Client Profile: Name: Crystal Age: 31 Occupation: Digital marketing specialist Goal: Buy a first home that could also become a rental Location: Raleigh-Durham, NC The Situation Crystal was eager to buy her first property — but overwhelmed. Every day, new listings popped up that were “cute,” “cozy,” “charming,” or just barely within her price range. She’d been casually browsing for […]
Client Profile: Name: John Age: 30 Occupation: Logistics manager Goal: Get out of the rent cycle and stabilize monthly expenses Location: Austin, TX The Situation John was renting a 1-bedroom apartment for $1,780/month. Every year, the rent climbed — $75 here, $100 there. He liked the flexibility, but hated the feeling of having no control over his cost of living. When his
The Truth About Private Mortgage Insurance (and How to Make It Work for You) PMI Sounds Scary—But It Might Be Your Ticket In If you’ve heard of PMI and thought, “Ugh, one more fee?”—you’re not alone. Private Mortgage Insurance can feel like a mystery charge when you’re already juggling numbers. But here’s the truth: it
1. Bigger Down Payment = Smaller Loan and Lower Monthly Payments 1. Bigger Down Payment = Smaller Loan and Lower Monthly Payments When you put more down, you borrow less. That means: Lower monthly mortgage payments Less total interest paid over the life of your loanBetter loan terms in many cases (including lower rates) Even a few extra
1. You Have a Steady Income and Stable Employment Before anything else, lenders want to know you can consistently make your mortgage payments. If you’ve been employed for at least two years in the same field and your income is predictable, that’s a green flag. Consistent paychecks = predictable monthly payments Stable job history = stronger mortgage
Not Sure How Much House You Can Really Afford? Start Here. Before you fall in love with that perfect house online, there’s one crucial question to answer: how much home can you actually afford? Most first-time buyers make one of two mistakes—aiming too high and getting overwhelmed, or aiming too low and limiting their potential.
1. A Co-Signer Is Someone Who Agrees to Take Responsibility for Your Loan A co-signer is someone who signs the loan agreement along with you and agrees to take responsibility for the mortgage if you’re unable to make the payments. Most often, a co-signer is a family member or close friend The co-signer’s credit score and income are considered by the lender
Let’s get this out of the way right now: You do NOT need 20% down to buy a home. You can put 20% down if it fits your goals… But you don’t have to. And for many people — especially first-time buyers — it might even slow you down unnecessarily. Let’s unpack what’s really going
You Don’t Have to Buy a Home Alone If you’re a first-time buyer with solid credit but not enough income to qualify for the home you want, there’s a powerful solution: bring in a non-occupant co-borrower. This strategy lets someone (usually a parent, relative, or close friend) co-sign on your mortgage without living in the
Let’s get this out of the way right now: You do NOT need 20% down to buy a home. You can put 20% down if it fits your goals… But you don’t have to. And for many people — especially first-time buyers — it might even slow you down unnecessarily. Let’s unpack what’s really going