Buying your first home · An excerpt
The Speakerphone Verdict
Priya found the house at 11:40 on a Tuesday night, which is the hour when every house is beautiful.
“Marcus. Marcus. Midtown. Two bedrooms. There’s a lemon tree.”
He surfaced from the other end of the couch. “There’s a lemon tree in the photo. Could be a rental lemon tree.”
But he sat up.
Stay with them a little longer
By Wednesday morning Priya had called her Aunt Gloria, who has closed roughly four thousand homes and who answers the phone before the second ring, always, like she’s been waiting.
“Send me the listing,” Gloria said. Then, eleven seconds later: “They photographed that kitchen with a fisheye lens. Anyway. Do you have your letter?”
“Our what?”
A sound on the line like a woman setting down her tea with intent.
“You can look at houses all you like—it’s free entertainment. But the second you want to offer on one, the seller’s agent is going to ask what you’re bringing.”
The chapter goes on to make pre-qualification, pre-approval, and lender paperwork feel less mysterious.
Gloria has opinions about the number the bank says you can spend.