WHEN YOU’RE ON the journey to owning your first home, there are a lot of big questions – and it helps to get answers from the people who really know.

That’s why we connected first-time buyers with a panel of top home buying experts for Your Journey Home, a virtual home buying event brought to you by permanent tsb and TheJournal.ie.

Buyers who joined the interactive live event were treated to helpful tips on a wide range of topics, from saving and applying for a mortgage to house hunting and decorating their new home. Our panelists answered audience questions live on air, and there were even some prizes along the way.

But if you missed out on signing up for the event itself, don’t worry: you can still hear what our panel of pros had to say.

We’re now making the highlights of the event available online for anyone who didn’t make it first time around. So while you won’t be able to ask questions or win prizes, you’ll see the full benefit of the expert insights on offer. A taster of what to expect…

• Our host, broadcaster Justine King, on what she learned from her own home buying journey. You’ll hear her top savings tips (including making room for the occasional treat in your budget), and hear why getting mortgage approval when you’re self-employed isn’t as tricky as you think
• Stephen Hudson, Mortgage Consultant with permanent tsb, on getting your mortgage application ready – and why establishing your budget with a dedicated tool like the permanent tsb Mortgage Calculator should be your first step
• Liz O’Kane, buyer’s agent, on her top house hunting tips – including suggestions to help with the bidding process, like bidding in small increments, or using uneven numbers to “upset the pattern” and catch other bidders off guard
• Sarah Battle, interiors expert and the brains behind @housebythewhitethorns, on how to turn your new house into a home – including a handy way to test out your chosen wall colours before committing to any painting.

Check out the highlights below: