A Year of Preparation: First-Time Buyers Secure $20,000 in Builder Credits and Nearly Two Years of HOA Coverage

The Buyers’ Goal

For this couple, homeownership was something they had talked about for years. They spoke primarily Spanish, were buying for the first time, and had never navigated anything like a real estate transaction before. Their goal was simple but significant: find a home they could afford, understand everything they were signing, and get through the process without feeling lost or left behind.

The Challenge

When they first came to me, one partner hadn’t established a credit history. Without an established score, qualifying for a mortgage wasn’t possible. We had to pause the search before it started.

His partner added him as an authorized user on her credit card account. Then they waited—approximately six months—for his score to build before we could realistically restart the purchase process. That’s not a strategy I invented or guaranteed; it was their own decision, based on what made sense for their situation. I supported them through that waiting period and picked up where we left off when they were ready to move forward.

Their credit preparation reflects their individual experience. Building credit as an authorized user works differently for every person depending on their credit profile and the account history involved. This is not a suggested strategy for all buyers.

My Strategy and Involvement

From the very first conversation, I explained every step of the process in Spanish. That included what a credit score means in a mortgage context, what earnest money is and when it’s due, how builder contracts differ from resale contracts, what they’d need to sign electronically and why, and how closing works from the day they get a clear-to-close through the day they get their keys.

When they were financially ready to proceed, we identified a Meritage new-construction home in Silva Farms, Goodyear. I negotiated their builder package before they signed the contract. I also coordinated with their lender, helped them through closing paperwork and electronic signatures, assisted with earnest money coordination, and walked them through utility setup so they were ready to move in.

What Was Negotiated

Before they signed, I negotiated a package that included:

• $20,000 builder credit
• Nearly two years of HOA dues coverage
• Washer, dryer, refrigerator, and blinds included with the home
• Builder-paid buyer-agent compensation—in this transaction, they did not pay my fee out of pocket

Note: The $20,000 builder credit and HOA coverage are presented as separate negotiated benefits. Do not assume the HOA coverage was drawn from the credit or that the two were combined into a single total. Builder compensation arrangements vary by transaction.

The Outcome

They closed on their Meritage home in Silva Farms, Goodyear, in May 2026—approximately one year after we first started working together. They received $20,000 in builder credits, nearly two years of HOA dues covered, and their home came with a washer, dryer, refrigerator, and blinds included. They went through the entire process with explanations in Spanish at every step.

It was their first home. The preparation was worth it.

A Practical Takeaway

Not everyone is ready to buy right away—and that’s okay. Credit takes time to build. The right move is sometimes to pause, do the preparation, and come back when the foundation is in place. For buyers who need guidance in Spanish throughout the process, having a bilingual REALTOR® from the first conversation through closing day makes a meaningful difference.

If you’re a first-time buyer wondering whether you’re ready—or wondering what it takes to get ready—fill out my buyer questionnaire and let’s start the conversation.