4 Real Estate Podcasts for New & Aspiring Homebuyers

Buying your first home is an exciting milestone, and it’s one that takes careful planning and dedication to achieve. From keeping your credit score on track to saving up for a down payment, there are a lot of factors to consider, so it’s a good idea to learn more about the buying and financing processes. But where do you start? And how do you find the time? Try real estate podcasts! They’re not just for daily news briefs, health and wellness tips, or true crime stories. They can also be a way to dip your toes into a new topic without investing money or even a great deal of time, since many of us listen while doing other things, like navigating a commute, cooking dinner, or folding laundry.

We’ve rounded up a few popular shows that touch on homebuying and many of the issues that contribute to mortgage-readiness: building up your savings, budgeting, protecting your credit, and more. By listening to a variety of voices and opinions, you may gain a level of comfort with the jargon and concepts involved in homebuying, so you can ask informed questions when you reach out to professionals like your real estate agent, loan officer, financial advisor, or attorney.

Keep in mind: Real estate podcasts are mainly infotainment. None of these programs should be used as a substitute for professional financial advice! They provide general information only, which may not apply to your individual circumstances. The opinions and ideas presented belong solely to the show creators and publishers, who are not affiliated with Richmond American Homes.

1) Real Estate Today

Presented by the National Association of REALTORS,® Real Estate Today is a podcast (and radio show) about homebuying, home selling, and homeownership. It’s been on the air since 2009.

Where to start? Navigating the Housing Market as a First-Time Home Buyer
This episode provides first-time buyers with actionable advice for how to successfully purchase a home. Some topics they touch on include crafting a housing budget, saving for a down payment, and accounting for closing costs in the home purchase.

Other episodes of interest:

• How to Afford a Home in Today’s Market: Covers some challenges buyers might face when purchasing their first home, as well as creative strategies for affording more.
• The Lasting Benefits of Homeownership: Discusses the advantages of owning a home, including planting roots in a community, building equity, and having a greater sense of security/control.
• How to Move Without the Mayhem: Offers advice on how to make a move less stressful.

2) NerdWallet’s SmartMoney Podcast

Created by NerdWallet, a personal finance company established in 2009, the SmartMoney Podcast covers a variety of household financial topics in digestible segments that typically run under an hour. Many episodes touch on themes that are helpful to prospective homebuyers, such as saving money, budgeting, paying off debt, and improving your credit score.

Where to start?  How to Own a Home: Strategies for Buying, Selling, and Improving
This is a catch-all episode that covers a range of topics related to homebuying and homeownership. Discussion points include real estate investment strategies, ways to pay for potential home improvement projects, and the purpose of title companies.

Other episodes of interest:

• From Broker to Budget: How to Buy or Sell a Home in 2025: Answers listener questions about budgeting for a down payment, determining how much house you can afford, and factoring in other types of homebuying expenses. This episode also has tips for home sellers as well!
• How to Keep Your Credit Strong During Economic Shifts and Know If You’re Ready to Buy A Home: Covers information related to credit management, down payment assistance programs, first-time homebuyer education, private mortgage insurance (PMI), and more.
• Simple Steps to Budget Better and Manage Credit with Confidence: Shares tips for effectively crafting a budget, using lines of credit responsibly, getting out of debt, and monitoring your credit score—all of which are important tasks for anyone looking to buy a home!

3) How to Buy a Home

Hosted by David Sidoni, a real estate agent with nearly 20 years of experience helping first-time homebuyers, this show tackles the topics on every new house hunter’s mind—from common mortgage myths to the current housing market. Sidoni also interviews a lot of new homeowners about their experiences, providing a more personal, first-hand perspective on the process.

Where to start? Homebuying 101: Deciding Your Goals | Step 1

This episode is step one in a 10-step series on how to buy a home, perfect for any first-timer! It discusses the basic foundation of the homebuying process—making that initial decision to purchase a home.

Other episodes of interest:

• Real Answers to the Most Asked Homebuying Questions (Part 1): The first episode of a myth-busting series, dedicated to giving honest and upfront answers to buyers’ most-asked questions.
• Top Budgeting Apps for First Time Home Buyers in 2025: Emphasizes the importance of budgeting when preparing to buy a home and shares five apps that could help with successfully managing your money.
• Moving & Packing Tips – How to Reduce Stress When Moving: Explores what to consider before deciding to make a move, plus offers practical advice on preparing for this big life transition.

4) Jill On Money with Jill Schlesinger

Author and former Editor-at-Large for CBS MoneyWatch.com, Jill Schlesinger, hosts this podcast and radio program. The episodes are generally short and sweet—under 30 minutes—and address topics such as investment, real estate, general economic trends, retirement, and wealth management. 

Where to start? How Much to Spend on New House
Schlesinger responds to an inquiry about how much money should be spent on a new home, taking into consideration factors like income, current assets, existing debt, and more. The guest on this show is not a first-time buyer, but the advice provided can be applied to anyone looking to purchase a new house.

Other episodes of interest:

• Head vs. Heart Financial Decision: A question from a listener sparks an intriguing conversation about how to balance emotional and practical concerns when making money-related decisions.
• Invest or Pay Off Mortgage?: Discusses the pros and cons of paying off a mortgage early versus spending funds on investments instead.
• Planning for Our Financial Future: Explores how to effectively plan for a financially beneficial future.

Eager to listen to all of these real estate podcasts? We’ve compiled the mentioned episodes in a handy Spotify® playlist for your convenience.*

This Spotify® playlist is intended for entertainment purposes only. Neither Spotify® nor any of the artists featured on this playlist are affiliated with, sponsoring or endorsing Richmond American Homes or M.D.C. Holdings, Inc. or this playlist. Spotify® is a registered trademark of Spotify USA Inc. or its affiliates.

If you prefer reading over listening, our Homeward™ blog is a comprehensive library of homebuying articles, covering everything from how to plan a neighborhood tour to tips for advertising a garage sale.