The Open House Podcast: Where Women Talk Real Estate

It’s the last episode of Season 3, and as a wrap-up we invited our agents to join in and share their stories and stats from 2021! Alan, Sydney, and Jenn share some big win stories from their clients. 

It’s no secret that Austin has been a hot market for awhile, and our agents share how they helped first-time buyers navigate the craze and still find the right home with low money down. In 2021, 42% of our first-time buyer clients put 5% or less down on their home! Alan, Sydney, and Jenn discuss how they helped buyers win an offer with low money down, as well as their recommendations for finding the right mortgage rate with a lender.

If you want to see all the details of our first-time home buyer stats, check out our blog post with all the graphs and numbers! Ready to dive in and start the process? Our team is ready to help! You can book a call with our agents in Austin or we’ll connect you with a realtor we love in your area.

Get in Touch

Comments, suggestions or feedback? Email us at [email protected]

Want to hear more from Open House? Follow us on Instagram and check out our website!

Please stay tuned for more episodes every Tuesday, and subscribe so you don’t miss them! You can find us on Spotify, Stitcher and Apple Podcasts.

Related Resources

1. Blog: Our First-Time Home Buyer Stats from 2021
2. Connect with a Realtor
3. Quiz: Are You Ready to Buy a House?
4. Mini-Course: Learn the Fundamentals
5. Alan’s Instagram
6. Sydney’s Instagram
7. Jenn’s Instagram

We’re constantly referencing our course Homeschool, but what is it all about?? In this episode, Steph and Kristina give you all the details about why they created the course, who it’s for, and why we’re so passionate about it - hint: because having a community as a first-time buyer makes ALL the difference.

Steph and Kristina also answer some frequently asked questions about the course and give you a glimpse at what to expect as a student. We’re all about accountability and sharing what we learn, so there’s lots of time to ask questions and discuss your specific situation for feedback from Steph and Kristina, as well as your fellow students and our Homeschool alumni!

Sign up for Homeschool is open through Feb. 1, so hurry to sign up today! And don’t forget to use the code PODCAST2022 for a special discount!

Get in Touch

Comments, suggestions or feedback? Email us at [email protected]

Want to hear more from Open House? Follow us on Instagram and check out our website!

Please stay tuned for more episodes every Tuesday, and subscribe so you don’t miss them! You can find us on Spotify, Stitcher and Apple Podcasts.

Related Resources

1. Homeschool: Our 6 Week First-Time Home Buyer Course
2. Quiz: Are You Ready to Buy a House?
3. Connect with a realtor
4. Discussing Home Investment Strategy 101 with Briana Lang
5. Uncovering the Possibilities of Real Estate with Amber Forrest and Matthew Gattozzi
6. How Homeschool Helped First Time Buyer Weston White

In this episode, past Open House client and Homeschool grad Briana Lang joins Steph to talk all about her home buying experience and investment journey!

When Briana worked with our awesome realtor Sydney in late 2020 - early 2021 to find her home in Austin, she wasn’t a first-time buyer. In fact, she’d already put 20% down on her first home several years earlier. But after taking our course Homeschool, she realized her first home buying experience lacked strategy. This time around, she wanted to go all in with a long-term plan for making the most out of her investment by finding a home with a large enough lot for an ADU (aka tiny home)!

Steph and Briana discuss ADU strategy, real estate partnerships, and the big takeaways Briana got from Homeschool as a more experienced buyer. And now you can sign up for Homeschool too! Registration is open Jan. 25 - Feb. 1, so sign up today to claim your spot and start learning how to be the most prepared first-time home buyer and investor!

Get in Touch

Comments, suggestions or feedback? Email us at [email protected]

Want to hear more from Open House? Follow us on Instagram and check out our website!

Please stay tuned for more episodes every Tuesday, and subscribe so you don’t miss them! You can find us on Spotify, Stitcher and Apple Podcasts.

Related Resources

1. Homeschool: Our 6 Week First-Time Home Buyer Course
2. Webinar: How to Buy Your First Home and Make it an Investment
3. Quiz: Are You Ready to Buy a House?
4. Connect with a realtor
5. Our Favorite Tiny House & Airbnb Products

In this episode, Steph and Kristina walk you through their mindset shifts around home buying that helped them turn their first homes into investments that have given them their dream lives.

