Your first home in Las Vegas, explained step by step
Every step of your first purchase explained in plain English, from pre-approval to keys.
It's a lot of new words at once
If you're a first-time home buyer in Las Vegas, the hardest part often isn't finding a house. It's the vocabulary. Pre-approval, earnest money, due diligence, escrow, title, contingencies. Everyone around you seems to know what they mean, and nobody stops to explain.
We stop and explain. The goal is simple: by the time you sign anything, you understand what it is and why it's there.
How we help first-time buyers
I'm Carrie Lu, REALTOR®, MBA, with Signature Real Estate Group, and my team and I have been helping people buy homes here since 2007. With a first-time buyer, we slow the start down so the end can go smoothly.
We begin with money. A lender will pre-approve you for a loan amount, but the number to focus on is the monthly payment, because that's what you'll live with. Pick a payment you're comfortable with, not the most a lender will allow.
Then we cover the paperwork you'll sign with us before touring: Nevada's Duties Owed disclosure and a buyer broker agreement. We walk through both in plain English.
The words you'll hear, in plain English
- Pre-approval: a lender's written estimate of what you can borrow, after checking your finances.
- Earnest money: a deposit that shows the seller you're serious. For our buyers it's typically $5,000 or 1% of the price, and the escrow company holds it.
- Due diligence period: your window, usually 10 days in Nevada, to inspect the home and look into anything you need to. The exact length is in your contract.
- Escrow: a neutral company that holds the money and documents until everything is ready to close.
- Title: the legal ownership of the home. The title company checks for liens and makes sure you receive clear title.
- HOA: a homeowners association. Many Las Vegas communities have one, with monthly dues and rules.
Nevada doesn't require an attorney to buy a home. Escrow and title handle the parts an attorney would handle elsewhere.
Mistakes we help first-time buyers avoid
- Shopping before getting pre-approved. You can lose a home you love while the lender catches up.
- Forgetting HOA dues. They're part of the monthly cost. In Mountain's Edge, for example, dues averaged about $100 a month as of September 2026.
- Skipping inspections to look competitive. The due diligence period exists to protect you. Use it.
- Stretching to the top of the approval. Leave room in your budget for the things that come with owning a home.
More on each step is on our how we help you buy page.
First homes in the areas we know best
See first-time buying in Southwest Las Vegas, Mountain's Edge, Rhodes Ranch, Southern Highlands and Summerlin, or ask us anything. No question is too basic.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much earnest money do first-time buyers need in Las Vegas?
For our buyers it's typically $5,000 or 1% of the purchase price. The escrow company holds it.
Do I need an attorney to buy my first home in Nevada?
No. Nevada doesn't require an attorney for a residential purchase. Escrow and title handle clearing liens and making sure the title is clear.
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