Found Forrest approachable and friendly, said he answered every question quickly and kept the whole process seamless from start to finish.
Carolyn C. · Bloomington, MNSmooth process
First-time buyers
Your first home, fully explained.
Nobody is born knowing how mortgages work. This page — and Forrest — exist so you never have to pretend you do.
Is it dumb that I have no idea where to even start?
It would be weird if you did — you've never done this before! Start here: read the myths below, then text me. Fifteen minutes and you'll have a real plan.
Myth-busting
Six things "everyone knows" that just aren't true
You need 20% down to buy a house
The truth: Conventional loans start at 3% down for first-time buyers, FHA at 3.5%, and VA and USDA can be 0% down. 20% only affects whether you pay mortgage insurance — it is not the price of entry.
You need perfect credit
The truth: FHA loans work into the 500s in some scenarios, and conventional starts around 620. Better scores get better pricing, but "perfect" has never been the requirement.
You should wait for rates to drop
The truth: Nobody can time rates — not Forrest, not the news, nobody. If the payment works for your budget today, you can always refinance if rates fall later. Waiting has its own cost: rising prices and rent.
Getting pre-approved hurts your credit
The truth: A mortgage inquiry is a small, temporary dip — typically a few points. And multiple mortgage inquiries within a shopping window count as one. The information a pre-approval gives you is worth far more.
Find the house first, then figure out the money
The truth: Backwards, and it costs people their dream homes. In the west metro, listing agents want to see a pre-approval with your offer. Get the money question answered first, then shop like you mean it.
Student loans mean you can’t buy
The truth: Lenders look at your monthly debt payments relative to income, not the loan balance. Plenty of buyers close with student debt — it just gets factored into the math.
The roadmap
Six steps from "someday" to keys in hand
- 1
The conversation
Text or call Forrest. Fifteen minutes covers your goals, timeline, and rough numbers. No documents needed yet, no commitment made.
- 2
Pre-approval
A short application plus income and asset docs. Forrest reviews everything and issues a pre-approval letter — often the same day.
- 3
Know your budget
Pre-approved for X doesn’t mean spend X. Forrest walks you through the payment at different price points so you buy what fits your life.
- 4
Shop
House hunt with your agent, with Forrest a text away for every "what would this one cost me?" Updated letters for each offer, matched to your offer price.
- 5
Under contract
Offer accepted! Now Forrest’s team runs the file: appraisal ordered, docs finalized, underwriting begins. You’ll always know what’s happening and what’s next.
- 6
Clear to close
Underwriting signs off, you get final numbers days before closing, and then it’s signatures and keys. Welcome home.
Down payment help
Minnesota will actually help you buy
Minnesota Housing runs some of the better down payment assistance programs in the country — deferred loans and low-payment loans that can cover your down payment and closing costs, stackable with conventional, FHA, VA, and USDA first mortgages.
Income and purchase-price limits apply and vary by county, and the pairing rules are exactly the kind of thing Forrest handles daily.
How the assistance works →We have decent income but almost nothing saved. Are we stuck renting?
You're the exact people these programs exist for. Minnesota Housing assistance can cover the down payment AND closing costs — income qualifies you, savings doesn't have to.
Real clients, real reviews
Five stars.4.96 across 175 verified reviews
Pulled from Experience.com, Google, Facebook & Zillow — every word verified, every buyer real.
Called out the great communication from Forrest and his team — and a closing that came together fast.
Amanda G. · Savage, MNFast closing
Said Forrest was a great communicator and easy to work with — and that her realtor said the exact same thing.
Ellie M. · Becker, MNEasy to work with
Described Forrest as on top of everything the whole way through, which made the purchase easy for his family.
Jake A. · Becker, MNOn top of it
Credited Forrest with knowing his stuff — putting more money back in their pocket while lowering the monthly payment.
John N. · Henderson, MNRefinance win
Found Forrest very on top of things, with strong communication and genuinely helpful advice at every step.
Jake R. · Eden Prairie, MNHelpful advice
Kept it simple: on top of things, communicated well, and gave advice that actually helped.
Jacob R. · Savage, MNGreat communication
Met with a lot of lenders and said Forrest and his team were by far the best — and that he won’t use anyone else going forward.
Will G. · Twin Cities, MNShopped around
Found Forrest approachable and friendly, said he answered every question quickly and kept the whole process seamless from start to finish.
Carolyn C. · Bloomington, MNSmooth process
Called out the great communication from Forrest and his team — and a closing that came together fast.
Amanda G. · Savage, MNFast closing
Said Forrest was a great communicator and easy to work with — and that her realtor said the exact same thing.
Ellie M. · Becker, MNEasy to work with
Described Forrest as on top of everything the whole way through, which made the purchase easy for his family.
Jake A. · Becker, MNOn top of it
Credited Forrest with knowing his stuff — putting more money back in their pocket while lowering the monthly payment.
John N. · Henderson, MNRefinance win
Found Forrest very on top of things, with strong communication and genuinely helpful advice at every step.
Jake R. · Eden Prairie, MNHelpful advice
Kept it simple: on top of things, communicated well, and gave advice that actually helped.
Jacob R. · Savage, MNGreat communication
Met with a lot of lenders and said Forrest and his team were by far the best — and that he won’t use anyone else going forward.
Will G. · Twin Cities, MNShopped around
Money questions
First-timer FAQ
How much do I actually need saved to buy in Minnesota?
Less than most people think. Between low-down-payment programs (3–3.5%) and Minnesota Housing down payment assistance, buyers routinely close with far less than the mythical 20%. Closing costs typically run 2–4% of the price, and sellers can sometimes contribute. Forrest can map your exact number in one conversation.
What credit score do I need?
Conventional loans generally want 620+, FHA can go lower, and better scores earn better pricing. If your score needs work, Forrest can point out what moves it fastest — sometimes a few months of targeted steps changes your options meaningfully.
What is PMI and do I have to pay it?
Private mortgage insurance applies to conventional loans with less than 20% down. It protects the lender, costs roughly 0.3–1% of the loan per year, and cancels once you reach 20% equity. FHA has its own version. It’s a tool, not a penalty — it’s what makes 3% down possible.
How long does buying a house take?
From accepted offer to keys is typically 30–45 days. The bigger variable is the shopping phase, which is entirely your pace. Pre-approval itself can happen in a day.
Is down payment assistance real, or a catch?
Very real. Minnesota Housing offers deferred and monthly-payment loans covering down payment and closing costs for eligible buyers — and every year assistance goes unused because people assume there’s a catch. Income and price limits apply; Forrest handles the pairing with your first mortgage.
Every homeowner started exactly where you are.
One text starts the conversation. No documents, no commitment — just answers to the questions you've been Googling at midnight.