How to Buy a House First-Time Buyer Timeline Infographic

Real estate infographic titled "How to Buy a House: First-Time Buyer Timeline". HOME-BUYING TIMELINE archetype, designed for first-time buyers in the United States. Photorealistic editorial real-estate magazine layout in trust navy and cream colors, elegant clean typography, clear structured sections, subtle grid, premium print-style design. Show realistic adult homebuyers throughout staged scenes, a modern suburban house, mortgage documents, keys, and subtle charts/icons. Create 8 numbered stages arranged in a clear visual timeline from left to right or top to bottom, each stage with a short heading in English, a time estimate, an illustrative cost example in USD, and a small property or document icon. Stage 1: "Set Your Budget" — time estimate: "1-2 weeks" — cost example: "example: $2,500 monthly housing budget" — scene with couple reviewing finances, calculator, notebook, small bar chart icon. Stage 2: "Get Pre-Approved" — time estimate: "1-7 days" — cost example: "example: $35 application fee" — scene with mortgage documents, approval letter, laptop, document icon. Stage 3: "Start House Hunting" — time estimate: "2-8 weeks" — cost example: "example: $400,000 target home price" — scene with buyers touring a modern suburban house, map or listing sheet, small house icon. Stage 4: "Make an Offer" — time estimate: "1-3 days" — cost example: "example: $8,000 earnest money deposit" — scene with signed offer documents, pen, handshake, contract icon. Stage 5: "Home Inspection" — time estimate: "3-10 days" — cost example: "example: $450 inspection fee" — scene with inspector examining house details, clipboard, magnifying glass or checklist icon. Stage 6: "Appraisal" — time estimate: "1-2 weeks" — cost example: "example: $650 appraisal fee" — scene with appraiser notes, valuation document, house measurement visual, report icon. Stage 7: "Final Walkthrough" — time estimate: "1 day before closing" — cost example: "example: $0-$150 minor fixes example" — scene with buyers checking rooms, checklist, key icon. Stage 8: "Close the Deal" — time estimate: "1 day" — cost example: "example: $12,000 closing costs" — scene with closing table, settlement documents, house keys, small pie chart for closing costs in USD. Include a compact sidebar or footer note for "Typical Closing Costs" with small labeled examples in USD such as lender fees, title fees, taxes, insurance, all marked as examples. Maintain an upscale trustworthy editorial tone, realistic lighting, polished staged photography feel, clean labeled sections, no clutter, no real company logos or branded materials. All text rendered cleanly in English, no spelling errors, no gibberish characters, illustrative numbers labeled "example", no specific real-bank or brokerage logos, no watermarks No real bank / brokerage / lender logos. Illustrative numbers labeled as example. No specific listing prices or city-specific guarantees.