Good. You're in the right place.

Because you're buying an investment property and real estate investing is my jam.

A starter home is a stepping stone. It will either help you on your next move or make that next move harder. It’s as simple as that.

Weatherford Starter Homes is a hyper local email newsletter built for Parker County residents (or soon to be) who want to buy their first home with their and their family’s future front of mind.

It's written by me, John Steffen (RE Lic #736509).

I'm a local buyer's agent. I don't list homes. I work exclusively with buyers.

For the last six years, 100% of the nearly 300 transactions I've been involved in, has been helping everyday people buy and manage investment properties across North Texas - buy and hold rentals. house hacks, fix and flips, long term holds, small and large multifamily properties.

As I sought coaching to grow my business, I heard the same thing over and over:

"Don't bother with first time buyers."

To be fair, the mentors had a point.

First time buyers usually require 10x the education, more guidance, more patience, and more time. They are often buying at lower price points, which means lower commissions. In many real estate offices, first time buyer leads get handed to the newest agents because the experienced agents are chasing larger deals and newbies need to put food on the table.

That's always seemed backwards to me.

The people making the biggest financial decision of their lives, who don’t know what they don’t know, in need of the most help, are often the ones receiving the least experienced guidance.

That disconnect is what inspired this newsletter.

I decided to make a complete shift in my business and focus on serving the starter home investor right here in my hometown of Weatherford, TX.

Someone buying a primary residence with enough foresight to understand that today's home will impact tomorrow's opportunities.

The goal of this newsletter is simple.

To provide the deals, lessons, mistakes, market knowledge, and local insight necessary to help you buy a smart starter home.

A home that protects your family.

A home that protects your savings.

A home that gives you options later.

What is a smart starter home?

My rule of thumb is blunt:

Set your ego aside then ask:

Can I buy it?

Can I carry it?

Can I fix it?

Can I rent it?

Can I sell it?

Without financial bleeding or speculative upside at any stage?

If the answer is yes across the board, it probably belongs on the shortlist.

You'll see this framework show up often throughout this newsletter.

This is not a weekly or monthly newsletter, even if you’re 2-3 years from purchasing, I want you to hold the local market in the palm of your hand at all time. I want you to study deals a few days a week, even for just a few minutes total.

Because the more properties you study, the better you become at recognizing what’s of true value to you and your future.

Most people look at a home and see a kitchen, a backyard, and a monthly payment.

That’s great, you need to be excited and proud to call somewhere home.

I just I want to teach you to see something more.

I want you to see opportunity.

The opportunity to create equity.

The opportunity to generate income maybe a tax-free sale, a house hack while occupying or a converting to a sound rental upon move-out.

The opportunity to give yourself more options five years from now than you have today.

The more deals you study, the more obvious those opportunities become.

That's the real goal of Weatherford Starter Homes.

To equip you to SEE and SEIZE valuable opportunities before they pass you by.

Every deal, every lesson, and every market update is designed with that goal in mind.

Going forward, expect a steady stream of local deals, market insights, lessons learned, and probably a few strong opinions on what makes a good starter home and what doesn't.

My hope is that after reading enough of these emails, you'll start spotting opportunities on your own.

And that's when things get fun.

Before I go on a real estate rant and make this introduction twice as long as it needs to be, I'll stop here.

I hope to earn the opportunity to guide you to the closing table as your agent.

If you ever have a question, reply to this email or give me a call.

I love talking real estate, and you'll never be a bother.

Cheers,

John Steffen
The Bryant Co.
RE Lic #736509