Educating Homebuyers.

Host Brady Haye

Educating Homebuyers is your go-to podcast for real stories, expert tips, and honest advice about the homebuying journey. Hosted by Brady Haye, each episode features real estate pros, past clients, and local experts who break down what buyers actually need to know. Whether you're buying your first home, upgrading, or just curious about the market, this show helps you feel informed, educated, and confident every step of the way. NMLS #1450053

  1. 2d ago

    The Mortgage Secrets Most Homebuyers Never See | with Lance Everhart.

    Most homebuyers only see the front end of getting a mortgage: fill out an application, send in some documents, and wait to find out if you're approved. But what actually happens behind the scenes when a loan isn't so straightforward? In this episode of Educating Homebuyers, I sit down with Lance Everhart, someone I've worked alongside for most of my career and one of the smartest mortgage minds I know. Lance has been in banking since 2004 and specializing in residential mortgage lending since 2009. He's also one of the first people I call when I have a complicated loan scenario and need another set of eyes on how we can get it done. We get into some of the situations most homebuyers never see, including: • Can you actually buy a house with a 610 credit score?• How we can sometimes improve a credit score quickly with a rapid rescore• Why having additional money in reserves can completely change an approval• How variable income, overtime, commissions, and inconsistent hours are calculated• Why the income you make isn't always the income we can use• Why getting approved for a certain payment doesn't necessarily mean you should spend that much• How changing property taxes and insurance can impact your payment after closing• How we received an automated VA approval with an 83% debt-to-income ratio• Bank statement loans, non-QM financing, and other creative options when traditional guidelines don't work One of my favorite lines from the episode sums up our approach pretty well: It's not always a “no.” Sometimes it's, “How can we get this to be a yes?” That's also why I encourage homebuyers to start the mortgage conversation early. The more time we have before you find the perfect house, the more opportunities we have to look at your credit, income, assets, loan programs, and overall financial picture to put you in the strongest position possible. If you've ever wondered “How did THAT get approved?!”, this episode gives you a look behind the curtain at how we actually evaluate and structure mortgage approvals. 🎙️ The Mortgage Secrets Most Homebuyers Never See | with Lance Everhart Welcome to Educating Homebuyers. Chapters 00:00 – What Really Happens Behind a Mortgage Approval01:13 – Meet Lance Everhart02:07 – Getting Into Banking in 200403:15 – Entering Mortgage Lending During the Financial Crisis05:09 – From Big Banks to Specialized Mortgage Lending07:00 – How We Evaluate a Mortgage Application09:36 – Can You Buy a House With a 610 Credit Score?11:16 – Turning a Mortgage “No” Into a “Yes”12:27 – The Fastest Ways to Improve Your Credit Score14:33 – How Rapid Credit Rescoring Works15:22 – A Client Increased Her Credit Score Over 100 Points16:40 – The Credit Utilization Rule Homebuyers Should Know18:35 – Why We Look Beyond the Credit Score19:08 – Why You Should Get Pre-Approved Months Before Buying20:34 – How Variable Income Affects Mortgage Qualification22:09 – The Income Mistake That Can Kill a Mortgage Approval23:55 – Why We Require Documentation Before Issuing a Pre-Approval26:11 – Can You Qualify for More House Than You Should Buy?27:23 – Why I Don't Focus on Maximum Pre-Approval28:26 – The New Construction Property Tax Surprise30:32 – Why You Need Breathing Room in Your Housing Payment32:11 – The Difference Between “Can You?” and “Should You?”32:31 – The 83% Debt-to-Income Mortgage Approval35:23 – When Conventional Mortgage Guidelines Don't Work35:52 – Bank Statement & Non-QM Mortgage Options36:55 – What We Know vs. What We Can Prove37:20 – Final Thoughts