They talk all about leveraging real estate partnerships, acknowledging and addressing your fears, and setting up accountability groups. These seemingly simple steps are what set them up for success! Buying your first home may feel overwhelming, but with the right mindset and resources, it can be an incredibly rewarding experience that turns into financial freedom.

Want to learn more? Join Steph and Kristina on Jan. 25 or Jan. 26 for a free webinar on how to buy your first home and make it an investment! Sign up here - and attendees get a discount on our course Homeschool which launches Jan. 25!

Get in Touch

Comments, suggestions or feedback? Email us at [email protected]

Want to hear more from Open House? Follow us on Instagram and check out our website!

Please stay tuned for more episodes every Tuesday, and subscribe so you don’t miss them! You can find us on Spotify, Stitcher and Apple Podcasts.

Related Resources

1. Webinar: How to Buy Your First Home and Make it an Investment
2. Homeschool: Our 6 Week First-Time Home Buyer Course
3. Quiz: Are You Ready to Buy a House?
4. Connect with a realtor
5. Mini-Course: Learn the Fundamentals

This week, Celeste interviews Meredith Phillips, who just bought her home with our agent Sydney. Meredith shares all the details - how she prepared mentally, how she found her home, and who she turned to for help when she felt stuck. 

Meredith started her process by asking questions - and we think that's a super important step! Her entire team was referral based because she asked people she trusted for advice and connections. By asking questions, she was able to avoid mistakes that others had made before her! 

Thinking about starting your own home buying process? Join us for a free webinar on Jan. 25 or Jan. 26 with Steph and Kristina on how to buy your first home and make it an investment! Sign up here - and attendees get a discount on our course Homeschool which launches Jan. 25!

Get in Touch

Comments, suggestions or feedback? Email us at [email protected]

Want to hear more from Open House? Follow us on Instagram and check out our website!

Please stay tuned for more episodes every Tuesday, and subscribe so you don’t miss them! You can find us on Spotify, Stitcher and Apple Podcasts.

Related Resources

1. Webinar: How to Buy Your First Home and Make it an Investment
2. Homeschool: Our 6 Week First-Time Home Buyer Course
3. Quiz: Are You Ready to Buy a House?
4. Connect with a realtor
5. Mini-Course: Learn the Fundamentals

Welcome to 2022! To start off the new year, we’re throwing it back to a favorite (and super relevant) episode from season 1. This is an essential episode when debating if now is the time for you to buy a house! Steph and Kristina help you decide if you’re ready by discussing debt to income ratio, credit score, and the amount of money you’ll need. 

You’ll leave this episode with a better sense of when you should buy, based on your personal financial situation. If you’d like us to tell you if you’re ready, take our “Are You Ready to Buy a House?” quiz here!

Get in Touch

Comments, suggestions or feedback? Email us at [email protected]

Want to hear more from Open House? Follow us on Instagram and check out our website!

Please stay tuned for more episodes every Tuesday, and subscribe so you don’t miss them! You can find us on Spotify, Stitcher and Apple Podcasts.

Related Resources

1. Quiz: Are You Ready to Buy a House?
2. Homeschool: Our 6 Week First-Time Home Buyer Course
3. Webinar: How to Buy Your First Home and Make it an Investment
4. Connect with a realtor
5. Mini-Course: Learn the Fundamentals

In this episode, Kristina talks with Kara Perez, a long-time friend, financial educator, and founder Bravely Go. Kara started Bravely Go, an award winning international financial education company, to help women build wealth and take financial power. She’s a real badass, and we love her!

Kara shares her goal setting tips, the idea of financially secure YOLO, and her own personal experience buying a home through a partnership. Her big takeaways: set SMART goals, be flexible when things change, and find accountability partners to hold you to it!

As a recent graduate of our course Homeschool, Kara also shares her home buying hurdles - and how she plans to overcome them thanks to Homeschool. Want to join our next session? Hop on the waitlist for big early bird deals in January!

Get in Touch

Comments, suggestions or feedback? Email us at [email protected]

Want to hear more from Open House? Follow us on Instagram and check out our website!

