Buying your first Seattle home? Start with a plan.
Clear, local guidance for Seattle-area buyers, especially first-time buyers: what you can afford, which first-time buyer and down payment assistance programs may fit, how offers work here, and where to look. From Loomis Hamilton, real estate broker with McConnell Group.
- A step-by-step plan from pre-approval to keys
- Help finding programs to ask your lender about
- Custom home search alerts for the areas you choose
Free buyer consultation
Tell me a little about your plans and I'll reach out to set up a time to talk. No cost, no obligation.
Everything a first-time buyer needs to know, in order
Buying in the Seattle area moves quickly. A little preparation up front makes every later step calmer.
Free buyer consultation
A no-pressure conversation about your goals, budget, timing, and the questions you didn't know to ask.
Book a consultFirst-time buyer programs
An overview of Washington State Housing Finance Commission programs and Seattle down payment assistance, and how to check eligibility.
Learn moreThe buying process
Pre-approval, buyer agreements, touring, offers, inspections, and closing, explained step by step.
Learn moreNeighborhoods
An introduction to Seattle neighborhoods and nearby cities to help you focus your search.
Learn moreHome search alerts
Tell me what you want and where, and I'll set up a custom search so new listings come to you.
Set up alertsBuyer guides
Plain-English guides on programs, cash to close, and how buyer representation works in Washington.
Read the guidesHelp with a down payment may be available
Washington's housing finance commission and the City of Seattle both offer programs aimed at helping eligible buyers with a down payment and closing costs. Each has its own rules, income limits, and required homebuyer education, and they usually work through participating lenders.
- State programs through the Washington State Housing Finance Commission (WSHFC)
- City of Seattle down payment assistance through nonprofit partners
- Low-down-payment loan options your lender can explain
From first conversation to keys
Consult
Goals, budget, timing, and which programs to ask a lender about.
Pre-approval
A lender reviews your finances and confirms what you can borrow.
Search & tour
Custom alerts and focused tours of homes that fit.
Offer to closing
Strategy, inspection, financing, and a smooth close.
Where Seattle-area buyers look
Ballard
Northwest Seattle, with a maritime and fishing heritage, the historic Ballard Avenue business district, and the Hiram M.
ExploreNeighborhoodFremont & Wallingford
North of Lake Union, connected by the Burke-Gilman Trail.
ExploreNeighborhoodGreenwood & Phinney Ridge
North-central Seattle along Greenwood and Phinney Avenues, home to Woodland Park and the Woodland Park Zoo.
ExploreNeighborhoodNorthgate, Lake City & North Seattle
North Seattle neighborhoods with light rail at Northgate, green spaces along Thornton Creek, and a mix of mid-century houses, townhomes, and condos.
ExploreNeighborhoodCapitol Hill & the Central District
East of downtown.
ExploreNeighborhoodBeacon Hill
South-central Seattle, with Jefferson Park, a light rail station, and city and mountain views from some streets.
Explore
Loomis Hamilton
Real Estate Broker · McConnell Group · MLS ID WA 138027
(425) 516-2041 · l.hamilton@mcconnellgroup.com
I work with buyers across Seattle and the greater Seattle area, and I spend a lot of time with first-time buyers. My job is to explain each step, help you weigh trade-offs, and advocate for you when it counts.
Straight answers, no pressure
- Honest guidance on price, condition, and competition for each home
- Help coordinating with your lender, inspector, and escrow
- A written buyer agreement that spells out services and compensation up front, as Washington law requires
- Equal, respectful service for every client
Latest guides
Washington First-Time Home Buyer Programs: How They Work and Where to Verify
WSHFC's first-mortgage programs, down payment assistance, the Covenant program, Seattle's city assistance, and a checklist for confirming what you qualify for.
Read the guideCosts & budgetingHow Much Cash Do You Need to Buy a Home in Seattle? Down Payment, Closing Costs, and Cash to Close
Earnest money, down payment, lender fees, prepaids, escrow and title, HOA items, and the ways buyers lower the cash they need at closing.
Read the guideBuying processBuyer Agreements in Washington: What to Know Before You Tour Homes
Why Washington requires a written buyer agreement, what it must include, how compensation works, and the questions to ask before you sign.
Read the guideReady to make a plan?
A free consult is the easiest first step. We'll map out your budget, timeline, and options together.