  2. Aug 4

    Thinking about buying your first home? Start here. w/ Kaylee Krier

    Buying your first home can feel overwhelming, but it doesn't have to be. In this episode of Educating Homebuyers, I sit down with Realtor Kaylee Johnson to break down some of the biggest misconceptions first-time buyers have and what you actually need to know before getting started. We cover:🏡 Do you really need 20% down?💳 How to build and improve your credit📈 The truth about today's interest rates💰 Why focusing on your monthly payment matters more than chasing the lowest rate🤝 How the right Realtor and lender can completely change your experience❤️ Why buying a home is about so much more than just the transaction Whether you're planning to buy in the next few months or just starting to think about homeownership, this episode will help you feel informed, educated, and comfortable before taking your next step. If you're buying in Iowa, Minnesota, Wisconsin, or Florida, I'd love to help. 🌐 www.teambhaye.com NMLS #1450053 Chapters 00:00 Introduction00:33 Meet Kaylee Johnson01:58 How Kaylee Got Into Real Estate07:47 What Real Estate Is Really Like11:24 The Reality of Commission Income13:29 Why Comparing Yourself on Social Media Hurts18:24 Building a Referral-Based Business21:17 My Homebuying Process Explained24:44 Biggest First-Time Homebuyer Myths25:21 Do You Really Need 20% Down?26:32 When Should You Start the Process?28:44 A Client Story You'll Love31:48 How Homeownership Builds Wealth33:10 The Truth About Today's Interest Rates38:13 Credit Tips Every Buyer Should Know42:34 Final Advice

  3. Jul 21

    You CAN Buy A Home with ITIN | feat. Adamarys Gamboa

    A lot of people assume buying a home isn't possible because they have an ITIN instead of a Social Security number. The truth? It may be much more possible than you think. In this episode of Educating Homebuyers, Brady Haye sits down with Des Moines Realtor Adamarys Gamboa to discuss the realities of purchasing a home with an ITIN, common misconceptions surrounding homeownership in the Latino community, and why education is one of the most important parts of the buying process. Adamarys shares how she unexpectedly found a career in real estate, built her business through social media, and now helps first-time homebuyers understand the path to homeownership with confidence. We also discuss:• Can you buy a home with an ITIN?• Common ITIN mortgage requirements• Credit score and down payment expectations• Challenges for self-employed buyers• Why many families incorrectly believe they can't qualify• How social media has transformed the real estate business• Why starting the mortgage conversation early can make all the difference Whether you're a first-time homebuyer, a real estate agent, or simply curious about the home buying process, this episode is packed with practical advice and real-world experience. ⏱️ Chapters 00:00 Welcome to Educating Homebuyers00:33 Meet Adamarys Gamboa01:40 How She Got Into Real Estate05:26 Lessons From Her First Home Purchase06:16 Why Education Matters During the Homebuying Process08:10 Helping Latino Families Become Homeowners09:46 What If You Don't Qualify Today?10:28 Helping Buyers Who Never Thought They Could Own a Home11:17 Building a Real Estate Business Through Social Media13:30 AI and the Future of Real Estate15:34 Common Challenges Buyers Face Today16:00 Buying a Home With an ITIN17:38 Why Preparation Makes the Buying Process Easier18:21 Final Advice 🏡 Looking to buy a home in Iowa? Visit https://www.teambhaye.com to connect with Brady and his team.   📲 Connect with Brady Haye Website: https://www.teambhaye.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bradyhaye Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BradyHayeMortgage LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bradyhaye NMLS #1450053 #ITINLoan #FirstTimeHomeBuyer #HomeBuying #Mortgage #RealEstate #DesMoines #IowaRealEstate #LatinoHomeownership #EducatingHomebuyers #BradyHaye

