Loading...

PODCAST

The Educated HomeBuyer | First Time Home Buyer Tips, Mortgage Rates & Housing Market Updates

Josh Lewis & Jeb Smith | Real Estate, Mortgage & Housing Market Experts

Buying a home is the biggest financial decision of your life — and most buyers do it without a real guide. Certified Mortgage Consultant Josh Lewis (NMLS 234220) and Licensed Real Estate Broker Jeb Smith break down mortgage rates, FHA & conventional loans, down payment strategies, credit scores, pre-approval, affordability, and housing market trends — in plain English, with no fluff and no agenda. Whether you"re a first-time home buyer or making your next move, this show gives you the education,

education how to

All Episodes

00:22:20

This Tax Change Could Have A HUGE Impact On Housing...

The Educated HomeBuyer | First Time Home Buyer Tips,... ·

2026/10/05

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

en

00:42:10

Market Update - October Is The Best Time To NEGOTIATE...

The Educated HomeBuyer | First Time Home Buyer Tips,... ·

2026/10/01

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

en

00:33:15

The Mortgage Process Explained From Start to Finish -...

The Educated HomeBuyer | First Time Home Buyer Tips,... ·

2026/09/28

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

en

00:46:25

Will mortgage rates RISE to 8% or DROP to 6%?

The Educated HomeBuyer | First Time Home Buyer Tips,... ·

2026/09/25

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

en

00:30:20

This Is NOT the Strongest Buyer’s Market on Record

The Educated HomeBuyer | First Time Home Buyer Tips,... ·

2026/09/21

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

en

00:46:29

Market Update - The STRONGEST Buyer's Market On...

The Educated HomeBuyer | First Time Home Buyer Tips,... ·

2026/09/17

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

en

00:22:31

Using Your 401k To Buy A House: The $380,000 Mistake...

The Educated HomeBuyer | First Time Home Buyer Tips,... ·

2026/09/14

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,

en

00:34:06

Market Update - The Housing Market Is Finally...

The Educated HomeBuyer | First Time Home Buyer Tips,... ·

2026/09/10

Are Home Prices Falling? What First-Time Home Buyers Need to Know About the 2026 Housing MarketThe 2026 housing market is shifting, and home prices are now falling across a growing number of major U.S. cities.But does that mean we're finally headed toward the housing market crash buyers have been waiting for? Or is this simply a normal housing market correction after years of massive home price growth?In today's LIVE housing market update, we'll break down what's actually happening with home prices,

en

00:25:55

5 Mistakes This Buyer Made (And How To Avoid Them) -...

The Educated HomeBuyer | First Time Home Buyer Tips,... ·

2026/09/07

What happens when you buy a home, make roughly $120,000 in payments, and three years later feel like you’re barely any further ahead? That’s exactly what happened to one homebuyer who purchased in 2023 and is now wondering whether buying was a mistake.In this episode of The Educated HomeBuyer, we break down her real numbers and discuss five important homebuying lessons that every buyer should understand before purchasing a house. We cover the risks of assuming mortgage rates will fall, why “marry

en

00:57:36

Market Update - Mortgage Rates SURGE To The Highest...

The Educated HomeBuyer | First Time Home Buyer Tips,... ·

2026/09/03

Mortgage rates are moving higher again, and first-time home buyers need to understand what’s driving the change. Rising oil prices, renewed concerns about inflation, and fears that interest rates could stay higher for longer are pushing bond yields up, with mortgage rates following close behind.So how high could mortgage rates go? When could home buyers finally see lower interest rates? And what does all of this mean for home prices, housing affordability, and your ability to buy a home?In today’s

en

00:35:01

Renting Is CHEAPER... So Why Would You Buy A House?...

The Educated HomeBuyer | First Time Home Buyer Tips,... ·

2026/09/01

Does buying a home still make sense in 2026? The housing market looks completely different than it did just four years ago. Mortgage rates are higher, home prices have increased, affordability is stretched, and in many markets renting is considerably cheaper than owning.In this episode of The Educated HomeBuyer, we take a step back from the monthly payment and look at the bigger picture. We break down how homeownership builds wealth over time through principal paydown, appreciation, leverage, and

en

00:44:50

Market Update - The REAL Reason Mortgage Rates Won't...

The Educated HomeBuyer | First Time Home Buyer Tips,... ·

2026/08/27

Mortgage rates are staying higher than many buyers expected, and the Fed may not be the only reason why. With U.S. national debt now topping $40 trillion, rising Treasury yields could be putting additional pressure on mortgage rates and housing affordability. In this episode, we break down what’s really driving rates, what it means for the housing market, and whether buyers should expect meaningful relief anytime soon.Start Here 👇🏻✅ Not sure if you're ready to buy? Take the free 2-minute quiz and

en

00:29:59

(Red Flags) How To Know When To WALK AWAY From Your...

