FIRST-TIME HOMEBUYER GUIDE

Your first home.
A clearer plan.

Start with the questions that matter: your payment, your down payment, and what comes next.

Explore mortgage planning with Kevin Frey at NEXA Lending for your first home or next move in Washington, Idaho, Arizona, Utah, or Illinois.

Estimate your payment

Call Kevin: (425) 941-0606Phone calls seven days a week

Kevin Frey · Mortgage Advisor · NMLS #2576911

A family unpacking boxes in a bright living room
Make room for your next chapter.
01 / START WITH YOUR COMFORT ZONE

What can you comfortably spend?

A home-price range is a starting point. The payment and cash you need should also leave room for everyday life.

Your monthly payment

Plan for principal and interest, property taxes, home insurance, and any mortgage insurance or HOA dues. Add utilities, maintenance, and your other household expenses to your budget.

Your upfront cash

Your down payment is one piece. Plan for closing costs, prepaid expenses, moving, and any immediate home needs. Ask Kevin to help you separate these amounts.

Your savings cushion

Think about what you want left after closing for repairs and unexpected expenses. A lender’s maximum loan amount and your comfortable budget may be different.

02 / BEFORE THE OFFER

Understand mortgage preapproval.

A preapproval or prequalification letter describes a lender’s willingness to lend based on information and conditions. Lenders use these terms differently, so ask what was reviewed, what is still needed, and when the letter expires.

The letter is not a guaranteed loan offer. The borrower, property, and loan must still meet the lender’s requirements.

CFPB: prequalification and preapproval
DOCUMENTS TO HAVE IN MIND

Get ready for the conversation.

Underwriting requests depend on your situation. Common items include:

  • Recent pay statements and employment information
  • W-2s and tax returns, as applicable
  • Bank or investment account statements
  • Information about debts and your down payment source
  • Details of a job change, relocation, or self-employment

Ask Kevin which documents apply to you and how to provide them securely. These are common verification requests; documents are not a condition of receiving a Loan Estimate.

CFPB: preparing your application information
03 / COMPARE THE POSSIBILITIES

Which home loan fits your plans?

Kevin can help explore lender options around your finances, the property, and your timeline. Ask about the payment, cash to close, and total costs for each choice.

CONVENTIONAL

A place to start.

Discuss down payment choices, credit requirements, loan terms, and when private mortgage insurance applies.

FHA

Another path to compare.

Review FHA-insured financing, including its eligibility requirements, down payment, and mortgage insurance costs.

VA

Explore your earned benefit.

Eligible Veterans, service members, and certain surviving spouses can discuss VA purchase financing and the requirements for their situation.

Explore VA home loan options
JUMBO

For a larger loan.

If your financing need exceeds the applicable conforming loan limit, ask about jumbo lender guidelines, reserves, and documentation.

Loan availability and terms depend on eligibility, property, lender guidelines, and underwriting. No loan program is the right fit for every buyer.

04 / LOOK BEYOND THE DOWN PAYMENT

Know your cash to close.

Review your Loan Estimate carefully. It shows the proposed loan terms, estimated monthly costs, and estimated cash needed at closing. Receiving it does not mean the loan is approved.

Compare Loan Estimates for the same type of loan from different lenders. Review points, lender credits, and the rate-lock status alongside the interest rate.

CFPB: reviewing Loan Estimates
Down payment
The part of the purchase price you pay rather than borrow.
Closing costs & prepaid items
Loan and settlement fees, plus items such as insurance, prepaid interest, and initial escrow deposits, as applicable.
Estimated cash to close
The amount estimated to be due at closing after accounting for your deposit, permitted credits, and other adjustments.
CFPB: read a sample Loan Estimate
WASHINGTON · IDAHO · UTAH · ARIZONA

Your state. Your goals. A clearer plan.

Explore home loan planning and Realtor financing support in Washington, Idaho, Utah, and Arizona. Each guide connects local resources with the questions to ask before an offer or a move.

I’m also licensed in Illinois. Wherever your next move is within my licensed states, bring the property, goals, and timing into the conversation early.

Call Kevin: (425) 941-0606

Free conversation · Phone calls seven days a week

A NEW HOME IN A NEW STATE

Moving? Keep Kevin in your corner.

Kevin is licensed in Washington, Idaho, Arizona, Utah, and Illinois. Bring your new job or transfer, home-sale timing, and purchase plans into the mortgage conversation early.

Plan a relocation with Kevin
FIRST-HOME QUESTIONS

You don’t have to know it all.

