Ian DeFeliceIndianapolis First-Time Homebuyer Guide
I'm Ian DeFelice, a Realtor at Roots Realty in Indianapolis. I help renters create a clear plan so they can buy their first home with confidence.
Take the free 2-minute assessment.
For First Time Buyers
Five years ago, I was the renter nodding along while someone explained escrow. I read my pre-approval letter eight times trying to figure out what DTI meant. I know how confusing the process can feel when no one slows down to explain it.
The Blueprint is what I wish I'd had: a real plan, no pressure to rush into the wrong house, and a guide who remembers what it feels like to be on your side of the table.
I'm Ian DeFelice, and every first-time buyer I work with starts with the same five-step Blueprint, from the first readiness check to closing day.
How it works
From first questions to keys in hand, here's the simple path we'll follow together. Underneath it are five steps: assessment, consultation, pre-approval, needs vs. wants, then the home search. The Blueprint lays each one out.
2-3 minutes to finish. You'll see exactly where your savings, timing, and knowledge actually sit.
Start your planWe'll meet over coffee, talk through your goals, connect you with a first-time-buyer-friendly lender, and clarify your needs vs. wants before the search begins.
See how it worksTouring, offers, inspection, closing. The pace fits you, not the calendar.
Start the conversation“He pushed patience and for us to be on the same page so we were confident with our decision.”
Real plans, real buyers
TJ & Elizabeth
Brandon & Rebecca
Grant & Katie
From the feed
Reels, walk-throughs, neighborhood notes, and the occasional cup of coffee.
iandefeliceGive back to the city you live in! This is the best way to do just that. For all the details, comment “TRASH” for the sign up link 🔗 🚮 Tag someone you think should join us! #indy #indianapolisindiana #indianapolis #communityservice #keepindyindie
iandefeliceAMP at 16 Tech is one of those Indy spots that feels creative, local, and full of energy. Great food, great people, and a perfect reminder that Indianapolis has so many places worth exploring. If you haven’t been yet, add this one to your list.
iandefeliceUNDEFEATED SEASON 🥇🏆🏈 This team will always hold a special place in my heart. I’m not sure I’ve ever had more fun playing than I have these past 8 weeks. The amount of talent was off the charts. The comradely unmatched. The losses… nonexistent ;) Shoutout Karim for drafting this legendary squad. Until spring…
iandefeliceThe 9th month of life 🥹 Celebration 🎉 Laughing so much more 😂 His runs with dad are his favorite. He doesn’t make a peep the entire time, just watching life pass by His favorite item in the house, the vacuum 🧹 His first time at children’s church Go Pack Go 🧀 We LOVE Costco Staying energized The hot summer days were the absolute best 💦🌊 My sweet sweet boy ♥️
Straight answers
Short answers first. When there is a longer version or a real buyer's story, it's linked underneath.
I'm Ian DeFelice, a Realtor at Roots Realty (@properties) in Indianapolis, and first-time buyers are who I work with. Before we look at a single house, you take a readiness assessment, we talk through your goals over coffee, I introduce you to a lender, and we sort your needs from your wants. Then the search, offer, inspection and closing happen with that plan already in place.
Start before you open a listing app. First get a read on your readiness and on what monthly payment feels comfortable. My assessment is free, takes about two to three minutes, and shows your score without asking for an email. From there, a coffee conversation turns the results into a plan.
No. Some programs allow a smaller down payment, and a lender can explain eligibility, mortgage insurance, closing costs and how much cash you would have left after closing. I care about that last number, because the down payment is not the only money a first home takes.
You don't have to. I like to start with a conversation, so we know your timeline and the payment you're comfortable with before a lender runs numbers. Then I introduce you to a lender, Brooke Peters. A pre-approval shows what a lender may approve, which is not the same as the monthly payment you want to live with.
It depends on your lease, your savings and how clear your priorities already are, so I won't put one number on it. Brandon and Rebecca first wrote to me almost a year before they bought. Grant and Katie came out of their first consultation knowing they were already financially ready. The plan is what lets either timeline work.
The Indianapolis metro, including Broad Ripple, Meridian-Kessler, Irvington and Fountain Square in Marion County, and Carmel, Fishers, Westfield and Noblesville in Hamilton County. I don't keep a ranked list of best neighborhoods. What helps is knowing what each area asks you to trade, like walkability against square footage or commute against yard, and then comparing a few side by side.
Free · 2 minutes
23 short questions on your savings, timeline, and goals. You'll get a personal readiness score and a clear next step. No pressure, no spam.
