First Time Home Buyers | Real Estate Blog

Read about the latest industry news
March 6, 2026
Understand how much down payment you need to buy a house, including minimum requirements, loan options, and how your choice impacts monthly costs.
March 5, 2026
Explore first-time home buyer programs in Virginia, including grants, loan options, and down payment assistance available to help you buy with confidence.
March 5, 2026
Compare renting vs buying for first-time home buyers, including costs, flexibility, equity building, and how to decide which option fits your goals.
March 5, 2026
Learn how to calculate how much home you can afford based on income, debt, credit score, and current mortgage rates before starting your home search.
March 5, 2026
Follow the key steps to buying a house, from financial preparation and mortgage preapproval to making an offer, inspections, and closing the deal.
March 2, 2026
Discover practical first-time home buying tips to help you prepare financially, compare loan options, avoid costly mistakes, and buy with confidence.
Picture of Jake Maines, Virginia Beach Realtor

Jake Maines, Virginia Beach Realtor

Jake Maines is a REALTOR® with Iron Valley Real Estate Hampton Roads, serving buyers and sellers across Virginia Beach. Virginia salesperson license #0225247466, held since August 2020. He is a two-time Circle of Excellence recipient, Gold in 2023 and Platinum in 2024, and was named to Inside Business’s Top 40 Under 40 in 2023. He is a member of NAR and CoVAR.

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Picture of Jake Maines, Virginia Beach Realtor
Jake Maines, Virginia Beach Realtor

Jake Maines is a REALTOR® with Iron Valley Real Estate Hampton Roads, serving buyers and sellers across Virginia Beach. Virginia salesperson license #0225247466, held since August 2020. He is a two-time Circle of Excellence recipient, Gold in 2023 and Platinum in 2024, and was named to Inside Business’s Top 40 Under 40 in 2023. He is a member of NAR and CoVAR.

Learn More

I'm More Than Just A Virginia Beach Real Estate Agent & Realtor

Think of me as your realtor, neighbor, friend, and partner in making your dreams a reality. Let’s take the exciting journey to home ownership together.

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