Please stay tuned for more episodes every Tuesday, and subscribe so you don’t miss them! You can find us on Spotify, Stitcher and Apple Podcasts.

Related Resources

1. Bravely Go
2. Homeschool: Our 6 Week First-Time Home Buyer Course
3. Webinar: How to Buy Your First Home and Make it an Investment
4. Kara’s Instagram
5. Connect with a realtor
6. Mini-Course: Learn the Fundamentals

Been thinking about how much cash you actually need to buy a home? Well, Steph and Kristina are here to give you the lowdown (literally 😂) on how much you actually need for a down payment! 

Whether you’re buying your very first primary residence or thinking about starting to build an investment portfolio, Steph and Kristina cover it all. They share their own experiences with low down payments, as well as some things to consider and avoid. Spoiler: 20% is probably not the right choice unless you’ve got LOTS of cash!

If you’d like to learn more and get the chance to ask Steph and Kristina questions about your specific situation, sign up for Homeschool! If you jump on the waitlist now, you’ll get some awesome early bird deals in January. You can also apply for a course scholarship here.

Get in Touch

Comments, suggestions or feedback? Email us at [email protected]

Want to hear more from Open House? Follow us on Instagram and check out our website!

Please stay tuned for more episodes every Tuesday, and subscribe so you don’t miss them! You can find us on Spotify, Stitcher and Apple Podcasts.

Related Resources

1. Homeschool: Our 6 Week First-Time Home Buyer Course
2. Open House Retreat House Airbnb
3. Quiz: Are you ready to buy?
4. Connect with a realtor
5. Mini-Course: Learn the Fundamentals

In this episode, Steph and Kristina talk all about their experiences renovating their first homes. With the mindset of "YouTube is your friend," Steph and Kristina learned a lot through their individual experiences!

Kristina’s first (and current) home needed a LOT of work to be livable, and she talks about how she managed the upgrades on a tight budget. Meanwhile, Steph tackled her very first renovation with the help of her mom. They slept in the middle of a construction zone over the summer to get it done, but the pay-off was so worth it!

Both Steph and Kristina used their renovations to leverage a better investment. Steph’s first home is now an Airbnb property which generates passive income, and Kristina was able to cash-out refinance her first home to invest in a vacation property with her sister (which also generates passive income through Airbnb)!

Want to learn more about buying your first home with an investor mindset? Our 6 week course Homeschool opens for registration in January. Hop on the waitlist now to receive early bird discounts!

Get in Touch

Comments, suggestions or feedback? Email us at [email protected]

Want to hear more from Open House? Follow us on Instagram and check out our website!

Please stay tuned for more episodes every Tuesday, and subscribe so you don’t miss them! You can find us on Spotify, Stitcher and Apple Podcasts.

Related Resources

1. Open House Retreat House Airbnb
2. Homeschool: Our 6 Week First-Time Home Buyer Course
3. Connect with a realtor
4. Blog: How I Renovated My East Austin Home in 20 Days

This week, Drew Nebrig joins Steph to talk all about her experience buying her first home this year! 

She started looking in June 2021 after connecting with our realtor Sydney. Drew knew she wanted a 3 bed/2 bath within 15 minutes of downtown, but she was ready to be disappointed by what was available in her budget. Despite having low expectations, she found her perfect home within 4 house viewings, AND she won her first offer with a 3% down payment! 

Drew’s home buying journey is a great example of how to deal with a crazy market and managing expectations. Think you may be ready to start your own journey? Take our first-time buyer quiz to get next steps, or we can help you find a realtor!

Get in Touch

Comments, suggestions or feedback? Email us at [email protected]

Want to hear more from Open House? Follow us on Instagram and check out our website!

Please stay tuned for more episodes every Tuesday, and subscribe so you don’t miss them! You can find us on Spotify, Stitcher and Apple Podcasts.

Related Resources

1. Quiz: Are you ready to buy?
2. Connect with a realtor
3. Mini-Course: Learn the Fundamentals
4. Homeschool: Our 6 Week First-Time Home Buyer Course
5. 7 Tips for Buying a Home with Multiple Offers in a Hot Market