Homebuying 101: Tips for a Smooth, Stress-Free Process

Welcome to the Yes, You Can Buy a Home podcast, hosted by Keith Goeringer, a seasoned expert with 23 years of experience in the mortgage and real estate industries. Whether you're a first-time homebuyer or navigating the process again, this podcast is your go-to resource for making homeownership easy and achievable.
Join Keith and his expert guests as they break down everything you need to know, from understanding your monthly payment (PITI) to mastering the pre-approval process. Each episode is packed with practical tips, common-sense advice, and insider secrets to help you avoid pitfalls, set realistic expectations, and find the home of your dreams.
Say goodbye to confusion and overwhelm—because yes, you can buy a home!

Introduction
Keith introduces the Yes, You Can Buy a Home podcast, sharing his experience in real estate and mortgages. He highlights the goal of the episode: simplifying the home-buying process.

Breaking Down PITI
Keith and Lori discuss the key components of a mortgage payment:
Principal, Interest, Taxes, and Insurance (PITI).
Additional factors like mortgage insurance, HOA fees, and flood insurance.

The Importance of Pre-Approval
The duo emphasizes why pre-approval should be the first step in the home-buying process:
Setting realistic expectations.
Avoiding disappointment when shopping for homes.


Setting Your Budget and Threshold
Keith explains how to balance affordability with comfort:
Understanding debt-to-income (DTI) ratios.
How credit scores impact borrowing power.

Custom Home Searches vs. Zillow
Lori breaks down why relying on experts for a custom home search is more effective than using platforms like Zillow:
The human touch in finding homes.
Pitfalls of automated systems.

Interest Rates and Loan Options
Keith highlights the variability of interest rates and why flexibility in lenders can benefit buyers:
The importance of rate locks.
Adapting to changing market conditions.

Recap and Final Thoughts
The episode wraps up with a summary of key takeaways:
Start with pre-approval.
Build a trusted team of professionals.
Stay informed to avoid common home-buying pitfalls.

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