = \"https:\/\/www.everyday-guide.com\/site\/search-results\/\";\r\n\r\n    \/\/ Page level configuration for related searches\r\n    var pageOptions = {\r\n        \/\/ Required Parameters\r\n        \"pubId\": \"partner-pub-9681717277196944\",    \/\/ Your AdSense publisher ID\r\n        \"styleId\": urlStyleId,                       \/\/ From URL or default\r\n        \"relatedSearchTargeting\": \"content\",         \/\/ Must use 'content' for content pages\r\n        \"resultsPageBaseUrl\": BASE_RESULTS_URL,      \/\/ Placeholder, will be finalized later\r\n        \"resultsPageQueryParam\": \"q\",\r\n        \/\/\"ivt\": false,\r\n        \/\/ Safety and Filtering\r\n        \"adsafe\": \"low\",\r\n        \/\/\"adtest\": \"off\",\r\n        \"terms\": \"\",\r\n        \"referrerAdCreative\": \"\",\r\n\r\n        \/\/ Tracking and Analytics\r\n        \"channel\": urlChannel,                       \/\/ From URL or default\r\n        \r\n        \/\/ Additional Settings\r\n        'ignoredPageParams': Array.from(new URLSearchParams(location.search).keys()).join(', '),\r\n\r\n        \/\/ Callback function for ad loading\r\n        \"adLoadedCallback\": function(containerName, adsLoaded, isExperimentVariant, callbackOptions) {\r\n            try {\r\n                \/\/ Find the container element\r\n                const container = document.getElementById(containerName);\r\n                if (!container) {\r\n                    debugLog('ERROR', `Container not found: ${containerName}`);\r\n                    return;\r\n                }\r\n\r\n                \/\/ Find the overlay within this container\r\n                const overlay = container.querySelector('.skeleton-overlay');\r\n\r\n                \/\/ Fade out and remove the overlay\r\n                if (overlay && overlay.classList.contains('skeleton-visible')) {\r\n                    overlay.classList.remove('skeleton-visible'); \/\/ Start fade out\r\n                    debugLog('SKELETON', `Fading out overlay in ${containerName}`);\r\n\r\n                    \/\/ Remove from DOM after transition\r\n                    setTimeout(() => {\r\n                        if (overlay) { \/\/ Check if it still exists\r\n                             overlay.remove();\r\n                             debugLog('SKELETON', `Removed overlay from DOM in ${containerName}`);\r\n                        }\r\n                    }, 300); \/\/ Match CSS transition duration\r\n                }\r\n\r\n                if (adsLoaded && callbackOptions && callbackOptions.termPositions) {\r\n                    const terms = Object.keys(callbackOptions.termPositions);\r\n                    console.log('Related Search Terms Shown:', terms);\r\n                    console.log('Term Positions:', callbackOptions.termPositions);\r\n                }\r\n                \r\n                debugLog('CALLBACK', `Container: ${containerName}`, {\r\n                    adsLoaded,\r\n                    isExperimentVariant,\r\n                    callbackOptions\r\n                });\r\n\r\n                if (adsLoaded) {\r\n                    debugLog('SUCCESS', 'Related searches loaded successfully');\r\n                    \/\/ Remove legacy tracking call\r\n                    \/\/ window.trackEvent('adview');\r\n                    \/\/ Debug tracking state before sending event\r\n                    try {\r\n                        const eventSessionData = sessionStorage.getItem('ctrkr_click_data');\r\n                        let eventParsedData = null;\r\n                        try { eventParsedData = eventSessionData ? JSON.parse(eventSessionData) : null; } catch(e) {}\r\n                        \r\n                        debugLog('TRACKING_EVENT', 'State before ad_view event', {\r\n                            hasSessionData: !!eventSessionData,\r\n                            clickId: eventParsedData?.clickId,\r\n                            params: eventParsedData?.adParams\r\n                        });\r\n                    } catch (e) {\r\n                        debugLog('TRACKING_ERROR', 'Error checking session before event', e);\r\n                    }\r\n                    \r\n                    \/\/ Send tracking event using new API with parameters as fallback\r\n                    window.track_event('ad_view', {});\r\n                    \/\/ Track Facebook Pixel ViewContent event\r\n                    fbq('track', 'ViewContent');\r\n                    \r\n                    \/\/ Log terms and their positions if available\r\n                    if (callbackOptions && callbackOptions.termPositions) {\r\n                        console.log('Related Search Terms:', Object.keys(callbackOptions.termPositions));\r\n                        console.log('Term Positions:', callbackOptions.termPositions);\r\n                    }\r\n                    \r\n                    \/\/ Log container dimensions for debugging