There are three things I wish I had known about homeownership before I became a mortgage lender.

If I had known them earlier, I’m convinced I’d already be a property bazillionaire. I’m only half joking. Hindsight really is 20/20.

I’ve now been a mortgage lender for 19 years, and my team is consistently one of the top purchase teams in the country. Over the years, I’ve worked with thousands of buyers, listened to just as many fears, and watched people delay homeownership for reasons that, in hindsight, didn’t need to hold them back.

So if you’re on the fence, here are the three biggest lessons I wish someone had clearly explained to me sooner.

1. Buying a Home Isn’t as Hard as People Think

When I was in my 20s, I truly believed buying a home required:

• Perfect credit

• A massive down payment

• A high-paying, ultra-stable job

Basically, I thought you had to be a “perfect borrower” to qualify. That simply isn’t true.

Today, the minimum down payment for a first-time homebuyer on a conventional loan is just 3%. On a $500,000 home, that’s $15,000 — not $100,000 like so many people assume. And in many markets, sellers are still covering closing costs, which reduces the cash needed even further.

Credit is another area where fear tends to run wild. Yes, credit matters — but it does not have to be perfect. Most loan programs start around a 620 credit score, and even higher scores don’t need to be flawless. A missed payment a year or two ago does not automatically disqualify you.

Employment is also more flexible than many people realize. Lenders typically look for 2 years of steady employment, not 2 years with the same employer. Changing jobs, industries, or companies is usually fine. The only time things get trickier is with self-employment transitions, and even those aren’t impossible.

The bottom line? Buying a home isn’t nearly as intimidating as it’s made out to be, especially when you talk to a lender who will simply explain the rules instead of letting fear do the talking.

2. The Earlier You Get In, the Better

I know — this sounds like something every real estate agent and mortgage lender says. But it’s said so often because it’s true.

If you look at housing appreciation over the last 20, 50, or even 100 years, there’s one consistent trend: upward movement. Even with downturns and corrections along the way, the long-term direction has always been forward.

We’ve all seen the memes:
“I wish I had bought a house in 2008.”
“I wish I had bought when I was in kindergarten.”

Those memes exist because hindsight hurts.

I’ve personally watched opportunities slip by. Years ago, my dad considered buying a home in Corona del Mar, California. At the time, it felt expensive. Today, that same property would be life-changing wealth for an entire family.

The goal isn’t to buy the “perfect” house or time the market flawlessly. The goal is to stop renting, start owning, and begin building equity. Age doesn’t matter. Whether you’re 25 or 45, the sooner you get on the property ladder, the more time you give appreciation and equity to work in your favor.

3. Fear Keeps More People Renting Than Reality Ever Has

This one is personal.

Fear held me back for years. Fear of job loss. Fear of instability. Fear of “what if something goes wrong.”

I still remember telling my boss at the time that I was scared to buy a home. His response stuck with me:
“If you can’t pay your housing payment, who’s more likely to work with you — a landlord or a mortgage company?”

The answer is almost always the mortgage company.

Homeowners have access to options renters simply don’t: forbearance programs, loan modifications, repayment plans, and time. Landlords, especially corporate landlords, don’t offer the same flexibility. Miss a rent payment, and eviction becomes a real possibility very quickly.

Ironically, the thing many people fear most about buying a home is often the very reason owning is safer than renting in the long run.

Fear convinces people to wait until everything feels perfect. But perfection rarely comes. What does come is higher rent, missed appreciation, and years of equity building that never started.

Final Thoughts

These are the three lessons I wish I had known earlier:

1. Buying a home isn’t as hard as it’s made out to be

2. Getting in earlier matters more than getting it perfect

3. Fear costs more than most people realize

If I can help you avoid the mistakes I made — the delays, the overthinking, the waiting — then this is doing exactly what it’s meant to do.

Owning your own piece of America is a big deal. And the sooner you start, the more options you give yourself.

If you want to talk through your situation — whether buying now makes sense or whether waiting is the smarter move — my team is here to help.

📞 Call or text us at 786-933-2077
We’re available seven days a week and happy to walk through your questions with you.

You don’t have to figure this out alone.