When Allyson Guida and Chris Larson moved to Seattle from California three years ago to be closer to family, they also hoped some day to own a home.
Allyson, a teacher with Bellevue School District, and Chris, a musician, had mapped out a five-year plan to save up a down payment. But then they learned about Landed’s down payment program and realized they could start building home equity sooner.
“The fact that Landed is able to contribute up to 15% of the purchase price removes such a big barrier to buying a home,” Allyson said. “And it allowed our five-year plan to be cut down to a one-year plan.”
The couple also worked with our affiliate mortgage lender Landed Home Loans, and a Landed partner agent. Landed Home Loans has loan officers in markets across the country who are passionate about finding the right option for homebuyers, and know all the options that are out there for essential professionals. And our partner agents are expert real estate agents in your area that know all about how Landed works.
“Our loan officer was super quick in getting pre-approval letters, and she also helped us get low interest rates and keep closing costs under control,” Allyson said. “And our Landed partner agent was great, too. He was very responsive and answered all our questions, and as first-time buyers we had a lot. Everyone really took care of us.”
The couple found the home they ultimately would buy about an hour after giving up on buying another home due to failed negotiations. They are grateful about the way it all played out.
The family -- Allyson, Chris, and their cats Nudgie and Link -- love their new home.
“The home we bought is in a better location and had everything we were looking for,” Allyson said. “Once we saw it, we knew it was the one.”
The three-bedroom, one-bath home in West Seattle is filled with natural light thanks to plenty of windows and skylights, which Allyson loves. An open-floor plan, recent updates, brand new appliances, wood floors, and an outdoor space also were welcomed finds, and the fact that it sits on a low-traffic, dead-end street was a big plus.
“We’d always been renters and we wanted a place we could make our own,” Allyson said. “We have that now, and we love it.”
Her tips for other essential professionals thinking of partnering with Landed?
“Don’t be afraid to ask questions. Landed felt like a real partner with us, and they didn’t pressure us,” she said. “And have faith in your Landed team, they are knowledgeable and will look out for you.”
--
Interested in partnering with Landed for your home purchase?
