Angie's List Report: First-time home buying

While the National Association of Realtors say the median age of first-time homebuyers is 31-years-old, Matthew and Erica Waggoner got in the game in their mid-20s.

Into that equation.

41nbc's shelby coates explains in today's angie's list report.

(((shelby intro))) not everyone from the millennial generation is content just paying rent.

And many have embraced home remodeling.

Script: vo (:12) while the national association of realtors says... the median age of first-time homebuyers is 31 years old ... matthew and erica waggoner got in the game in their mid-20s.

And after living in their first house for five years... they bought and renovated a 1920s residence.

Sot #1, erica waggoner, homeowner (:09) "i can tell you matt and i were not one of those people that ever thought we would do this, ever.

We had some friends that renovated a home, so we got to see kind of what they were doing."

Vo (:04) before jumping in -- the couple with two young kids -- made sure the numbers made sense.

Sot #1, angie hicks, founder of angie's list, (:13) "when considering how much you can afford in a house, remember to look at the big picture.

It's not just the mortgage.

It's the insurance, the property taxes, and as a rule of thumb, homeowners spend about 3 percent of the value of their home in repair and maintenance eac."

Vo (:05) the waggoners added a thousand square feet ... and an open floor plan... that suited their needs.

Sot #1, matthew waggoner, homeowner, (:07) "we're a family that loves to host, and so having the ability to have 20 or 30 people in a room, we absolutely love."

Vo (:03) the couple did what they could ... but knew when to go with a pro.

Sot #2, erica waggoner, (:07) "if you don't really know what you're doing, i mean matt and i both just wanted to go the route where we hired someone because that's what their expertise is."

Vo (:10) the remodel brought some cross-generational pride... from matthew's 92-year-old grandfather ...