As first-time buyers with a lot of questions, they found Dominick patient and clear — quick to respond and genuinely pleasant to work with at every step.
First-time buyers · Loveland, COFirst-time buyer
First-time buyers
From renter to keys, without the mystery
Nobody is born knowing how mortgages work. This page is the guide Dominick wishes every first-time buyer got — myths busted, steps mapped, help programs explained.
is it dumb that I don't even know where to start 😳
It's the opposite of dumb — it's where literally everyone starts. Step one is a 15-minute conversation. I'll take it from there.
Myth-busting
Six myths keeping renters renting
You need 20% down to buy a home
The truth: Conventional loans start at 3% down, FHA at 3.5%, and VA and USDA can be $0 down for eligible buyers. Twenty percent avoids mortgage insurance — it is not the price of admission.
You need perfect credit
The truth: Many programs work from the low 600s, and FHA guidelines can go lower. Your credit is a starting point for a plan, not a verdict.
You should wait for rates to drop
The truth: Nobody can time rates — not even loan officers. If a payment works for your budget today, waiting has costs too (rising prices, rent paid, competition when rates fall). And refinancing later is always on the table.
Getting pre-approved hurts your credit
The truth: A mortgage pre-approval is a single inquiry with a small, temporary effect — and credit models group multiple mortgage inquiries within a shopping window as one. The clarity is worth far more than a few points.
Find the house first, then figure out financing
The truth: Backwards — and in a competitive Front Range market, costly. Sellers take offers with pre-approvals seriously. Financing first means you shop your real budget and can move fast.
Student loans mean you can’t buy
The truth: Student debt factors into your debt-to-income ratio, but it rarely disqualifies you by itself. Dominick works with buyers carrying student loans all the time — the math usually works better than people fear.
The path
Six steps from here to keys
1
The conversation
Fifteen minutes with Dominick about goals, timeline, and budget. No documents needed yet.
2
Pre-approval
Apply through Fairway’s secure system. Dominick reviews income, credit, and assets and issues a real pre-approval letter.
3
Know your true budget
Not what you qualify for — what fits your life. You set the comfort number together, including taxes and insurance.
4
Shop
You and your agent hunt; Dominick updates your pre-approval letter per offer and talks to listing agents when it helps your offer win.
5
Under contract
Appraisal, processing, underwriting — The Romig Team drives the file and updates you every week, so nothing is a mystery.
6
Clear to close
Final numbers reviewed together before closing day. You sign, you get keys, and Dominick stays your loan person for life.
Colorado down payment help
CHFA: the help most buyers never claim
The Colorado Housing and Finance Authority pairs its fixed-rate mortgages with real down payment assistance for qualified buyers: a grant of up to the lesser of $25,000 or 3% of your first mortgage that never has to be repaid, or a deferred second mortgage of up to the lesser of $25,000 or 4% — repaid only when you sell, refinance, or pay off the loan.
Income and purchase-price limits apply and vary by county, a homebuyer education class is required, and assistance options carry trade-offs — which is exactly why you check eligibility with a loan officer instead of a headline. It takes about ten minutes.
we make decent money but rent ate our savings 😩
You might be exactly who CHFA programs exist for. Let's check your county's income and price limits — takes ten minutes, costs nothing.
Real clients, real reviews
Five stars.5.0 across 85 verified reviews
Pulled from Google, Experience.com & Zillow — every word verified, every buyer real.
Coordinating a closing between South Carolina and Colorado, this family said Dominick made the whole process seamlessly easy — explaining options and offering real advice.
Long-distance family · Fort Collins, COOut-of-state closing
A couple who used Dominick for both of their home purchases said the first experience was so good there was no question they would trust him again — and they keep recommending him.
Repeat client · Northern ColoradoSecond home purchase
A refinance client praised the weekly loan progress updates and constant communication — always available, always a straight answer, right through closing.
Refinance client · ColoradoRefinance
With timing critical, one buyer said Dominick and his team went to extraordinary lengths to have documentation buttoned up for a very quick closing.
Quick-close buyer · Loveland, COFast closing
One buyer described the process as one of the easiest and smoothest experiences — guided through every step, start to finish, with constant updates on loan progress.
Home buyer · Northern ColoradoPurchase
As first-time buyers with a lot of questions, they found Dominick patient and clear — quick to respond and genuinely pleasant to work with at every step.
First-time buyers · Loveland, COFirst-time buyer
Coordinating a closing between South Carolina and Colorado, this family said Dominick made the whole process seamlessly easy — explaining options and offering real advice.
Long-distance family · Fort Collins, COOut-of-state closing
A couple who used Dominick for both of their home purchases said the first experience was so good there was no question they would trust him again — and they keep recommending him.
Repeat client · Northern ColoradoSecond home purchase
A refinance client praised the weekly loan progress updates and constant communication — always available, always a straight answer, right through closing.
Refinance client · ColoradoRefinance
With timing critical, one buyer said Dominick and his team went to extraordinary lengths to have documentation buttoned up for a very quick closing.
Quick-close buyer · Loveland, COFast closing
One buyer described the process as one of the easiest and smoothest experiences — guided through every step, start to finish, with constant updates on loan progress.
Home buyer · Northern ColoradoPurchase
Money questions
First-time buyer FAQ
How much do I really need saved to buy a first home in Colorado?
Less than most people think. Between low-down-payment programs (3–3.5% down) and CHFA down payment assistance for qualified buyers, many Colorado first-time buyers close with a fraction of the traditional 20%. You will also want funds for closing costs and reserves — Dominick maps the full cash-to-close for your scenario before you shop.
What credit score do I need to buy a house?
Many conventional programs start around 620, and FHA guidelines can reach lower. Pricing improves as scores rise. If your score needs work, Dominick can point out which specific changes move it fastest.
What is CHFA and do I qualify?
CHFA is the Colorado Housing and Finance Authority — the state’s affordable homeownership agency. It pairs fixed-rate first mortgages with down payment help (a grant or a deferred second mortgage) for qualified buyers. Income and purchase-price limits vary by county, and a homebuyer education class is required. Whether you qualify is a ten-minute check.
How long does buying a first home take?
From pre-approval, most purchases close 30–45 days after your offer is accepted. The house hunt itself is the variable — some buyers find the one in a week, some take months. The pre-approval is what lets you move when it appears.
What does it cost to work with Dominick?
Talking to Dominick costs nothing, and there is no obligation. Loan costs are disclosed clearly in your official Loan Estimate before you commit to anything.
Ready for step one?
It's a 15-minute conversation, it costs nothing, and there are genuinely no dumb questions. That's the whole first step.