First-time homebuyers Krishni and Jee have new jobs in Scottsdale, Arizona. As they start their search for homes in the area, they find that they disagree over what's considered a must-have. She's determined to find a three-bedroom home with wood floors, an updated kitchen and a master suite with a jetted tub, while he really only cares about the media center. They find one house that they both love, but learn that they're competing with another potential buyer and then discover the house has significant roofing problems.
Denver couple Brenda and Mike have already been burned twice by rejected bids in the search for their first place. It's made Mike hesitant to commit, even after they find a beautiful four-bedroom house in Arvada, Colorado. But they make an offer, and after a nail-biting wait, the sellers accept their bid. Then, just two weeks before closing, their financing falls through, forcing Brenda and Mike to explore all available options or risk losing a home they love again.
Justin and Sarah are soon to be married, and as first-time homebuyers in Scottsdale, Arizona, they're discovering the difficulty of trying to buy a house with no money down. Since they're trying to conserve all their cash to pay for wedding expenses, they're hoping to find a seller who's willing to put down about $10,000 for them. The only problem is they've already bid on - and lost - three houses with this down payment strategy.
Young Army veteran Jarrod wants to live in the hippest part of Chicago, but he also wants more space than his budget can buy. There are two places that he really likes: one that's larger and one that's in a better location. But before he bids on either, news of a competing offer on the bigger of the two condos forces him to commit.
First-time buyers Bill and Holly knew it wouldn't be easy to buy a house in Phoenix, Arizona while still living in Fort Collins, Colorado. When Holly graduates from veterinary school, her first job is already waiting for her in Phoenix, and the pair would like to move seamlessly into their first place after graduation. But nothing about the home buying process goes smoothly for them. First, their bid is too low, then their lender stops offering 100% financing once they're under contract. Ultimately, Bill and Holly must consider housing options at a lower price point.
JaDawnya just started her own law firm in Atlanta and is looking for a condo that also has office space. She put her search on hold for more than a year in order to obtain the tax returns on her new business that would allow her to borrow at a lower interest rate. Now, as she returns to the house-hunting process, she's greeted with a devastating rejection on a condo that she fell in love with. Then, another condo in the same building becomes available, but it hasn't been updated in more than 30 years, leaving JaDawnya to wonder whether she and her finances are up to home ownership and a renovation.
Ronak lives in the Chicago suburbs with his parents, and he's finally ready to buy a condo in the city. He's looking for a two-bedroom, two-bath place with parking for around $350,000. With a job that requires frequent travel, he barely has time to look, so his girlfriend Anjlee has offered to pre-screen places while he's traveling. His belief in this plan is tested when Anjlee finds a place that she thinks is fabulous and wants him to make an offer on it sight unseen and $25,000 over his budget.
Hope and Ryan are determined to buy their first place in Phoenix before they move from New Hampshire for Hope's new job. Seeing more than 50 houses in two whirlwind househunting trips, they finally find a listing that has everything they want, including an open floor plan, an updated kitchen and a great backyard with a pool. However, based on comparables in the neighborhood, they think the seller's price is unreasonable, so they start negotiating.
With a new business underway and a move from California to Phoenix, Joe and Tanya are pleasantly surprised by home prices in the area. However, when securing a loan proves difficult because of the newness of their business, they need a mortgage miracle to allow them to buy their first place.
John and Kate are Phoenix newlyweds who are ready to find a first place that's big enough to start a family but priced under $250,000. They each fall in love with a different property, so they decide to make offers on both, hoping that they won't come through at the same time. When a bidding war results on one of the properties, they anxiously await the seller's response. Once their offer is accepted and they go to closing, frustration grows as everything's in place except for keys to house.
Chicago newcomers Rose and Travis want to buy their first place in Lincoln Park or Lakeview, two communities close to downtown nightlife. However, despite having saved enough for a 5% down payment on a $350,000 property, their favorite neighborhoods are too pricey for this budget. As they expand their search, they find a unit that they love that also includes an adjacent basement property that would allow them to duplex down for great resale potential. After tough negotiations, they land both units. However, as the closing date nears, they discover that their lender is now requiring more money down, and it's a last-minute, stressful scramble for Rose and Travis.
Carrie and Tate commute an hour and a half between Tucson and Phoenix to see each other. Now, they've decides to tie the knot and buy their first place together in Phoenix. Since they're not in any rush, they let one dream home after another slip through their fingers by not bidding fast enough. As they get more aggressive in their search, they move on a foreclosure and discover that their can be hidden costs when a house is offered ''as is.''
Clarence Hawkins goes by the name of Hawk, and he's a big guy with a big vision for his first place. Although he'll be living with his girlfriend Angie, he's determined to finance the house on his own. Looking in the $400,000 range, the happy couple knows their biggest challenge will be agreeing on a house, and they start searching even though Hawk hasn't been pre-approved for a loan. After losing out to a higher offer on one property, they decide that they can custom build for much less money. However, once construction is underway, Hawk learns that he can't get 100% financing which sets yet another new plan in motion.
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