Buy a Home in the DMV | The Credle Group — MD · DC · VA
DMV Home Buyers — MD · DC · VA

Know What You
Can Buy Before
You Tour Homes.

Run your real numbers — payment, affordability, cash-to-close, DTI, and rent vs. buy — then get a buyer roadmap built around your timeline, budget, and goals.

$0Down — VA & USDA
3%Down — FHA/Conv
3States Licensed
5★Google Rated
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Mortgage ViaNFM Lending
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BrokerageSamson Properties
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Licensed InMD · DC · VA
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DPA Programs$0 Down Available
Google Rated5-Star Reviews
Buyer Calculator Suite

Know Your Numbers
Before You Commit.

Five tools covering every number a buyer needs — from monthly payment to whether buying even makes sense right now.

How Much Home Can You Afford?
Enter your income and debts — we'll show you the price range lenders will typically approve in today's DMV market.
Conservative
Target Range
Max Approval
Estimated Monthly Payment (PITI)
Front-End DTI (housing only)
Back-End DTI (all debts)
Down Payment
Target Home Price
Estimates based on standard 28/36 qualifying ratios. Actual approval depends on credit score, loan type, reserves, and lender guidelines. Get a real pre-approval →
Estimate Your Monthly Payment
Full PITI breakdown — principal, interest, taxes, insurance, and HOA if applicable.
Principal & Interest
Property Tax (monthly)
Home Insurance (monthly)
HOA
PMI
Loan Amount
Down Payment %
Total Monthly Payment
PMI typically drops off once you reach 20% equity. Rate shown is illustrative — actual rate depends on credit score and loan type. Talk to us about rate options →
How Much Cash Do You Need to Close?
Most buyers underestimate cash-to-close. This tool adds up everything — down payment, closing costs, prepaid items, and reserves.
Down Payment
Lender Closing Costs (~1.5–2%)
Title & Settlement Fees
Prepaid Items (tax/ins escrow)
VA Funding Fee / FHA MIP
Appraisal + Inspection~$900–$1,200
Seller Concessions (credit)
TCG Buyer Credit
Estimated Cash to Close
Closing costs vary by lender, title company, location, and loan type. This is a planning estimate. Your Loan Estimate (LE) from the lender is the official breakdown. Start your loan application →
DTI — Debt-to-Income Checker
DTI is one of the most important factors lenders use. Know where you stand before you apply.
Front-End DTI (housing ÷ income)
0%28% ideal31%36%+
Back-End DTI (all debts ÷ income)
0%36% ideal43%50%+
Your StatusEnter your numbers above
Front-end max: 28–31% | Back-end max: 36–50% depending on loan type. VA and FHA can be more flexible. Talk through your DTI with us →
Rent vs. Buy — 5-Year Analysis
Is it smarter to buy now or keep renting? Run the real math — equity built, total cost, and 5-year net position.
5-Year Cost — Buy
Total out of pocket (after equity)
5-Year Cost — Rent
Total rent paid, no equity gained
Home Value in 5 Years
Equity Built in 5 Years
Total Rent Paid in 5 Years
5-Year Buying Advantage
Appreciation, taxes, and rent growth are variables — this is a planning model, not a guarantee. Market conditions in MD, DC, and VA vary significantly by zip code. Book a call to run your specific scenario →
Loan Programs

Every Program.
One Team.

We work with NFM Lending to match you to the right loan for your situation — income, credit, down payment, and goals all factor in.

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Conventional

Best for strong credit buyers looking for flexibility in loan size and property type.

Min Down3–5%
Min Credit620+
PMI RequiredIf <20% down
Loan LimitUp to $766,550
Most Flexible
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FHA Loan

Ideal for first-time buyers or anyone with less-than-perfect credit. Low down payment, government-backed.

Min Down3.5%
Min Credit580+
MIPRequired (life of loan)
Loan Limit~$498K–$1.1M (area-based)
First-Time Friendly
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VA Loan

Zero down payment for eligible veterans, active military, and surviving spouses. No PMI ever.

Min Down$0
Min Credit580–620 (varies)
PMINone — ever
Funding Fee1.25–3.3% (waivable)
Best Military Benefit
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USDA Loan

100% financing for eligible rural and some suburban areas in MD and VA. Income limits apply.

Min Down$0
Min Credit640+
Area RequirementUSDA-eligible zone
Guarantee Fee1% upfront, 0.35%/yr
$0 Down Rural
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DSCR (Investor)

Qualify on rental income, not your personal income. Perfect for investors growing a portfolio without W2 docs.

Min Down20–25%
Qualify OnProperty cash flow
DSCR Ratio≥1.0 preferred
Best ForSelf-employed / Investors
No W2 Needed
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Down Payment Assistance

Grants and soft-second loans layered on top of FHA/conventional loans — reduces or eliminates your out-of-pocket costs.

