The Radiologists' Guide to Home Buying: Practical Guidance for Training and Early Practice

Physicians reach the housing market at an awkward moment: peak educational debt, modest trainee income, frequent relocation, and an abrupt income transition at the start of attending practice. This review provides practical guidance on the first home purchase for radiologists in training and early practice. We address the decision to buy against realistic time horizons, financing options including physician mortgage products, the search and inspection process, negotiation and closing, and the recurring costs of ownership, drawing on current data on physician debt, radiologist compensation, housing prices, and early-career job attrition. The central conclusion is simple: buyers with short or uncertain horizons are usually better served by renting, while buyers with verified stability can purchase with confidence.