The conversation
Fifteen minutes with Ella about your income, savings, timeline, and worries. No documents needed. You leave knowing whether you're 3 weeks or 18 months out — both are great answers.
The first-time buyer hub
Nobody is born knowing how to buy a house.
Not your parents, not your friends who somehow own homes, not Ella before she got into this business. It's learnable in an afternoon — and this page is the afternoon.
is it dumb that I don't even know where to start? everyone else seems to get this 😭
It is the OPPOSITE of dumb — you're asking, which puts you ahead of most people. Nobody 'gets' this until someone walks them through it. That's my whole job. Start with step 1: we just talk.
Myth-busting hour
Six myths keeping renters renting
Every one of these has kept someone from a house they could have afforded. Tap to see what's actually true.
You need 20% down to buy a house.
The truth: Conventional loans start at 3% down, FHA at 3.5%, and VA and USDA can be 0% down. On a $325,000 home, 3% is $9,750 — a very different number than $65,000. Twenty percent avoids PMI, but PMI is often a small, temporary cost — not a reason to wait years.
You need perfect credit.
The truth: FHA loans can work with scores in the 500s in some scenarios, and plenty of conventional buyers close in the 600s. Higher scores earn better pricing, but "perfect" has never been the bar. If your score needs work, Ella can point you at what actually moves it.
You should wait for rates to drop.
The truth: Nobody can time rates — not Ella, not the internet, not your uncle. If rates fall later, refinancing is on the table. Meanwhile, waiting means paying rent and betting home prices stay flat. The right time to buy is when your life and budget are ready.
Getting pre-approved hurts your credit.
The truth: A mortgage pre-approval is a single hard inquiry — typically a few points, briefly. Credit models also treat multiple mortgage inquiries inside a shopping window as one. The insight you gain massively outweighs the tiny, temporary dip.
Find the house first, then figure out the money.
The truth: Backwards — and the most expensive mistake on this list. Sellers take offers with pre-approval letters seriously. Falling in love with a house you can't offer on competitively is heartbreak you can schedule around: get pre-approved first.
Student loans mean you can't buy.
The truth: Student debt factors into your debt-to-income ratio, but it is not a disqualifier. Millions of buyers with student loans close every year. Income-driven payments are often counted at the reduced amount — which surprises a lot of people, pleasantly.
The actual path
Six steps from "no idea" to keys
Pre-approval
Documents go through Fairway's secure system, and you get a real pre-approval letter with a real number. This is the moment house-shopping goes from fantasy to plan.
Build the budget
Pre-approved for $400K doesn't mean spending $400K. Ella runs the full monthly picture — taxes, insurance, PMI, HOA — so your comfort number is the number.
Shop with confidence
You tour homes knowing your range, your payment, and your program. Ella stays on-call for "what would THIS one cost?" texts — that's literally the domain name promise.
Offer to contract
When your offer is accepted, Ella's team takes the baton: appraisal ordered, underwriting starts, and you get a milestone map so you always know what's happening.
Clear to close 🎉
The magic words. Final walkthrough, closing table, keys. Average timeline from accepted offer: about 30 days with a team that communicates.
Minnesota's secret weapon
Down payment help is real — and most buyers never claim it
Minnesota Housing offers down payment and closing-cost assistance that can put thousands toward your purchase — some of it as deferred loans you don't repay until you sell or refinance. Income and price limits apply and vary by county, but if you qualify, this is the difference between "someday" and "this year."
Ella's team works with these programs regularly. If you might qualify, she'll tell you — and if you don't, she'll tell you that too.
The full DPA guide →wait — the state will help pay my down payment?? why does nobody talk about this
RIGHT?? Minnesota Housing assistance goes unclaimed every year because buyers don't know it exists. Income limits apply, but they're higher than most people assume. Let's check if you qualify — takes minutes.
You're not getting one person — you're getting a team
Backed by Lending Lakes & Co & Fairway Home Mortgage
Ella works alongside the Lending Lakes & Co team at Fairway — so every question gets an experienced answer, every file gets seasoned eyes, and you get the energy of someone who picks up the phone and the depth of a team that's closed a lot of loans.
Lending Lakes & Co
A Minnesota-grown mortgage team built around plain-English guidance and local program know-how — from first homes to lake homes.
lendinglakes.com →Fairway Home Mortgage
One of the nation's largest independent mortgage lenders — the loan platform, underwriting, and secure systems behind every file Ella touches.
fairway.com →Verify everything
Every loan officer has a public NMLS record — including Ella. Look anyone up before you work with them. Seriously, we encourage it.
NMLS #2829511 →Money questions, answered
First-time buyer FAQ
How much do I actually need saved?
Less than you probably think. Between low-down-payment programs (3–3.5%) and Minnesota Housing down payment assistance, some buyers close with just a few thousand dollars of their own money. The honest answer depends on price range and program — which is a 10-minute conversation with Ella.
What credit score do I need?
FHA can work in the 500s in some cases; conventional generally wants 620+. Better scores get better pricing, but there is no single magic number. If you're not there yet, Ella can tell you specifically what would move your score — usually it's not what the internet says.
What is PMI and do I have to pay it?
Private mortgage insurance protects the lender when you put less than 20% down. On conventional loans it drops off once you reach enough equity. It's usually a modest monthly cost — often well worth it versus waiting years to save 20% while prices move.
Should I pay off debt or save for a down payment?
It depends on the debt, the rate, and your debt-to-income ratio — sometimes $2,000 toward a credit card qualifies you for more house than $2,000 of down payment would. This is exactly the kind of math Ella runs with you before you decide anything.
How long does the whole thing take?
Pre-approval: often 1–2 days once documents are in. Shopping: entirely up to you. Accepted offer to keys: usually around 30 days. Total, a motivated first-time buyer can go from "no idea" to homeowner in 2–3 months.
Your first home starts with one text.
Tell Ella where you are — saving up, just curious, or ready now. Every one of those is a fine place to start.