layout issues\r\n                    const rect = container.getBoundingClientRect();\r\n                    debugLog('LAYOUT', 'Container dimensions', {\r\n                        width: rect.width,\r\n                        height: rect.height,\r\n                        visible: rect.height > 0\r\n                    });\r\n                } else {\r\n                    debugLog('WARNING', 'No related searches available');\r\n                    container.style.display = 'none';\r\n                    \/\/ Remove legacy tracking call\r\n                    \/\/ window.trackEvent('noresult');\r\n                    \/\/ Debug tracking state before sending event\r\n                    try {\r\n                        const eventSessionData = sessionStorage.getItem('ctrkr_click_data');\r\n                        let eventParsedData = null;\r\n                        try { eventParsedData = eventSessionData ? JSON.parse(eventSessionData) : null; } catch(e) {}\r\n                        \r\n                        debugLog('TRACKING_EVENT', 'State before no_result event', {\r\n                            hasSessionData: !!eventSessionData,\r\n                            clickId: eventParsedData?.clickId,\r\n                            params: eventParsedData?.adParams\r\n                        });\r\n                    } catch (e) {\r\n                        debugLog('TRACKING_ERROR', 'Error checking session before event', e);\r\n                    }\r\n                    \r\n                    \/\/ Send tracking event using new API with parameters as fallback\r\n                    window.track_event('rsoc_not_monetized', {});\r\n                    \r\n                    \/\/ Log possible reasons for no results\r\n                    debugLog('DEBUG', 'Checking possible issues', {\r\n                        url: window.location.href,\r\n                        containerExists: !!container,\r\n                        containerVisible: container.offsetParent !== null,\r\n                        pageContent: document.body.textContent.length\r\n                    });\r\n                }\r\n            } catch (error) {\r\n                debugLog('ERROR', 'Error in callback', {\r\n                    message: error.message,\r\n                    stack: error.stack\r\n                });\r\n            }\r\n        }\r\n    };\r\n\r\n    \/\/ Configuration for the related searches containers\r\n    const rsblock1 = {\r\n        \/\/ Required Parameters\r\n        \"container\": \"relatedsearches1\",\r\n        \"width\": 700,\r\n        \r\n        \/\/ Optional Parameters\r\n        \"relatedSearches\": 6,\r\n        \r\n        \/\/ Reference to the callback in pageOptions\r\n        \"adLoadedCallback\": pageOptions.adLoadedCallback\r\n    };\r\n\r\n    const rsblock2 = {\r\n        \/\/ Required Parameters\r\n        \"container\": \"relatedsearches2\",\r\n        \"width\": 700,\r\n        \r\n        \/\/ Optional Parameters\r\n        \"relatedSearches\": 6,\r\n        \r\n        \/\/ Reference to the callback in pageOptions\r\n        \"adLoadedCallback\": pageOptions.adLoadedCallback\r\n    };\r\n\r\n    \/\/ --- Ad Initialization Logic ---\r\n\r\n    let adsInitialized = false;\r\n    const AD_INIT_TIMEOUT = 2500; \/\/ Timeout in milliseconds (e.g., 2.5 seconds)\r\n    let initTimeoutId = null;\r\n\r\n    \/\/ Function to inject skeleton overlay SYNCHRONOUSLY\r\n    function injectSkeletonOverlay(containerId) {\r\n        const container = document.getElementById(containerId);\r\n        if (container) {\r\n            if (!container.querySelector('.skeleton-overlay')) {\r\n                const overlay = document.createElement('div');\r\n                overlay.className = 'skeleton-overlay skeleton-visible';\r\n                container.appendChild(overlay);\r\n                debugLog('SKELETON', `Injected overlay into ${containerId}`);\r\n            } else {\r\n                debugLog('SKELETON', `Overlay already exists in ${containerId}`);\r\n            }\r\n        } else {\r\n            debugLog('WARNING', `Container ${containerId} not found for overlay injection.`);\r\n        }\r\n    }\r\n\r\n    \/\/ Function to hide skeletons if initialization fails\r\n    function hideSkeletonsOnError() {\r\n        ['relatedsearches1', 'relatedsearches2'].forEach(containerId => {\r\n            const container = document.getElementById(containerId);\r\n            const overlay = container?.querySelector('.skeleton-overlay.skeleton-visible');\r\n            if (overlay) {\r\n                overlay.classList.remove('skeleton-visible');\r\n                \/\/ Optionally remove after fade, but maybe just hide on error\r\n                debugLog('SKELETON', `Hiding overlay in ${containerId} due to init error.