  4. Jul 7

    Real Estate Isn't Dead. You're Just Looking at It Wrong | with Aaron O’Tool

    Everyone seems to have an opinion about today's housing market. Some say it's a terrible time to buy. Others think real estate has completely stalled. The reality? It's a lot more nuanced than that. In this episode of Educating Homebuyers, I sit down with Central Iowa Realtor Aaron O'Toole to talk about what's actually happening in today's market. We discuss why buyers have more negotiating power than they've had in years, how seller concessions and rate buydowns are creating opportunities, and why having the right Realtor matters now more than ever. We also cover:• Why today's market actually benefits many buyers• The importance of buyer consultations• Seller concessions, inspections, and sewer scopes• Creative strategies for finding off-market homes• Why the best real estate professionals educate instead of sell• How communication can make or break the homebuying experience Whether you're thinking about buying your first home, upgrading, downsizing, or simply trying to understand what all the headlines really mean, this conversation will help you separate fact from fiction. Chapters 00:00 Introduction00:42 Aaron's journey from teacher to Realtor02:08 Why education creates better homebuyers04:37 Has real estate slowed down?07:16 Why buyers have more opportunities today08:51 Finding homes before they hit the market11:35 The inspection that saved a buyer thousands15:17 Why we never pressure clients18:56 Communication throughout the buying process21:09 Staying connected after closing23:14 Final advice for buyers If you're thinking about buying a home in Iowa and want guidance from a team that puts education first, we'd love to help. 🌐 https://www.teambhaye.com NMLS #1450053

  5. Jun 9

    The Biggest Mistake First-Time Homebuyers Make Before They Even Start | Ashley Noethe

    Many people assume they're not ready to buy a home long before they ever speak with a lender or Realtor. In this episode of Educating Homebuyers, Brady sits down with Ashley Noethe, Realtor, investor, former high school business teacher, wife, and mother of four. Ashley shares her journey from education into real estate, how she and her husband built wealth through real estate investing, and why so many people rule themselves out of homeownership before ever finding out what's possible. Together, Brady and Ashley discuss first-time homebuyer misconceptions, Iowa Finance Authority programs, home appreciation, building equity, real estate investing, social media, personal branding, and why asking questions is often the most important step in the homebuying process. If you've ever wondered whether you're ready to buy a home, this conversation is packed with practical advice, real-world experiences, and encouragement to help you move forward with confidence. Chapters 00:00 Introduction00:30 Meet Ashley Noethe01:00 Growing Up in California and Moving to Iowa02:04 Finding Her Path Through College04:24 Building Confidence Through Entrepreneurship04:48 Their First Real Estate Investment07:10 How Ashley Became a Realtor09:15 Leaving Education for Full-Time Real Estate11:02 Building a Business Through Authenticity13:07 Social Media, AI, and Personal Branding16:00 People Buy People17:15 Is Now a Good Time to Buy a Home?18:18 The Reality of First-Time Homebuyer Programs20:00 New Construction vs Existing Homes24:04 The Power of Starting Early25:25 Leveraging Equity to Build Wealth27:09 Why You Can't Time the Market28:46 Ashley's Advice for Future Homebuyers30:06 Final Thoughts

  6. May 26

    The REAL Problem With Housing Affordability Right Now with Adam Pretorius

    What’s REALLY causing the housing affordability crisis right now? In this episode of Educating Homebuyers, Brady Haye sits down with luxury real estate agent, developer, and industry leader Adam Pretorius to unpack the true challenges facing today’s housing market. This conversation goes far beyond just interest rates. Adam shares insight into:• Why housing affordability has become such a major issue• The exploding cost of new construction• Why builders can’t keep up with demand• Luxury real estate trends• Mixed-use developments and townhome communities• The future of the American Dream• Why younger buyers may value community amenities differently• The realities of development, zoning, and housing inventory Whether you're a first time homebuyer, investor, realtor, or simply curious about where the market is headed, this episode offers valuable perspective on the future of housing. CHAPTERS 00:00 Intro01:01 Adam’s journey into luxury real estate02:40 Breaking into the luxury housing market04:08 Why design & development matter05:47 What luxury buyers are really looking for07:17 Relocation buyers & selling lifestyle08:45 Inside large scale housing developments12:17 The REAL affordability problem14:05 Why townhomes may become more popular17:47 Mixed-use communities & Prairie Trail20:06 The future of real estate & housing If you enjoyed this episode, make sure to subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone navigating today’s housing market. Connect with Brady Haye Mortgage Team: Website: Brady Haye Mortgage TeamInstagram: Instagram

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
3 Ratings

About

Educating Homebuyers is your go-to podcast for real stories, expert tips, and honest advice about the homebuying journey. Hosted by Brady Haye, each episode features real estate pros, past clients, and local experts who break down what buyers actually need to know. Whether you're buying your first home, upgrading, or just curious about the market, this show helps you feel informed, educated, and confident every step of the way. NMLS #1450053