Helping First-Time Homebuyers
Kalene has been a part of the Home Equity and Mortgage Team for about a year, helping members afford their own special place to call home.
“I love helping members purchase their homes,” Kalene said. “It’s so rewarding to be part of their process.”
Kalene has a special place in her heart for first-time homebuyers who need a little extra support understanding the often-confusing jargon, the paperwork needed and each step they’ll need to take toward buying a home. To start, she refers first-time homebuyers to RMCU’s resources that can educate them and help them prepare. The Mortgage Checklist, for example, explains each step of the home-buying process and the information you’ll need to gather to find out how much house you can afford. Before sitting down and talking with a lender like Kalene, this is a great place to start to gather a base understanding.
When Kalene first sits down with a homebuyer, she wants to get to know them – their goals, budget, their must-haves and want-to-haves, and she and the buyer, as a team, can reach the desired outcome. She walks homebuyers through the entire process before beginning any paperwork and sends them a fee worksheet so that they have a full picture of what the fees will look like.
Her Advice? Get Pre-approved
Her number one piece of advice for all homebuyers? Get pre-approved before putting an offer on a home. The pre-approval process gives you an idea of how much RMCU will be able to lend you for your new home. It also provides you with a realistic view of what your monthly payment and closing costs will look like. This can help inform your home search, so you’re not putting offers on homes that are beyond your financial means. By completing this process first, you can reduce any complications during the closing process and be assured that the home you purchase fits within your budget and aligns with your long-term goals.
Kalene wants homebuyers to be fully prepared and confident in the process by the time they make an offer on a home so that they have the best chance at closing the deal and settling into their dream home.
If through this process with Kalene, you find that you’re not quite ready to buy a home, she can help you set up saving or credit improvement programs so that you’ll be on your way to making your dream home a reality.
Like most people looking for a home in Montana, Kalene loves the Montana lifestyle and taking advantage of outdoor activities. When she’s not helping members crunch numbers and set goals, she can be found snowboarding at Bridger Bowl or floating the Madison River with her family in the summer. So when members come to her looking to put down roots in the area, she gets it.
If it’s your time to venture into the world of homeownership, reach out to Kalene by phone at 406.582.6628 or email at kmangini@rmcu.net to get started.
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