Three things almost everyone gets wrong.
If you've never bought a house, you've probably absorbed some things that aren't true. Let's clear those first.
"I need 20% down."
You don't. That figure comes up constantly and it stops people from even starting. There are loan programs with far lower down payments, and Washington has down payment assistance programs too. What's right for you is a conversation with a lender — and I'll introduce you to two or three so you can compare.
"I can't afford a home."
Maybe. Maybe not yet, and maybe sooner than you think. The honest answer is that neither of us knows until a lender looks at your actual situation. If it turns out you're not ready, I'll tell you that plainly and tell you what to work on. That's a real answer, and it's free.
"Find the house first, then get pre-approved."
Backwards, and it's the one that hurts. In this market, an offer without a pre-approval usually doesn't get taken seriously. Worse, you fall in love with a house before you know what you're working with. Lender first. Always.
Usually, it's the monthly payment.
That's the fear I hear most, and it's a reasonable one. A lot of people find out late that the payment includes more than they budgeted for.
So here's what actually goes into it: principal and interest, yes — but also property taxes, homeowner's insurance, mortgage insurance if your down payment is under a certain threshold, and HOA dues if the place has them. On an older house, you should also be thinking about what maintenance costs before it becomes urgent.
I'm not a lender and I won't tell you what you can afford — that's their job, and it's a legal line I take seriously. What I will do is make sure you understand every piece of the number before you're standing in a house you love.
I teach first-time home buyer classes.
No cost, no obligation, and nobody's going to call you afterward asking if you're ready to buy. It's the whole process, start to finish, in a room where basic questions are the point rather than an embarrassment.
Come, learn how it works, and go away and think about it for a year if that's what you need.
[[PLACEHOLDER: next class date, time, and location — plus a signup form. Until there's a date, this section links to the contact page.]]
You learn before you commit.
I'll walk you through the entire process before you sign anything with me. Not a sales meeting — an explanation. If at the end of it you decide to work with someone else, or to wait two years, that's a completely fine outcome.
- I'll introduce you to two or three lenders so you can compare, rather than pushing the one who sends me referrals.
- I'll go through the loan estimate with you line by line.
- You'll have closing costs in writing before we make an offer.
- I'll explain every line of the offer before you sign it.
- If a house is a bad idea, I'll say so, even when it costs me the sale.
My before-you-write-an-offer checklist — free, no signup →
"She took the time to answer every question, realistic or hypothetical, including going over several 'what if' scenarios, both good and bad. Her knowledge, expertise and connections continue to be relevant even after purchasing!"
Paulina V. — Google reviewStart with a question.
You don't need to know what to ask. Just tell me where you're at — even if that's “I have no idea if this is possible.”