1. Hire a good realtor.

I wrote a book for first time homebuyers in Texas. Send me a text or email (contact info in my profile) and I'll send you a PDF.

We have agents across Texas and rebate half of our commission to our buyer clients. On a $300,000 house this is typically around $4,500. Happy to help.

Happy to help any way I can. I'm based in DFW and have helped many buyers purchase their first home!

Several transactions using a VA loan.

Don't underestimate the rebate we offer. That is cold hard cash that can be used to lower the closing costs (insurance/tax escrows) or just reinvest back into the home (maybe a 75in TV…)

As Jamie mentioned, he wrote an easy to read book for first home buyers and we can make sure all your questions are answered or at least point you in the right direction.

The mortgage guys will have more up to date info, and there are other factors, but average rates now are in the mid 7s.

I guess I will throw my hat into the ring as we have been the title sponsor of this board from 2006 or so when we approached Brandon about having a real estate board, and have helped countless Aggies buy their first home with some we have helped buy their 5th, 6th etc home over the years.

As for my advice for first time home buyers from a lenders side of things is to breathe. Yes, choosing a house can be stressful, your financing should NOT be. You should be able to have a 10 minute conversation with an experienced lender and they should be able to tell you what the potential hurdles you might have (if any) and how to solve those before you fall in love with any houses. Speaking for my business, we close 50-100 mortgages a month so we have seen a lot of things, so it is a ho hum transaction for us and we do our best to make it feel that way for the borrower if a first timer or the guy buying his 30th investment property.

I know the prevailing wisdom on this thread is to talk to an agent first, but I would say talk to a lender before even engaging a real estate agent. The lender will be able to qualify you for a ball park price point and what your options would be while giving you an idea of what the price will cost you etc.

Any borrower first timer or not should make should take the time to understand the numbers you are looking at when comparing lending options. Again, breathe. Have conversations with the lenders. Understand what costs the lender controls and that costs and rate are 100% related. So, the lowest rate might NOT the best decision in your situation if it is costing you much too much upfront. Slow down, it should not take more then 15 days~ to get the average loan scenario closed so you do have time to understand.

Jay@AgsReward.com said:

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I guess I will throw my hat into the ring as we have been the title sponsor of this board from 2006 or so when we approached Brandon about having a real estate board, and have helped countless Aggies buy their first home with some we have helped buy their 5th, 6th etc home over the years.

As for my advice for first time home buyers from a lenders side of things is to breathe. Yes, choosing a house can be stressful, your financing should NOT be. You should be able to have a 10 minute conversation with an experienced lender and they should be able to tell you what the potential hurdles you might have (if any) and how to solve those before you fall in love with any houses. Speaking for my business, we close 50-100 mortgages a month so we have seen a lot of things, so it is a ho hum transaction for us and we do our best to make it feel that way for the borrower if a first timer or the guy buying is 30th investment property.

I know the prevailing wisdom on this thread is to talk to an agent first, but I would say talk to a lender before even engaging a real estate agent. The lender will be able to qualify you for a ball park price point and what your options would be while giving you an idea of what the price will cost you etc.

Any borrower first timer or not should make should take the time to understand the numbers you are looking at when comparing lending options. Again, breathe. Have conversations with the lenders. Understand what costs the lender controls and that costs and rate are 100% related. So, the lowest rate might NOT the best decision in your situation if it is costing you much too much upfront. Slow down, it should not take more then 15 days~ to get the average loan scenario closed so you do have time to understand.

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I'd agree with Jay on "talk to a lender first". When I speak with people looking to buy, the very first thing on the "TO-DO" list I give them is to have a good conversation with a lender. If you do that first, your first conversation with the agent will be much more productive.

Step 1: If in Texas connect with whichever Red Pear agent serves your area. Some say having an agent that specializes in a particular neighborhood is important but I've found that micro local expertise is more beneficial on the seller side and less important for a buyer. The only caveat being that highly local buyers agents may have pre-market or off market listings in a hyper competitive market but I don't think the market in general is as competitive for buyers as it was 18 months ago.

Step 1a: Get rate quotes from the three mortgage guys that posted on this thread (Steve, JJ, Jay). I've talked to all three of them and they are all honest and straightforward. During a refinance one of the three advised me to go with the other to get a better rate instead of trying to use some bs high pressure tactics like I've experienced in the past with other lenders.