We don’t believe in “good” or “bad” times to buy. Our philosophy is that once you’ve found a house that you’re excited to live in and fits snugly in your budget, it’s a good time to buy. The market is constantly changing, so it’s not worth waiting for the perfect moment. Once you’ve found a great situation for you, you’ve won.

Closing costs can vary somewhat significantly depending on the house you’re buying and the program you’re using to buy it, but a rough estimate would be 2-3% of the purchase price. The best way to get a better idea of what closing costs could run you is to get a pre-approval.

Yes! It helps greatly if you don’t take any new debt or make any big purchases before buying your house. So this means no boats, cars, or new credit cards. Lenders want to see that you’re responsible, and new debts clouds that image.

If you can afford the higher payments or are willing to buy a less expensive home, 15 year mortgages can save you a ton of money in interest while allowing you to gain full ownership of your property in half the time. They aren’t always the right decision though - 30 year mortgages are easier to qualify for, and because the monthly payment is lower you’ll be able to buy a bigger or better house. Really depends on your priorities.

20% down payments, in most cases, are not necessary and likely not the best financial decision. Liquidity is important - once the money is in your house you can’t take it out without refinancing. A lower down payment means a higher monthly payment, but you can use the money you would have spent on the down payment to cover that. In case of emergency, it’s better to have the money in cash than in your house.

Yes, we know a ton of great agents. There are a few that we specifically love to work with, but ultimately we will recommend a few people and you can talk to them yourself and make a decision from there.