First Time Homebuyers
Buying Your First Home Shouldn’t Feel Impossible
You’ve been scrolling listings, checking your savings, and wondering if buying your first home is even realistic. You’re not alone. And you’re not wrong for feeling overwhelmed.
But the good news? You don’t have to figure it out alone.
You Deserve a Clear, Personalized Path to Homeownership
I’m Rosa Briggs, a local mortgage advisor who’s helped hundreds of first-time buyers in Washington turn “maybe someday” into “we got the keys.”
When you work with my team, you get more than just loan options. You get real guidance, honest answers, and a plan that fits your unique financial story.
Here’s How We’ll Move Forward Together
Step 1: Let’s Talk About Your Goals
We start with a free homebuyer planning call to learn about your timeline, questions, and concerns.
Step 2: Get Pre-Approved With Confidence
We’ll review your credit, income, and budget to find what you can afford and where down payment help may be available.
Step 3: Make a Plan You Can Feel Good About
With financing options tailored to you, you’ll be ready to shop with clarity and make decisions with confidence.
Worried About Credit, Savings, or Eligibility? Let’s Break It Down.
How Much Do I Need for a Down Payment?
You may not need as much as you think.
- Conventional Loan – as little as 3% down
- FHA Loan – 3.5% down, with flexible credit requirements
- VA & USDA Loans – 0% down if eligible
And yes, down payment assistance is available. Washington State offers programs that help first-time buyers cover upfront costs. My team will help you explore and apply for the right ones.
What Credit Score Do I Need?
Your score affects your rate and approval, but you don’t need perfection.
Credit scores are made up of:
- 35% – Payment history
- 30% – Amounts owed
- 15% – Length of credit history
- 10% – Types of credit
- 10% – New credit/inquiries
Even small changes (like paying down a credit card or correcting an error) can help. We’ll walk you through it.
Pre-Qualification vs. Pre-Approval: What’s the Difference?
Pre-qualification gives you a rough estimate based on basic info.
Pre-approval verifies your income and credit, giving you stronger buying power with sellers.
We find that pre-approval is typically the strategic choice for most buyers.
When You Work With My Team, You’ll Find…
- Free First-Time Home Buyer classes held regularly to help you start strong
- Step-by-step support for down payment assistance programs
- Mortgage solutions tailored to your needs, not generic templates
- Clear explanations at every stage, so you never feel lost or rushed
- Connections to trusted local partners who care as much as we do
You’re not just a file in a system. You’re a future homeowner, and we treat you like one.
What Others Are Saying
We’re extremely proud of our work. See what other first time buyers say about working with us.
Having someone who knows the process well, and is able to answer your question throughly is huge…They were extremely knowledgeable and went above and beyond on all the questions I had. Truly a good team to have on your side.
Rosa and her team made buying our first home a breeze. They catered to our needs, were consistently communicative, gave great guidance, and connected us with a wonderful realtor. I would highly recommend Rosa if you’re in the market for a new house.
Throughout the whole process Rosa and team were quick to answer all of our questions and help create a plan that works best for us. The team made what can be a very intimidating process super simple! Highly recommend!
Rosa and her team were great to work with! Super knowledgeable, patient, and responsive. I felt confident throughout the process that we would close (and we did!).
Rosa and her team were professional and attentive at every step of the way. Anytime we wanted to run numbers on a prospective house, they got back to us very quickly so that we could make informed decisions… They made our first time home buying experience a smooth, exciting process. Thank you, Rosa and team!
Common Questions
How long does the loan process take?
Most closings happen within 30–45 days of your offer.
What if I don’t have much saved?
That’s okay. We can help you explore assistance options and create a custom savings strategy.
Can I buy a home with student loans?
Yes. We’ll look at your full picture and help you navigate any loan-specific guidelines.
Start With a First Time Homebuyer Class
Buying your first home is a big step—but you don’t have to figure it all out on your own.
Whether you’re just starting to explore the idea or you’re actively preparing to buy, our free First-Time Homebuyer Class is designed to give you the clarity and confidence you need.
You’ll learn:
- Common mistakes to avoid—and how to feel more prepared at every step
- How to navigate the loan process from start to finish
- What loan programs and down payment options may be available
- How credit, income, and savings play into your homebuying plan
It’s a great first step toward understanding what’s possible and what comes next.
You’re Closer Than You Think
You don’t have to figure this out alone. Let’s talk through your goals and create a personalized game plan that gets you one step closer to the keys in your hand.
Schedule a consultation or join my next first-time buyer class.
Your first home is closer than you think, and I’d be honored to help you get there.
