SOUTH RUSSELL, Ohio — South Russell’s Steve Conti remembers when he bought his first home — and the process wasn’t easy. “The experience stands out because the process wasn’t explained well — now I make sure to take the time to fully explain everything to my clients,” Conti said.
One of the ways the retired firefighter/paramedic turned licensed mortgage originator offers clarity to the home-buying process is by offering free webinars to those purchasing their first home. Conti covers topics in his Saturday morning or midweek Zoom class such as starting the home purchasing process, rent vs. buying, new build vs. existing home, how much to save for a home purchase, where to search for a home, and recommendations for finding a realtor.
So what is the question most first-time home buyers ask during Conti’s webinars? “The most frequent question I get is about the down payment amount and closing costs — people want to know how much they’ll need upfront and I walk them through different options, including lower down payment programs.,” Conti explains.
According to Conti, the main challenge in this current real estate market is affordability driven by inflation and high interest rates. The loan originator believes steps by the potential homebuyer in this competitive market can help land that first home. “I provide a fully vetted preapproval, I also reach out to the seller’s agent to build rapport which can strengthen our offer — additionally I offer down payment grants that can help first-time buyers cover their closing costs,” Conti said.
Upcoming first-time home buyer webinars are scheduled for Thursday, October 17, Saturday, October 26, Thursday, November 7, and Saturday, November 16.
Interested home-buyers can register at https://www.cleveland.com/news/2024/10/tickets-now-on-sale-for-sip-and-shop-in-chagrin-falls-on-saturday-november-9.html .
