In today's competitive housing market, many first-time homebuyers find themselves priced out due to soaring home prices and interest rates, lack of cash to cover closing costs, and downpayment. However, there's hope! In this episode, we're joined by Laura Triplett, a seasoned loan officer at Atlantic Coast Mortgage, to explore the wealth of resources and programs available through Virginia Housing Authority and other entities to make homeownership more attainable for all. Laura has accumulated over 30 years of experience in the mortgage industry, excelling as a top-performing loan officer and working with a diverse clientele. This extensive background has granted her a profound understanding of her client’s unique needs. She has been recognized as a top producer and lender advisor by  Virginia Housing, the number one source of down payment assistance for first time homebuyers in Virginia.  Due to her extensive experience and deep knowledge of the area, Laura possesses the expertise to match homebuyers with the perfect place to call home!**Key Talking Points:**1. **Challenges of Affordability:**   - Rising home prices and interest rates are making it increasingly difficult for first-time homebuyers to enter the market.  It’s also challenging to for a buyer to have their offer accepted, and today we discuss a first-time homebuyer program that is competitive in today’s market and provides significant assistance to buyers in today’s market. 2. **Utilizing Available Resources: Virginia Housing Authority**   - Virginia Housing Authority offers many programs to first time homebuyers and also just launched a program for repeat homebuyers.  They have 100% financing, grant programs, and also SPARC program, which helps to reduce the interest rate for a homebuyer.  3. **Income Requirements and Loan Payments:**   - The loan programs through Virginia Housing Authority are income driven and have income limits.  Some programs will look at the income earned by everyone living in the home; while others may only consider one person’s income.  It will depend.      5. **Importance of Local Expertise:**   - This type of loan requires a local lender with expertise.  Avoid online lenders.  You can apply with our guest, Laura Triplett at teamtriplett.com or go to virginiahousing.com to find approved lenders. 6. **Virginia Housing loans are Competitive:**   - They can be used in conjunction with other loans and give significant assistance to a first time homebuyer.  It should definitely be considered when counseling a buyer on their loan options.**Conclusion:**Navigating the path to homeownership can be daunting, but with the right resources and guidance, it's within reach for many. Thanks to Laura Triplett's insights and expertise, we've uncovered actionable steps and programs available through Virginia Housing and other entities to make homeownership dreams a reality. Remember, preparation and informed decision-making are key to achieving affordability in today's housing market. Stay tuned for more valuable insights and tips in our next episode! Don't forget to subscribe and share with anyone embarking on their home-buying journey.Schedule a 30 minute consultation with Laura https://calendly.com/ltriplett-1/30min