Higher mortgage rates are putting pressure on the housing market, and first-time homebuyers could gain more negotiating power heading into 2027. With buyer demand subdued and inventory building, sellers are facing more competition, creating opportunities for lower home prices, seller credits, and better terms.

In this live episode of The Educated HomeBuyer, Jeb Smith and Josh Lewis break down the economy, mortgage interest rates, and the housing market outlook for 2027 while answering your questions live. We’ll discuss what these changes mean for buying your first home, how higher rates affect affordability, and why a lower home price doesn’t automatically mean a lower monthly payment.

If you’re preparing to become a homeowner, join us to learn how to evaluate your options, understand your buying power, and make a confident decision.

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✅ Ready to buy? Know exactly what you can afford, how much cash you’ll need, and which mortgage strategy fits you best before you fall in love with the wrong house.
Start your homebuying journey

✅ Not sure if you’re ready yet? Take the free 2-minute quiz to see where you stand, what may be holding you back, and your best next step.
Take the homebuyer readiness quiz

Work With Jeb

Jeb Smith | Real Estate Broker | DRE #01407449
Real Broker

Buying in a market you don’t fully understand is stressful. Jeb walks you through it in plain language so you know exactly what you’re getting into before you make an offer.

Work With Josh

Josh Lewis
Mortgage Advisor | Certified Mortgage Consultant | NMLS #234220
United American Mortgage Corporation
714-916-5727

The home you want to buy may never hit the market because its owner doesn’t want the tax bill that comes with selling. Could a proposed tax change give those homeowners a reason to move and give you a better shot at buying your first home?

In this episode of The Educated HomeBuyer, Jeb Smith and Josh Lewis explain how increasing the capital gains tax exclusion for home sellers could unlock housing inventory and create opportunities for first-time home buyers. We discuss what more homes for sale could mean for housing affordability, why this proposal wouldn’t automatically bring home prices down, and why waiting for a tax change could leave your homebuying plans on hold.

If you’re wondering whether to buy a house now or wait, learn how this proposal could affect your options and what matters most when preparing to become a homeowner.

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✅ Are you ready to become a homeowner?
Take our free homebuyer readiness quiz to find out where you stand:
https://www.buyrightborrowsmart.com/quiz

✅ Start your stress-free journey today:
Get clarity on your homebuying budget, financing options, and next steps:
https://www.buyrightborrowsmart.com/start

Waiting for a better deal on your first home? October could give you more room to negotiate. A Redfin analysis identifies 16 major U.S. housing markets where October has historically offered buyers some of the best opportunities to negotiate a home purchase.

In this live episode of The Educated HomeBuyer, Jeb Smith and Josh Lewis break down what that means for first-time homebuyers, why some sellers become more willing to negotiate, and how price reductions and seller concessions could help make buying a home more affordable.

We discuss how to approach an offer, what to consider before asking a seller to cover closing costs, and how mortgage rates affect your monthly payment and purchasing power. If you’re wondering whether now is a good time to buy a house, this conversation will help you understand what to look for in your local housing market and how to make a decision that fits your budget and goals.

✅ Already know you’re ready? Get 15 minutes of real clarity on what you can actually afford, what it costs to close, and exactly what to do next:
Start your homebuying journey here

✅ Not sure if you’re ready to buy? Take the free 2-minute quiz and find out where you actually stand:
Take the first-time homebuyer readiness quiz

Connect with Jeb Smith 👇
Jeb Smith | DRE 01407449
Real Broker

Buying in a market you don’t fully understand is stressful. Jeb walks you through the homebuying process in plain language so you know exactly what you’re getting into before you make an offer.

Connect with Josh Lewis 👇
Josh Lewis | Certified Mortgage Consultant
NMLS 234220
United American Mortgage Corp
Phone: 714-916-5727

Nobody wants to be surprised at closing. Josh gets you real numbers up front, explains what you actually qualify for, and helps you avoid mortgage mistakes that can cost buyers thousands.

#FirstTimeHomeBuyer #HousingMarket #HomeBuying #MortgageRates #TheEducatedHomeBuyer

Getting preapproved is only the beginning of the mortgage process. For many first-time homebuyers, everything that happens between the initial lender conversation and getting the keys can feel confusing, stressful, and full of surprises.

