The best houses in our market sell quickly, and often there are multiple buyers competing for the same house. In this episode, Nelson shares many tips to help you compete and win against other buyers for our dream home!

Sometimes a mortgage pre-approval can be a fragile thing. In this episode Nelson gives you the Do's and Don'ts to keep you from the disaster scenario that could happen if your financing falls through on a home purchase!

In this episode, Nelson walks you through a typical pre-approval process at Utah Independent Mortgage Corp. You'll see the level of professionalism and diligence that is required for a solid, reliable pre-approval. Nelson also shares the real risks and costs of relying on a flimsy pre-approval.

Nelson explains 7 reasons he believes the conventional 1% down program from our lending partner UWM is the best way for first-time buyers to finance their home. Listen to learn how this program can help you avoid excessive fees, get a lower payment, and preserve your refinance options for the future.

Trick question: Is Mortgage Insurance Good or Bad? Mortgage insurance can be very good because it helps us buy a home with less than 20% down payment, but it can be bad if you're not careful. Many buyers are wasting thousands of dollars on up-front mortgage insurance or monthly mortgage insurance, all because they didn't know that this piece of the loan is a great place to focus for savings! In this episodes Nelson lays out some rules of thumb designed to help you make the right decisions around mortgage insurance.

In this episode, Nelson focuses on the decision that each buyer must make when they lock their loan. Should I go for a lower rate, or lower fees. Is it possible to get both? Nelson explains how many buyers who intend to refinance in the near future are wasting thousands of dollars by focusing only on the interest rate.

In this episode Nelson explains the very popular 2/1 (Temporary) interest rate buydown and compares it to the concept of a permanent buydown, also known as paying points. These are powerful options to reduce your monthly payment and make home-ownership more affordable for first-time buyers and those looking to move up to their next home, but which one is right for you? Listen to this episode for some wise advice for structuring your best possible mortgage option!

Self-employed in Utah and buying a home? Learn 5 lender-ready tips on income averaging, add-backs, depreciation, business debts, and non-QM options to qualify.

Learn the difference between mortgage brokers and lenders in Utah. Discover how working with a broker can save you time, money, and stress when buying a home.

Learn how to fix bad credit fast and qualify for a home loan in Utah. Discover simple, mid-level, and complex credit repair tips and qualify quicker.

25 ways Utah homebuyers can find a down payment—savings, gifts, grants, assistance, and smart loans. Clear steps to buy sooner. Schedule a free consult.

Many potential homebuyers are denied a mortgage due to a high debt-to-income ratio.  In this episode, Nelson reviews a half-dozen quick tips that you can use to fix a broken debt-to-income ratio immediately.  This isn’t about waiting a few years to see if your situation improves!  This episode is about ideas and actions you can take immediately to turn your denial into an approval, reset your budget to make room for a house payment, and become a homeowner much sooner than you may have thought!

Would you like to buy a home that has an Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU)? In this Episode, Nelson walks through the guidelines and shows you how this option can increase your purchasing power, and make homes more affordable. Nelson also explores an interesting idea: buyers could finance the costs of renovating a home to add an apartment by buying their first home with a renovation loan!

Ready to buy your first home in Utah? Learn the homebuying process step-by-step—from pre-approval to closing—with expert tips from a local Utah mortgage broker.

Home ownership isn’t just a dream — it’s the foundation of financial independence. Learn why owning a home is one of the smartest, safest, and most empowering financial moves you can make.

Join Utah mortgage broker Nelson Barss on the Home Buyers Quest Podcast—your friendly guide to qualifying, financing, and buying your first home in Utah.