First-time buyers
Your first home, with a plan
Two simple steps give you a clear number to shop with and a strategy for building wealth — not just a monthly payment. Both start free, with no hard credit pull.
How it works
Two steps to clarity
Buying your first home shouldn’t start with a stack of paperwork or a guess at what you can afford. It starts with two conversations — one that gives you your real buying power, and one that turns that number into a plan.
- Get pre-approved — free, with a soft credit check. A soft credit check (no impact to your score) plus a quick look at your income and savings gives you a real pre-approval: your maximum buying power and the exact price range to shop in. There’s no cost and no obligation, and you walk away with a number you can trust and offers sellers take seriously.
- Sit down for a purchase consultation. Once you know your number, we build the plan together — the special programs that fit, simple moves to lift your score for a better rate, your down-payment options, the tax side of owning, and how this first home fits your long-term wealth. You leave with clarity and a strategy, not just a monthly payment.
Your purchase consultation
What we review together
Your consultation is where the plan comes together. We go through each of these so you understand not just what you can buy, but how to buy it well.
Special loan programs
First-time-buyer programs, down-payment assistance, and low-down and specialty loans most buyers never hear about — matched to the ones you actually qualify for.
Credit-score improvements
Specific, realistic moves that can lift your score before you lock. It’s often the difference between a good rate and a great one over the life of the loan.
Down-payment options
How much you really need, gift funds, assistance programs, and the trade-offs of putting down more or less — so the number fits your life, not a rule of thumb.
Tax savings
What homeownership can mean at tax time, so you can weigh renting against owning with the full picture in front of you.
Maximum buying power
Your true approval amount and price range — a confident number to shop with and the footing to write strong, credible offers.
Long-term wealth planning
How this home builds equity and fits your bigger goals, so your first purchase is also your first real investment.
Why start here
Clarity first, pressure never
Most first-time buyers start by scrolling listings and worrying about a number they’ve never actually been given. We flip that around: get the real number first, understand the programs and the plan, then shop with confidence.
Our goal isn’t to sell you the biggest loan you qualify for. It’s to give aspiring homeowners clarity — a home that fits your life today and builds wealth for the years ahead. No cost to find out, and no pressure to move before you’re ready.
Common questions
First-time buyer questions
Does getting pre-approved hurt my credit?
No. Pre-approval uses a soft credit check, which has no impact on your score. A hard pull only happens later, once you’ve chosen to move forward on a specific home.
Is there any cost or obligation?
None. Getting pre-approved and meeting for your purchase consultation are both free, with no obligation to use us or to buy. The goal is to give you clarity so you can make the right decision for you.
How much do I need for a down payment?
Often far less than people expect. Depending on the program, first-time buyers can put down as little as 3% — and in some cases qualify for down-payment assistance. We’ll show you every option and the trade-offs of each.
How long does pre-approval take?
Usually the same day. Once we have a quick picture of your income and savings and run the soft credit check, we can give you your buying power and price range right away.
I’m not sure I’m ready to buy yet.
That’s the best time to start. Even six to twelve months out, knowing your number and your plan lets us line up the credit, savings and programs so you’re ready the moment the right home appears.
Start free
Get your number, build your plan
A quick, no-pressure conversation gives you your real buying power today — and the plan to make your first home a smart one.
Franklin Direct is a mortgage lender in Ladera Ranch, California, powered by Franklin Loan Center. We help first-time buyers understand their options, improve their position and buy with a plan — in-house underwriting and funding every step of the way.
Three ways to start
Apply now, or email or text Justin directly — usually answered the same day.