`);\r\n            }\r\n            \/\/ Also hide the main container if ads fail to load\r\n            if(container) container.style.display = 'none';\r\n        });\r\n    }\r\n\r\n    \/\/ Main function to initialize Google CSA ads\r\n    function initializeGoogleAds() {\r\n        if (adsInitialized) return; \/\/ Prevent double initialization\r\n        adsInitialized = true;\r\n        clearTimeout(initTimeoutId); \/\/ Clear the timeout if event fired\r\n        debugLog('ADS_INIT', 'Proceeding with _googCsa initialization.');\r\n\r\n        injectSkeletonOverlay('relatedsearches1');\r\n        injectSkeletonOverlay('relatedsearches2');\r\n\r\n        \/\/ Re-evaluate tracking params based on the final state from event-tracker.js\r\n        const trackerState = window._trackerInternalState || {};\r\n        const finalCid = trackerState.clickId || getUrlParameter('cid', ''); \/\/ Use state's CID or fallback to original URL param\r\n        \/\/ Note: Tracking domain (td) is primarily used by event-tracker, but include if needed for URL construction\r\n        const finalTd = (trackerState.trackingMethod === 'redirect' ? trackerState.domain : null) || getUrlParameter('td', ''); \/\/ Get TD if redirect, else fallback\r\n        \r\n        \/\/ Tracking IDs already set at the beginning of script\r\n\r\n        \/\/ Re-construct the results URL using the potentially updated CID\/TD\r\n        pageOptions.resultsPageBaseUrl = BASE_RESULTS_URL;\r\n        debugLog('ADS_INIT', 'Final resultsPageBaseUrl:', { url: pageOptions.resultsPageBaseUrl });\r\n\r\n        \/\/ Add referrerAdCreative only if urlAdTitle has a value (moved here to be part of final options)\r\n        if (urlAdTitle) {\r\n            pageOptions.referrerAdCreative = urlAdTitle;\r\n            debugLog('INFO', 'referrerAdCreative parameter included in configuration', { referrerAdCreative: urlAdTitle });\r\n        } else {\r\n            delete pageOptions.referrerAdCreative;\r\n            debugLog('INFO', 'No referrerAdCreative parameter provided, removed from configuration');\r\n        }\r\n\r\n        \/\/ Add terms if provided (moved here)\r\n        if (urlTerms) {\r\n            pageOptions.terms = urlTerms;\r\n        }\r\n\r\n        \/\/ Update ignoredPageParams (moved here)\r\n        pageOptions.ignoredPageParams = Array.from(new URLSearchParams(location.search).keys()).join(', ');\r\n\r\n        \/\/ Debug log all parameters before initialization\r\n        debugLog('PARAMS', 'Page Options Configuration:', {\r\n            \/\/ Required Parameters\r\n            pubId: pageOptions.pubId,\r\n            styleId: pageOptions.styleId,\r\n            relatedSearchTargeting: pageOptions.relatedSearchTargeting,\r\n            resultsPageBaseUrl: pageOptions.resultsPageBaseUrl,\r\n            resultsPageQueryParam: pageOptions.resultsPageQueryParam,\r\n            referrerAdCreative: pageOptions.referrerAdCreative,\r\n            \r\n            \/\/ Optional Parameters\r\n            terms: pageOptions.terms || '(not set)',\r\n            maxTermLength: pageOptions.maxTermLength,\r\n            linkTarget: pageOptions.linkTarget,\r\n            \r\n            \/\/ Safety and Filtering\r\n            adsafe: pageOptions.adsafe,\r\n            adtest: pageOptions.adtest,\r\n            ivt: pageOptions.ivt,\r\n            \r\n            \/\/ Language and Encoding\r\n            hl: pageOptions.hl,\r\n            \r\n            \/\/ Tracking and Analytics\r\n            channel: pageOptions.channel,\r\n            \r\n            \/\/ Container Configurations\r\n            containerSettings: {\r\n                block1: {\r\n                    container: rsblock1.container,\r\n                    width: rsblock1.width,\r\n                    relatedSearches: rsblock1.relatedSearches\r\n                },\r\n                block2: {\r\n                    container: rsblock2.container,\r\n                    width: rsblock2.width,\r\n                    relatedSearches: rsblock2.relatedSearches\r\n                }\r\n            }\r\n        });\r\n\r\n        \/\/ --- Call Google CSA ---\r\n        try {\r\n            verifyScriptLoading(); \/\/ Verify dependent scripts\r\n            validateConfig(pageOptions); \/\/ Validate final config\r\n\r\n            \/\/ Log the final pageOptions before initialization\r\n            console.log('[DEBUG] Final pageOptions just before _googCsa:', JSON.stringify(pageOptions, null, 2));\r\n\r\n            _googCsa('relatedsearch', pageOptions, rsblock1, rsblock2);\r\n            debugLog('ADS_INIT', '_googCsa called successfully.');\r\n\r\n        } catch (error) {\r\n            console.error('[ERROR] Google CSA Initialization Failed!', error);\r\n            debugLog('ERROR', 'Google CSA Initialization failed', {\r\n                message: error.message,\r\n                stack: error.stack\r\n            });\r\n            \/\/ Hide skeletons and containers on error\r\n            hideSkeletonsOnError();\r\n        }\r\n    }\r\n\r\n    \/\/ --- Event Listener and Timeout --- \r\n\r\n    \/\/ Check if