Step one in the buying process is calling an agent and picking a loan officer, in most cases. I think the conversation in this podcast episode could be extremely helpful for buyers. I was recently invited to be a guest on Tovah Payne's Podcast "Opinions Please." Tovah is a local loan officer and I think it's rare that buyers get an inside look into the things realtors and loan officers discuss when talking about the home buying process. I had a great time talking with Tovah, but my biggest takeaway was that she and I agree on one of the most overlooked things about real estate:

Buying a home is not about a house, it's about creating financial security for our clients.

It was also just a fun conversation: from Tovah potentially wanting to buy a duplex that may or may not exist to the horrors of living in your parents' basement. We got into a lot of pitfalls to avoid and smart things to do in our 20-minute talk.