In this episode, we walk through the home loan process from start to finish, including the discovery call, mortgage preapproval, comparing loan options, interest-rate locks, underwriting, the home appraisal, conditional loan approval, closing disclosures, and the final closing. We also explain what buyers should expect at each stage and where mortgage problems commonly arise.

Whether you are preparing to buy your first home or already under contract, understanding the mortgage process can help you avoid delays, make better financing decisions, and reach closing with fewer surprises. Choosing an experienced lender with a clear process can make the difference between a smooth transaction and a last-minute scramble.

✅ Are you ready to become a homeowner?
https://www.buyrightborrowsmart.com/quiz

✅ Start your stress-free journey today:
http://www.buyrightborrowsmart.com/start

Mortgage rates are back above 7%, and the next move could change what buyers can afford. In this episode, Josh and I look at what’s driving mortgage rates higher, what would need to happen for them to come down, and how likely either scenario really is.

We also talk through what changing rates mean for first-time homebuyers, sellers, and anyone waiting on the sidelines. If you’re trying to decide when to buy a home, this conversation will help you think through your buying power and monthly payment without relying on a rate prediction.

✅ Are You Ready To Become A Homeowner?
https://www.buyrightborrowsmart.com/quiz

✅ Start your stress-free journey today:
https://www.buyrightborrowsmart.com/start

The headlines are calling this the strongest buyer’s market on record, but the data tells a very different story. Today’s housing market is giving home buyers more negotiating power, but assuming every seller is desperate or automatically submitting a lowball offer could cost you the home you actually want.

In this episode, we explain what the shift toward a buyer’s market really means, why conditions vary so much from one local housing market to another, and how first-time home buyers should approach negotiations. We discuss home prices, housing inventory, days on market, seller concessions, mortgage rate buydowns, closing costs, contingencies, and the different ways buyers can create a stronger offer without unnecessarily overpaying.

You’ll also learn how to determine whether a home is overpriced, why some sellers are more motivated than others, and how to use comparable sales and local market data before deciding what to offer. If you’re planning to buy your first home, this episode will help you understand where you have leverage, how to use it intelligently, and how to avoid letting misleading housing market headlines influence one of the biggest financial decisions you’ll make.

✅ Are You Ready To Become A Homeowner?
https://www.buyrightborrowsmart.com/quiz

✅ Start your stress-free journey today:
http://www.buyrightborrowsmart.com/start

The housing market has officially become the strongest buyer’s market on record, with sellers now outnumbering buyers by nearly 58% nationwide.

Inventory is climbing, demand remains weak, and in markets like Nashville, Miami, Houston, and Austin, there are now more than twice as many sellers as buyers.

But does that mean buyers finally have the upper hand, or do high home prices and mortgage rates still make buying a home too difficult?

In today’s LIVE, we’ll break down what’s really happening in the housing market, where buyers have the most negotiating power, and what it means if you’re thinking about buying or selling a home.

✅ Are You Ready To Become A Homeowner?
https://www.buyrightborrowsmart.com/quiz

✅ Start your stress-free journey today:
https://www.jebsmith.net/start

Should you use your 401(k) to buy a house? For first-time homebuyers struggling to save enough for a down payment and closing costs, your retirement account may be an option, but how you access that money can make a massive difference.

In this episode, we break down how first-time homebuyers can use a 401(k), 403(b), TSP, traditional IRA, or Roth IRA when buying a home. We explain the difference between taking a 401(k) loan and making an early withdrawal, including the potential taxes, penalties, repayment requirements, and impact on your long-term retirement savings. We also walk through the math behind a potential $380,000 mistake and explain why borrowing from your 401(k) may be very different from simply cashing it out.

If you're trying to buy your first home but don't have enough money saved for the down payment, the answer isn't automatically to raid your retirement account or give up on buying altogether. The key is understanding your options, knowing how much cash you actually need to close, and figuring out whether using retirement funds fits into your bigger financial picture.

Start Here 👇🏻

✅ Are you Ready To Become A Homeowner:
https://www.buyrightborrowsmart.com/quiz

✅ Start your stress-free journey today:
http://www.buyrightborrowsmart.com/start