tracker is already ready *before* setting up listener\/timeout\r\n    if (window._trackerInternalState?.ready) {\r\n        debugLog('ADS_INIT', 'Tracker was already ready. Initializing ads immediately.');\r\n        initializeGoogleAds();\r\n    } else {\r\n        debugLog('ADS_INIT', 'Tracker not ready yet. Setting up listener and timeout.');\r\n\r\n        \/\/ Listener for the tracker signal\r\n        const trackerListener = (event) => {\r\n            debugLog('ADS_INIT', 'Received trackerInitialized event', event.detail);\r\n            window.removeEventListener('trackerInitialized', trackerListener); \/\/ Clean up listener\r\n            initializeGoogleAds();\r\n        };\r\n        window.addEventListener('trackerInitialized', trackerListener);\r\n\r\n        \/\/ Timeout fallback: Initialize ads if the tracker event doesn't arrive promptly\r\n        initTimeoutId = setTimeout(() => {\r\n            debugLog('ADS_INIT', `Timeout waiting for trackerInitialized event after ${AD_INIT_TIMEOUT}ms. Proceeding.`);\r\n            window.removeEventListener('trackerInitialized', trackerListener); \/\/ Clean up listener if timeout fires first\r\n            initializeGoogleAds();\r\n        }, AD_INIT_TIMEOUT);\r\n    }\r\n\r\n    \/\/ Add script loading verification\r\n    function verifyScriptLoading() {\r\n        debugLog('SCRIPT', 'Entering verifyScriptLoading');\r\n        debugLog('SCRIPT', 'Checking script loading status', {\r\n            adsScriptLoaded: !!document.querySelector('script[src*=\"ads.js\"]'),\r\n            googCsaAvailable: typeof _googCsa === 'function'\r\n        });\r\n        debugLog('SCRIPT', 'Exiting verifyScriptLoading');\r\n    }\r\n\r\n    \/\/ --- Modify constructUrlWithTracking to accept parameters --- \r\n    \/\/ (Keep the original getTrackingParams for initial values if needed elsewhere, or remove if redundant)\r\n    function constructUrlWithTracking(baseUrl, cid, td, styleid, channel) {\r\n        try {\r\n            const url = new URL(baseUrl);\r\n            \/\/ Add parameters if they exist\r\n            if (td) url.searchParams.set('td', td);\r\n            if (cid) url.searchParams.set('cid', cid);\r\n            if (styleid) url.searchParams.set('styleid', styleid);\r\n            if (channel) url.searchParams.set('channel', channel);\r\n            return url.toString();\r\n        } catch (error) {\r\n            debugLog('ERROR', 'Failed to construct results page URL with tracking parameters', {\r\n                baseUrl,\r\n                error: error.message\r\n            });\r\n            return baseUrl;\r\n        }\r\n    }\r\n\r\n<\/script>\n\n\n\n<p>\u00b7 Mortgage broker fees<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u00b7 Property taxes<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>There you have it! We hope this first time home buyers guide has simplified the process for you. If you have any questions or need clarification on something that's making your home buying a little stressful, feel free to reach out.<\/p>\n      <div class=\"prli-link-to-disclosures\">\n        <a href=\"https:\/\/www.everyday-guide.com\/site\/disclaimer\/\">(*)This post contains affiliate links. If you use these links to buy something we may earn a commission. Thanks.<\/a>\n      <\/div>\n      ","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The majority of first time home buyers start off very excited. However, they soon feel overwhelmed by the maze of procedures involved in the [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":1469,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1467","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.everyday-guide.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1467","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.everyday-guide.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.everyday-guide.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.everyday-guide.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.everyday-guide.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1467"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/www.everyday-guide.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1467\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1757,"href":"https:\/\/www.everyday-guide.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1467\/revisions\/1757"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.everyday-guide.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1469"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.everyday-guide.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1467"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.everyday-guide.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1467"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.everyday-guide.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1467"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}