You're More Ready to Buy a Home Than You Think with Josie White of Chase Home Lending

¡Hola mi gente! If buying a home has felt like a dream that wasn't built for people like you — this episode is going to change that.Today I'm sitting down with Josie White, Home Lending Advisor at Chase Home Lending, who has spent 15 years helping people navigate the mortgage process and 30 years in banking. She's bilingual, she's been in the trenches with buyers at every income level, and she is here to tell you the truth about what it actually takes to buy a home in 2026.We're busting the biggest myths: the 20% down payment (nope, not required), the "perfect credit score" (also not required), and the idea that being self-employed or having limited savings means it's not possible for you (also not true — with some asterisks).WE GET INTO: 00:00 - Intro: Homeownership for First-Gen Latinos (Sponsored by Chase Home Lending)01:44 - Josie's Role at Chase and 15 Years in Home Lending02:47 - How Today's Buyers Are Different From Your Parents' Generation04:12 - Jannese's Real Estate Journey: From One Property to Two (and Counting)05:19 - The Biggest Mistake Buyers Make: Don't Assume Before You Ask06:38 - What You Actually Need to Know About Qualifying for a Mortgage07:59 - What If I Don't Have 20% Down? Your Real Options09:04 - Pre-Qualification vs. Pre-Approval: What's the Difference?11:16 - Buy Based on Your Current Finances, Not What You Hope For12:16 - How Chase Helps Buyers Who Feel Intimidated By the Process14:29 - DreaMaker Mortgage and Low-to-Moderate Income Lending Programs15:51 - The Free Credit Journey Tool and the Perfect Credit Score Myth17:10 - A Cautionary Tale for Self-Employed Buyers19:13 - Fixed Rate vs. Adjustable Rate Mortgages Explained21:05 - FHA vs. VA vs. Conventional Loans: What's the Difference?23:13 - How Jannese's Dad Bought His Home With a VA Loan24:01 - Multi-Generational and Co-Buying Arrangements25:19 - How to Strengthen Your Financial Profile Before You Buy26:44 - Mindset for Navigating Today's Housing Market28:42 - How to Take the First Step With Chase Home Lending29:59 - Outro and Final ThoughtsKEY TAKEAWAYS:The real difference between pre-qualification and pre-approval (and why it matters)Chase's DreamMaker Mortgage and homebuyer grants of up to $5,000 that don't have to be repaidHow your credit score actually affects your interest rate — and Chase's free Credit Journey tool to help you improve itDocumentation you need to have ready (especially if you're self-employed)Fixed rate vs. adjustable rate mortgages — and which one is right for your situationFHA, VA, and conventional loans broken down simplyMulti-generational and co-buying arrangements that more families are using to get into the marketEPISODE RESOURCES:Connect with Josie and explore home buying options TAKE THE NEXT STEP:Yo Quiero Dinero Private MembershipRead my book, Financially Lit!Leave me a voicemailThis episode of Yo Quiero Dinero is sponsored by Chase Home Lending and produced by Heart Centered Podcasting. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.