Disclaimer

Home Buying Steps is an educational tool, not a licensed professional

Home Buying Steps, Inc. ("Home Buying Steps," "we," "us," or "our") provides software that helps people organize, sequence, and track the home-buying process. Home Buying Steps is not a licensed real estate brokerage or agency, not a mortgage broker or lender, not a law firm or attorney, not a title or escrow company, and not a financial, tax, or insurance advisor. Nothing on this platform — including the roadmap, phase and step content, checklists, deadline reminders, personalized notes, professional directory, or any communication from Home Buying Steps staff — constitutes real estate brokerage services, mortgage brokerage or lending services, legal advice, financial or investment advice, tax advice, or insurance advice.

Buying a home is one of the largest financial and legal decisions most people will ever make, and the right guidance depends on details specific to you, your transaction, and the laws of your state and locality. You should retain and rely on appropriately licensed professionals — a real estate agent or broker, a mortgage loan officer or broker, a real estate attorney, a title or escrow company, a tax professional, and others as needed — to advise you on your specific situation before making any decision. Do not rely on Home Buying Steps as a substitute for that advice.

The roadmap and content are general guidance only

The phases, steps, checklists, timelines, and notes in your Home Buying Steps roadmap reflect common practices and a typical sequence of events for buyers in the United States. They are written for general informational and educational purposes and are not exhaustive, may not reflect the most current laws, regulations, lending guidelines, or local customs in your area, and may not account for facts specific to your transaction. Closing procedures, required disclosures, contingency norms, property taxes, insurance requirements, and many other details vary — sometimes significantly — by state, county, and municipality, and change over time.

Any dates, deadlines, or timeframes you enter into or receive from Home Buying Steps (including in the deadline tracker) are organizational aids you control. They are not legal deadlines, do not modify or supersede any deadline in your purchase agreement, loan documents, or any other contract, and Home Buying Steps is not responsible for missed contractual deadlines. Always confirm dates and requirements directly against your executed agreements and with your licensed professionals.

The professional directory is informational, not a referral or endorsement

Home Buying Steps's "Find a pro" directory surfaces publicly available information about local real estate agents, lenders, inspectors, attorneys, and other service providers (sourced in part from third-party data providers such as Google Places) to help you start your own search. Listing a professional in the directory is not an endorsement, recommendation, referral, certification, or vetting of that person or business by Home Buying Steps, and Home Buying Steps does not guarantee the accuracy, completeness, licensing status, qualifications, availability, or conduct of any listed professional. We do not currently accept payment in exchange for placement in the directory.

You are solely responsible for independently researching, vetting, verifying the license and credentials of, and selecting any professional you choose to work with — including by checking your state's licensing board or regulator. Any relationship you form with a professional you find through Home Buying Steps is strictly between you and that professional; Home Buying Steps is not a party to it, does not supervise it, and is not responsible for any advice given, services performed, fees charged, or disputes that arise from it.

Fair housing and choosing where to live

Home Buying Steps's neighborhood and home-evaluation tools are meant to help you weigh practical factors like commute, budget, space, and resale value. They are not a basis for choosing — or avoiding — a home or area because of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, familial status (including having children), disability, or any other characteristic protected by the federal Fair Housing Act or applicable state and local law. Any references to schools, ratings, or resale concern property value, not the people who live in an area.

Real estate professionals are likewise prohibited from "steering" you toward or away from neighborhoods on these bases. If you believe you have experienced housing discrimination, you can learn more or file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development at hud.gov/fair-housing.

No guarantee of outcomes, accuracy, or completeness

Home Buying Steps is provided on an "as is" and "as available" basis. While we work to keep our content accurate and useful, we make no representations or warranties of any kind, express or implied, about the completeness, accuracy, reliability, suitability, or availability of the platform or the information, content, checklists, or directory listings it contains. Using Home Buying Steps does not guarantee that you will successfully purchase a home, qualify for financing, complete your transaction on any particular timeline, or avoid any cost, loss, delay, or dispute.

To the fullest extent permitted by law, Home Buying Steps disclaims all liability for any decision you make, action you take, or outcome you experience based on information found on or through the platform, including decisions about which professionals to hire, which loan products or homes to pursue, which contingencies to waive, or when to take any step in your purchase. See our Terms of Service for the full limitation of liability that applies to your use of Home Buying Steps.

No professional relationship is created

Creating a Home Buying Steps account, completing onboarding, using the roadmap or directory, messaging with Home Buying Steps support, or any other interaction with the platform does not create a brokerage, agency, fiduciary, attorney-client, advisor-client, or other professional relationship between you and Home Buying Steps. Home Buying Steps does not represent you in any negotiation, transaction, or proceeding, and nothing you submit to Home Buying Steps is protected by attorney-client privilege or any professional confidentiality duty beyond what is described in our Privacy Policy.

When in doubt, ask a licensed professional

If you are ever unsure whether something you read on Home Buying Steps applies to your situation — especially anything touching on contract terms, disclosures, financing decisions, tax consequences, insurance, or legal rights and obligations — stop and ask a licensed professional in your state before acting. We would always rather you double-check with an expert than rely solely on general guidance from an app.