01/28/2025
Tip #1: Start with a Budget, Not the Home Search
Or at least a snapshot of where you are right now.
Here are some key questions to get started:
• What’s your gross monthly income?
• What are your current monthly bills?
• How much of a “housing” payment feels comfortable for you?
• How’s your credit looking?
Starting here (yes, we can do this together on a quick call) will help clarify what you can afford today. It can also give you ideas on how to make homeownership happen—whether that’s through co-borrowers, rental income, or other creative strategies.
There are two ways we can figure this out:
1. A quick 10-15 minute pre-qualification call.
2. A more in-depth pre-approval process where we review the necessary documentation to get you ready for a contract.
__________________________________
Full disclaimer: When I started home hunting, this wasn’t the fun part I wanted to start with either. Homes are the exciting part—the word “budget”? Not so much (depending on who you’re talking to).
For us, starting small was key. We focused on houses with rentable units to help subsidize our mortgage payments. (We also bought a fixer-upper—thank you, YouTube University!)
If you’re curious about creative ways to make homeownership a reality, let’s talk! Whether it’s leveraging rental income, co-borrowing, or thinking outside the box, I’d love to help you create a solid foundation for your future.