The Educated HomeBuyer | First Time Home Buyer Tips,... ·

2026/08/24

Buying your first home can feel overwhelming, especially when you're trying to understand mortgage rates, loan options, down payment requirements, closing costs, and how much home you can actually afford. The goal of The Educated HomeBuyer is to help first-time home buyers cut through the noise, understand the mortgage and real estate process, and make smarter decisions before buying a house.Whether you're just starting to save, getting ready for a mortgage pre-approval, comparing lenders, or

en

00:31:08

New Lender Guidelines Will Have A HUGE Impact on...

The Educated HomeBuyer | First Time Home Buyer Tips,... ·

2026/08/17

Thinking about buying a condo? New lending rules from Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac could make getting a mortgage on certain condos more difficult, and first-time home buyers need to understand the risks before making an offer.In this episode of The Educated HomeBuyer, Jeb Smith and Josh Lewis break down the major changes affecting condo financing, including stricter HOA financial reviews, reserve requirements, deferred maintenance, structural inspections, insurance requirements, and the elimination of

en

00:23:24

Answer NO To Any Of These 5 Questions? Do NOT Buy A...

The Educated HomeBuyer | First Time Home Buyer Tips,... ·

2026/08/10

Buying a house before you’re truly ready could set you back financially for years. And the scary part is, you can have good credit, qualify for a mortgage, have your down payment saved and STILL not be ready to buy. In this episode, we break down five questions every first-time home buyer should be able to answer before making an offer on a home.We discuss how to know whether you can actually afford to buy a house, why your maximum mortgage approval matters less than the payment you’re comfortable

en

00:28:21

Morgan Stanely Says The Housing Market RESET Is Here...

The Educated HomeBuyer | First Time Home Buyer Tips,... ·

2026/08/03

Home affordability isn't going back to what it was, and waiting for the "perfect" time to buy could leave you even further behind. Morgan Stanley's latest housing report says the housing market has reset into a new normal, and it closely mirrors what we've been telling buyers for years. In this episode, we break down why buying a home has become more challenging, what this housing market reset means for first-time home buyers, and how to determine whether now is the right time to buy based on your

en

00:52:34

Market Update - The Housing Market RESET Is Ahead

The Educated HomeBuyer | First Time Home Buyer Tips,... ·

2026/07/30

Will housing become more affordable, or is the market resetting at a higher barrier to entry?According to Morgan Stanley, you shouldn’t wait for affordability to recover. Instead, you should consider buying when the right opportunity makes sense for your circumstances.In this live housing market update, we’ll discuss why Morgan Stanley doesn’t believe buyers should wait for affordability to improve and why this housing market reset may actually mean a higher barrier to entry. We’ll also break down

en

00:29:16

Why Mortgage Interest Rates Aren't Coming Down...

The Educated HomeBuyer | First Time Home Buyer Tips,... ·

2026/07/27

Mortgage rates just hit their highest level in over a year, and first-time home buyers everywhere are asking the same question: When will mortgage rates finally come down?In this video, I'll explain what's really driving today's mortgage rates, why they've stayed higher for longer than many expected, and what has to happen before interest rates move lower. If you're thinking about buying a house in 2026, understanding how mortgage rates, inflation, and the economy work together can help you make a

en

01:01:57

Market Update - Mortgage Rates Hit 11-Month High As...

The Educated HomeBuyer | First Time Home Buyer Tips,... ·

2026/07/23

The Iran ceasefire cracked this week, oil spiked back up, and that one shift rippled straight through to your rate quote. In this episode, Jeb and Josh break down what's really driving the move (hint: it's not just the Fed), walk through fresh inventory numbers nationally and here in Orange County, and answer live questions on ARMs, refinancing, non-citizen mortgages, and what it would actually take for rates to drop below 5%.0:00 Mortgage rates hit an 11-month high0:22 Why rates reversed:

en

00:25:48

5 Ways Homeowners Insurance Can Kill Your Home Purchase

The Educated HomeBuyer | First Time Home Buyer Tips,... ·

2026/07/20

Homeowners insurance is quietly becoming one of the biggest reasons buyers lose the home they thought they were getting. You can have great credit, stable income, and a full mortgage approval, only to have an insurance issue derail the purchase at the last minute. In this episode, Josh Lewis and I break down five ways homeowners insurance can blow up a home purchase, how higher premiums affect qualification, and what buyers should check before making an offer. If you're planning to buy a home,

en

458 results

Similar Podcasts

Edutainment Learning

Ralph Krauss

Daily Facts

Amalia Dupray and Montgomery Jones.

Les dents et dodo

BFMTV

Education Futures

Svenia Busson & Laurent Jolie

Out In The Hall

NHSA