An online course for first-time buyers that helps you decide if you're ready, prepare your finances, and confidently navigate every step — from finding a home to closing the deal.
This course is for:
- People who feel intimidated by the process of buying a home and don’t know where to start
- Renters who are wondering if they’re ready, financially or otherwise, to become homeowners
- Those considering home purchasing as a real estate investment
- Anyone who wants a clear, step-by-step guide to confidently navigate the homebuying process
What you'll get:
- Over 100 minutes of instructional video content, broken into bite-sized lessons
- A workbook with detailed summaries and additional exercises
- Access to watch and read at your own pace
- Certificate of completion issued automatically upon completion of course
Through this course, you will:
- Determine whether buying a home is the right step for you right now
- Understand what you can realistically afford — and how to prepare for it
- Make sense of mortgages, down payments, appraisals and other key terms without confusion
- Navigate the process of house hunting, making an offer, and closing the deal
- Learn how to purchase a home with family or friends for affordability
- Create a clear, step-by-step plan to move toward homeownership with confidence
Why choose Smarter by CNBC Make It:
Expert-Led Instruction: Learn from experts with extensive experience in real estate, mortgages, and the housing market.
Actionable Insights: This course will teach you how to confidently navigate the homebuying process, with practical steps and exercises to help you prepare financially, understand your options, and move toward purchasing your first home.
Comprehensive Curriculum: This course will provide a broad overview of everything you need to know about finding, financing, and buying a home. We’ll guide you through this journey step-by-step, with simple, actionable advice you can implement at your own pace.
Your Instructors:
Dana Bull
Dana is a licensed REALTOR® whose passion is guiding people as they navigate the real estate market. Through client representation, consultation, and online courses, she helps people think big about real estate and back it up with meaningful action that drives results, helping clients to develop smart real estate strategies.
James Choudhury
James, a licensed loan officer, specializes in first-time homebuyer programs, refinances, and investment property loans. Passionate about building wealth through real estate, he educates clients and online followers on financial literacy. Starting his mortgage career at 18, he now leads a team of mortgage loan originators, providing them with guidance, training, and support. He graduated cum laude from Baruch College's Zicklin School of Business with a finance degree and is pursuing a Doctor of Law degree at Hofstra University.
Dr. Skylar Olsen
A Ph.D. housing economist with over a decade studying U.S. housing markets and consumers, Skylar is passionate about ensuring policymakers, housing professionals, and her colleagues have the data and understanding they need to make better decisions. Skylar has testified before Congress about fair housing issues and regularly shares her housing-market expertise on stage, in print, and on television and radio stations. She also teaches Real Estate Evolution and Disruption at the University of Washington, where she earned her PhD.
Course Curriculum
- Finding Your Future Home (0:29)
- The Role of an Agent (6:10)
- Identifying Types of Properties (5:43)
- Case Study 1: Multi-Family (Justin) (3:50)
- House Hunt Like a Pro (12:13)
- Case Study 2: Fixer Upper (Calvin) (4:39)
- Buying a Home with a Partner (3:07)
- Case Study 3: Buying with Family (Sharon) (5:39)
- Case Study 4: Buying with Friends (Amanda) (5:07)
- Equity: Home As an Investment (4:06)
- Additional Considerations Before Purchasing (3:05)
- Recap (1:25)
Additional Courses:
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Smarter by CNBC Make It a subscription?
No. You are charged once for the course you select, with no recurring charges. After purchase, the course remains available for you to take, subject to the Smarter by CNBC Make It Supplemental Terms. We reserve the right to cancel, suspend or make any changes to any Smater Services in our sole discretion at any time without prior notice.
How many times can I take a Smarter course?
Smarter by CNBC Make It courses are pre-recorded videos, and you can watch them whenever you want, on your own schedule, subject to the Smarter by CNBC Make It Supplemental Terms.
Do Smarter courses have subtitles?
Yes. All Smarter by CNBC Make It courses have subtitles. Turn them on with the subtitle icon at the bottom-right of the screen.
I am enrolled in a Smarter class and having technical issues!
Smarter courses are supported only on Chrome and Firefox. If you are experiencing log-in issues with your class, please try signing in here: https://smarter.cnbcmakeit.com/sign_in
You can try troubleshooting with the steps from this article: General technical troubleshooting.
For other issues, please visit Teachable's help page here.
Can I take Smarter classes on a mobile device?
For iPhone, you can download the Teachable iOS app and follow Teachable's instructions for accessing courses in the app:
Links:
- Teachable iOS app: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/teachable-online-courses/id1177062376
- Instructions for using the iOS app: https://support.teachable.com/hc/en-us/articles/115000766167-Use-the-iOS-App-as-a-Student
Please note: Smarter by CNBC Make It courses are only supported on Chrome and Firefox browsers.
Can I take Smarter classes outside of the US?
Yes. Smarter courses should be accessible outside the U.S., and the lessons apply to people living in the U.S. and elsewhere. Course materials are in English. Contact support if you run into access issues.
How do I download the workbook for my Smarter course?
After enrolling, you can download the course workbook as a PDF. The download button is at the bottom of the worksheet page.
Can I purchase a Smarter by CNBC Make It course as a gift?
Yes. Select "Send as a gift" at checkout, then enter the recipient's name, email address, and a gift message. The purchased course is sent to the recipient immediately after purchase.
What is the refund policy for Smarter courses?
All sales for Smarter services are final. Returns, refunds and exchanges are not provided.
More information:
- Terms of Service: https://smarter.cnbcmakeit.com/p/terms.
Read more here.
Have more questions? Reach out to us at smarter@cnbc.zendesk.com and we'll help you out.