If I Were Buying My First Home in Rhode Island, Here’s Exactly What I’d Read (And Why It Matters Who You Work With)

Buying a home isn’t just a financial decision—it’s a series of legal, emotional, strategic, and logistical decisions that unfold over months. Most people wing it and hope they understand what’s happening as they go.

I don’t operate that way, and I don’t expect my clients to either.

Over the years, I’ve written 100+ Rhode Island–specific blog posts because buying real estate here isn’t like buying anywhere else! We have aging housing stock, quirky municipal systems, strong tenant laws, wildly varied property types, and some of the most competitive micro-markets in New England.

These posts exist so that you don’t walk into the biggest purchase of your life blindfolded.

If I were a first-time home buyer in Rhode Island—not an agent, not someone who has bought and sold dozens of homes, just a smart person trying to make confident decisions—these are the posts I would read, in order.

Not all 100. Just the ones that will actually move the needle for you.

Step 1: Before You Even Start Looking

These posts will help you figure out whether buying is the right move right now, in your price point, with the life you’re living—not some hypothetical future life.

• Should I Rent or Buy a Home?

• The Myth of the Perfect Home: Why Waiting Could Cost You Your Dream

• When is it a good time to buy real estate?

• Beyond the Obvious: What Really Matters When Buying a Home

• Balancing Work and Community: Finding Your Ideal Neighborhood in Rhode Island

Why this matters: Most people waste a year "researching" when really they're procrastinating out of uncertainty. Clarity first, house second.

Step 2: Choosing the Right Agent (And Why It Matters)

This is where most first-time buyers go wrong. You don’t need "someone who can open doors." You need a full time Realtor who has 5+ years of experience; someone who can help you avoid expensive mistakes and understands the market dynamics; an agent who has the systems and tools in place to make sure you're fully informed!

Start with these:

• Top 5 Questions to Ask Your Realtor

• TOP 5 FACTORS TO DETERMINE WHO TO CHOOSE AS YOUR BUYER’S AGENT

• Buyer Broker Agreements: Required Documents for All Buyers

• Navigating the Mandatory Real Estate Relationship Disclosure

• HERE’S WHAT I REGRET ABOUT MY FIRST PURCHASE…

• Mistakes Realtors Make that cost you money

Why this matters: Who you work with directly impacts your money, your stress, and your outcome. This is not a commodity service.

Step 3: Understanding Your Financial Picture

Before you look at a single house, know what you can actually afford and what financing strategy fits your goals.

Read these:

• Navigating Your Finances: What First-Time Buyers Need to Know

• Do’s & Don'ts When Applying for a Mortgage

• Do Rates Vary From Lender to Lender?

• Smarter Financing: Understanding 3-2-1 Interest Rate Buy down

• What’s the Deal: FHA Loans

• Game-Changing News: 5% Down on Multi-Family Properties

• What Does It Cost to Buy a House?

Why this matters: Your financing strategy determines your buying power. Most buyers don't realize they have options.

Step 4: Choosing the Right Property

Not all homes are created equal—especially in Rhode Island, where much of the housing stock is well over a century old.

Start with:

• Buyers Need to Know: Understanding Older Homes in RI

• The Hidden Risks of Oil Tanks in Your Home

• Understanding Radon in Rhode Island

• Navigating Well Water Quality in Your Dream Home

• Rhode Island Water Supply: Public vs Private Systems

• Understanding Municipal Water & Sewer Services

• 12 Questions to Ask Before Buying a Home with Solar Panels

Why this matters: It’s easy to fall in love with hardwood floors and crown molding. It’s harder to spot the $30,000 problem in the basement.

Step 5: Writing the Offer

This is where deals are won—before negotiations even start.

Required reading:

• Making an Offer on a House

• It’s in the Details: Offer Overview

• What Are Contingencies?

• What’s an Escalation Clause?

• Understanding Appraisal Gaps in a Competitive Market

• The Negotiation Gap in Real Estate: What Most Agents Won’t Tell You

Why this matters: In a competitive state like Rhode Island, the best offer isn’t always the highest offer—it’s the smartest one.

Step 6: Under Contract (Deadlines, Deposits, Inspections)

This is where most stress happens because people don't understand what they signed.

Read these to avoid that:

• Contract Deadlines: You Need to Know!

• Navigating the Inspection Contingency Period

• Home Inspection Costs: What to Expect

• Home Inspectors: Here’s Who You're Gonna Call!

• Offer Accepted: What Next

Why this matters: Once you're under contract, timing is everything—and your deposit is on the line.

Step 7: After You Own the Home

Buying the house is step one. Maintaining and leveraging it is step two.

• Tools For Property Owners

• Unlocking Financial Flexibility: HELOC

• Understanding Older Homes in RI (yes, this belongs here too)

• Navigating the Transition: Property Management Insights for Landlords (for multi-family buyers)

Why this matters: A house isn’t just a place to live—it's a long-term financial tool if you manage it well.

Why This List Exists

There are hundreds of agents in Rhode Island. Many are great. Many are not.
What sets me apart isn’t just experience—it’s the way I teach you to understand what you’re signing, why it matters, and how to protect your future self.

Most agents react.
I prepare my clients so they don’t have to.

That’s why I wrote these articles. That’s why you're reading this. And that’s why who you work with matters.

If you're starting the buying process and want clarity—not chaos—reach out. I’d love to help.