When I started in real estate 12 years ago I had very little training. If I’m supposed to be the professional and even I don’t know much, how do you think the average consumer feels making what could be the biggest single purchase of their lives?

 In 2000 I started having private counseling sessions with buyers and their families before going out to look at homes. In these “Buyers Interviews” I would discuss their needs, explain about the real estate buying procedure, and go over contracts and offers and how to negotiate them among other things. I’d give them a break down of how much money they’d need, and about how long the process should take. I’d get them pre-qualified for a mortgage on the spot so they would know how much money they could spend. The whole process takes about 2½ hours. At the end of these meetings I always ask them was the meeting helpful. They are always extremely grateful and leave feeling not only empowered but they feel like they have somebody on their side.

 From there I started doing seminars at churches. I’d invite a mortgage person and a title company to go with me. We’d usually get about 10-20 families. Since the program has been so successful I see that it’s much needed. 99% of the people that go through the training and private counseling sessions are successful in buying a home! Thus the idea for the First-Time Homebuyers Association was born.

 I hope to help people find the money, training and other resources needed to move into their first home all across the state. Eventually we hope to open more locations so we’ll no longer be the First-Time Homebuyers Association of St. Louis, but the First-Time Homebuyers Association OF AMERICA!

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