A practical home-buying guide that follows one family through 18 months of bidding wars, rising mortgage rates, failed offers, and hard-earned lessons in Boston's competitive housing market. Drawing on real-world experience, veteran agent Daniel Voss explains inspection waivers, mortgage math, pre-approvals, pricing mistakes, agent selection, and the realities of homeownership after closing. Combining market insights with a compelling narrative, this book offers first-time buyers a realistic roadmap for navigating today's challenging real estate market.