Work with Mark, your real estate agent, to determine your home buying power

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If you are not sure how much house you can afford, here is a mortgage calculator that can help estimate your monthly mortgage payment based on your down payment amount and credit history. This will give you a sense of the financial consideration without having to pull your credit report. Once you have an idea of what you can afford and have your documents in order, you can contact a Loan Officer who will pull your credit report and provide financing options based on your financial situation. 

Yoiu can contact Mark, your real estate agent to connect you with a loan officer that can help you determine your home buying power.

When buying a home, one of the first steps is securing a pre-approval letter from a lender. Before beginning your home buying search, work with a Loan Officer who can guide you through the loan application and help determine how much you can borrow.

If you already have a loan officer that you are working with, great. Provide that information to us when your real estate agent. If not, we recommend Rob Tamaela at Tamaela Mortgage.

 23390 SE 52nd St
Issaquah, WA 98029 

P:  (425) 369-9660  | E:  Info@TamaelaMortgage.com 

1. Determine the lowest offer you are willing to accept. This will help guide your home selling strategy and negotiations.
2. Make sure your home is market-ready. Work with your real estate agent on staging, repairs, cleaning carpets, and enhancing curb appeal—or hire contractors if needed.
3. Review Comparable Market Reports provided by your real estate agent so you have realistic expectations about offers and pricing.
4. Decide with your agent how offers will be managed. Will you set a deadline for all offers or review them as they come in? There’s no right or wrong—just what fits your home selling goals best.
5. Share insider details about your home and neighborhood with your real estate agent—these can become valuable selling points for potential buyers.
6. Clarify what matters most before offers arrive. Will you prioritize the highest price, or also consider the buyer’s background and motivation for purchasing your home? Knowing this in advance makes decision-making easier.

1. The first step in buying a home is determining how much you can afford. Use a mortgage calculator to estimate this. Key factors include your income, down payment, credit score, and debt-to-income ratio (how much debt you have compared to your income).
2. Identify your top three “must-haves” and your biggest deal-breaker. For example: Do you need to be within walking distance of work? Is school district quality a priority? Is parking non-negotiable?
3. Location matters. Choose your top three neighborhoods and ask your agent for reports on each to help narrow your search.
4. Decide on your “walk-away” number. How much are you willing to go above the asking price to get the home you want without overextending your budget?
5. Talk to multiple loan officers and compare their offers to ensure you get the best terms.
6. If you’re a first-time homebuyer, look into special programs that may reduce your down payment requirements.