My goal is to help you understand the mortgage process, feel comfortable asking questions, and know what comes next.

I’m available for phone calls seven days a week. Call me at (425) 941-0606.

Can I start before I find a home?

Absolutely. Let’s get a strategy in place, whether you’re looking to buy now or 12 months from now. Talking with me is free, and planning early helps you understand your budget, strengthen your home search, and prepare to make an offer when you find the right home.

Together, we’ll talk through your goals, savings, and any job change or home sale that could affect your timing. Already have an agent? Connect us so we can coordinate your home search and financing. If you’re still looking, I can help you find an agent whose experience and approach fit your needs. I’ll explain what to prepare and what comes next.

Moving to a new area? Can you help me find an agent?

Absolutely. Let me help you do the research and find a top local agent in the area you’re considering. We’ll talk about your budget, timeline, the type of home you want, and what matters most about your move, then look for an agent whose local knowledge and approach fit your needs.

Let my tools, referrals, and experience help make your move less stressful. I can help you ask the right questions, connect with an agent, and coordinate your home search with your financing plans. Already have an agent? Introduce us so we can work together around your goals and timeline.

Do I need a 20% down payment?

Not necessarily. Some loan programs allow smaller down payments for eligible buyers. Your options depend on the loan program, lender, property, and your financial situation. The amount you put down can affect your payment, mortgage insurance, and overall loan cost.

I’ll help you compare down payment scenarios and understand the full cash needed to close. We’ll also talk about keeping savings for moving, repairs, and everyday life. The goal is a plan you understand and feel comfortable with, based on your circumstances.

CFPB: understanding your down payment
Can I ask about down payment assistance?

Absolutely. Tell me where you want to buy, your timeline, and what you have saved. I can help you explore whether assistance may be available for your location and circumstances, then check the program’s current requirements and lender participation.

We’ll ask about income limits, homebuyer education, repayment terms, and how the assistance affects your payment and total loan cost. Availability, funding, and eligibility vary. I’ll help you understand the details before you decide whether a program fits your plans.

CFPB: special loan programs and assistance
What should I compare besides the interest rate?

Look at the loan type and term, annual percentage rate (APR), full monthly payment, mortgage insurance, upfront costs, lender credits, and cash to close. Comparing the same type of loan helps you see the differences more clearly.

I’ll walk through the Loan Estimate with you and explain lender charges, third-party costs, and items such as taxes and insurance. We’ll discuss which figures are estimates, whether the rate is locked, and how long you expect to keep the loan, so you can compare the costs and tradeoffs with confidence.

CFPB: understanding your Loan Estimate
Does the mortgage calculator preapprove me?

No. It’s a useful starting point for exploring a payment, but it does not check your credit, verify your finances, or issue a Loan Estimate or approval. A preapproval involves a lender’s review, and lenders use the terms preapproval and prequalification differently.

I’ll explain the process, help you understand which documents may be needed, and clarify what has been reviewed and what still needs to happen. A preapproval is not a guaranteed loan offer; the borrower, property, and loan must still meet lender requirements. Bring me your questions at any stage.

Use the payment calculator
A FREE RESOURCE FOR LIFE AFTER CLOSING

Own a home? Keep this handy.

Easy-to-forget reminders about escrow, insurance, maintenance, safety, records, and mortgage payments. Save Kevin’s one-page homeowner checklist and revisit it throughout the year.

Free PDF · One page · No form to fill out
Download homeowner checklist
YOUR FIRST STEP CAN BE A CONVERSATION

Let’s build your homebuying plan.

Tell Kevin where you want to buy, when you want to move, and what you’d like to understand first.

Start your application

Online applications open in Kevin’s LendingPad portal in a new tab.

Kevin FreyMortgage Advisor · NMLS #2576911(425) 941-0606Kfrey@nexalending.com

Licensed in WA, ID, AZ, UT & IL

General homebuying education · Updated October 30, 2026. Linked CFPB resources offer additional consumer guidance; they do not endorse Kevin Frey or NEXA. Discuss current requirements for your situation with Kevin.

A CONVERSATION IS A GREAT FIRST STEP

Where are you headed?

Share your plans and how you’d like Kevin to reach you. We’ll prepare an email you can review and send.

Your contact preferences

If you prefer a call or text, include a number Kevin can use.

A day, time window, and time zone are helpful. No preference is fine, too.

Please keep financial documents, account numbers, and Social Security numbers out of your message. For your mortgage application, use Kevin’s LendingPad portal .

Prefer to call? (425) 941-0606
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Call KevinSeven days a week(425) 941-0606