Why Your First Home-Buying Call Should Be to a Lender, Not a Realtor
The Home Buying Advice No One Wants to Say Out Loud
Most buyers do exactly what they’ve been told: they call a Realtor first.
And that—unfortunately—is the fastest path to stress, frustration, and in many cases, a broken heart. Not because Realtors aren’t valuable (great ones are worth gold), but because you’re starting the process backward.
A Realtor can unlock doors.
A lender unlocks your strategy.
Shopping Without Your Numbers Is Shopping Blind
Picture this: you fall in love with a home… only to realize the payment doesn’t fit your lifestyle. Or the taxes knock you out of range. Or insurance pushes you past your comfort zone.
That’s what happens when you shop before you know your numbers.
Your payment isn’t just the price of the home. It’s taxes. Insurance. Loan structure. Short-term goals. Long-term strategy.
A Lender Shows You What’s Possible
Realtors show you what’s for sale.
Lenders show you what’s financially smart.
I don’t just run numbers. After two decades in this industry—plus owning, flipping, renovating, and investing in homes—I know how each decision affects your future wealth. I’ve walked flooded fixer-uppers. I’ve rebuilt homes with foundation issues. I’ve renovated properties with zero curb appeal and turned them into generational assets.
So when a buyer sits down with me, we build a plan — not guesswork.
Your Action Plan: Buy With Power, Not Pressure
When you start with financing, you get clarity from day one:
Your real, sustainable price range
Which loan programs align with your goals
What your payment looks like with taxes + insurance
How to structure your offer before you ever write one
Only then do we bring in your Realtor — to find a home that matches the plan you already trust.
That’s buying with power.
The Smartest Home Buyers Start Here
You don’t need to be perfect. You need a plan.
If you’re thinking about buying, start with a lender who will walk you through the full picture before you fall for your first listing.
Get Your Free Home Buyer Roadmap
Download my free Complete Home Buyer Roadmap — the exact process my clients use to go from pre-approval to keys in hand.
I’m Ashley Courville with The Complete Home Experience — helping you build the plan before you pick the house.
Because when you start with your lender… everything else falls into place.
