I've been where you are.
Buying your first home feels overwhelming before you even start. I know, because I was that person — 5% down, no real idea what I was doing, hoping somebody would just tell me what came next.
You've been saving. You've been browsing listings. And now that it's getting real, you have about a hundred questions and you're not sure who to ask. How much can I actually afford? How much do I need for a down payment? What if my credit isn't perfect?
I've spent the last 12 years helping people through the process I had to figure out on my own. Here's what that actually looks like.
The first call isn't about rates
Most lenders open with pricing and paperwork. I don't, because neither one means anything until I understand what you're actually trying to do.
So the first conversation is about goals. Where you are financially. What a monthly payment feels like to you — not what a calculator says you qualify for, but what you'd actually be comfortable writing a check for every month. Where you want to be in five or ten years, and whether this house serves that or gets in the way.
Everything after this call is shaped by that conversation. It's worth doing properly.
What happens next
Goals conversation
We talk about your finances, your comfortable payment, and where you want to be in five to ten years. No pressure and no sales pitch.
Your custom scenarios
I build you a chart showing multiple purchase prices, down payment options, and loan types side by side — so you can see the tradeoffs rather than take my word for them. As an independent broker, I compare across multiple lenders, not one bank.
Pre-approval
For clients who are ready and responsive, this can happen in roughly 40 hours.
The walkthrough
A 45-minute call where we go through every number on screen together. Nothing glossed over, nothing rushed. You ask questions until you actually feel good about the decision.
Offer to closing
Once you find a home, I coordinate with your agent, the title company, and the lender, and keep you updated at every step. Nothing goes quiet.
Why the front end matters most
The biggest thing first-time buyers don't realize is that this process doesn't have to be as hard as they're expecting. Most of the stress people describe comes from decisions that were rushed or skipped early on — an offer written before anyone understood the numbers, a pre-approval that wasn't fully underwritten, a payment nobody stress-tested against the buyer's actual budget.
Do the work up front and the rest genuinely can be smooth. That's not a promise about your particular transaction. It's just where the difficulty usually comes from.
Loan Programs for First-Time Buyers
You may have more options than you think:
- •Conventional loans — As low as 3% down with good credit
- •FHA loans — 3.5% down with more flexible credit requirements
- •VA loans — Zero down payment for eligible veterans
- •USDA loans — Zero down for eligible rural/suburban areas
- •Washington & Oregon state programs — Down payment assistance and grants for qualifying buyers
I'll help you figure out which programs you qualify for and which one makes the most sense.
What first-time buyers say about working with Jeff
One thing that really stood out was his dedication to helping us see the bigger picture — he made it clear that we weren't just buying a home, but making an investment in our own futures.
Joyce S.D.
First-Time Homebuyer
Buying a home, as you know, can be very overwhelming and stressful. Jeff was so helpful in alleviating many of those stressors by explaining many of the details involving buying a home, things to expect, and preparing for the future. He turned a big scary process into a much less scary thing!
Allison C.
First-Time Buyer
Common First-Time Buyer Questions
How much do I need for a down payment?
What credit score do I need?
Should I get pre-approved before I start looking at homes?
How long does the whole process take?
Download the Free First-Time Homebuyer Guide
A plain-English walkthrough of the entire homebuying process — from pre-approval to closing day.