Assistance$5K–$30K+
RepaymentOften forgiven
ProgramsMDHCD, HPAP, VHDA
Income LimitsVary by program
Free Money
Down Payment Assistance

You May Qualify for
Free Money.

Most buyers don't know these programs exist. We actively work with all three DMV state programs and several employer-matched grants.

MDHCD — Maryland Mortgage Program
Up to $25,000 in assistance

State-backed DPA for Maryland first-time buyers. Partners with FHA and conventional loans. Income and purchase price limits by county.

MarylandFirst-TimeForgivable
HPAP — DC Home Purchase Assistance
Up to $202,000 in assistance

DC residents may qualify for a combination of deferred-payment loans and closing cost assistance. One of the most powerful DPA programs in the country.

Washington DCDeferred LoanLow Income
VHDA — Virginia Housing
Up to $15,000 in grants

Virginia first-time buyers can access grant assistance stacked onto FHA or conventional loans through VHDA's approved lender network.

VirginiaGrant — No RepaymentFirst-Time
Employer & Community Grants
$2,500–$10,000+

Many employers, hospitals, school systems, and municipalities offer their own DPA for employees. Often stacked on top of state programs. Ask us what's available in your area.

Any StateStackableEmployer Match
🎓 Free Qualification Check

Find Out Which DPA Programs You Qualify For

It takes 15 minutes. We pull up your numbers, check income limits against every active program, and tell you exactly which grants and soft-second loans you can stack — before you even apply for the mortgage.

No impact on your credit score
We check all MD, DC, and VA programs simultaneously
Employer grant stacking available
Works with FHA, VA, USDA, and conventional
Some grants are forgivable — no repayment required
Most programs require homebuyer education (we'll connect you)
💰 Check My DPA Eligibility Start Pre-Approval with NFM →
 The Buying Process

From First Call
to Keys in Hand.

No guesswork. No gaps. Every step mapped so you're never wondering what's happening next.

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Step 01
Buyer Strategy Call

15–20 min. We learn your goals, timeline, budget, and map a plan before you tour a single home.

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Step 02
Pre-Approval

Real numbers from NFM Lending — not a guess. DPA eligibility checked simultaneously.

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Step 03
Home Search

RealScout access, VIP alerts, and private/off-market opportunities. You see the right homes — not everything.

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Step 04
Offer Strategy

We structure offers to win without overpaying. Terms, contingencies, and proof of funds positioned correctly.

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Step 05
Inspection & Appraisal

We protect you — inspection negotiation, appraisal gaps, repair credits, and contingency management.

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Step 06
Close & Move In

Final walkthrough, closing day coordination, and post-close insurance cross-sell. You're a homeowner.

Live Home Search

Search Every Active
Listing in Real-Time.

Access the same MLS data agents use — updated live, with RealScout's AI matching you to homes that fit your criteria.

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VIP Home List + Instant Alerts

New listings, price drops, and back-on-market homes delivered to your inbox before most buyers see them.

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Map-Based Search with AI Matching

Filter by school district, commute, property type, price, and features. Save favorites and share with family.

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Home Value Reports

Track neighborhood values and see real-time buyer demand signals for any area you're watching.

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Off-Market Opportunities

We work the private network — pre-market listings and pocket deals that never hit Zillow.

Buyer Stories

Buyers Who
Won Their Home.

★★★★★

"Carlos made the process simple, fast, and clear. We felt protected the entire way. First-time buyers — he walked us through every single step without making us feel dumb."

LC
LaSahwn C.
First-Time Buyer · Woodbridge, VA
★★★★★

"We qualified for a DPA grant we didn't even know existed. Combined with our FHA loan, we closed with barely $3,000 out of pocket on a $380k home. Unreal."

TP
Tanya & Paul M.
First-Time Buyers · Prince George's Co., MD
★★★★★

"Competitive market. Multiple-offer situation. We got the house at $8k under the highest offer because the terms were cleaner. Strategy matters — and Carlos knows it."

DK
Derek K.
Move-Up Buyer · Silver Spring, MD
Buyer FAQ

Questions Every Buyer Asks.

Straight answers. No fluff.

Do I need 20% down to buy a home?
No. Most buyers put down 3–5% through FHA or conventional programs. VA and USDA offer $0 down for qualifying buyers. 20% eliminates PMI but is not required — and often isn't the smartest move for cash flow.
Should I get pre-approved before I start looking at homes?
Yes — always. Pre-approval tells you what you can actually afford, gives you leverage in offer situations, and lets you move fast when the right home hits the market. Sellers take pre-approved buyers significantly more seriously.
What credit score do I need to buy?
FHA allows down to 580 with 3.5% down. Conventional starts at 620. VA and USDA vary by lender but often allow 580–640. Higher scores mean better rates — every 20-point improvement in score can meaningfully impact your monthly payment.
How much cash do I actually need to close?
Down payment + closing costs + prepaid escrow items. Closing costs are typically 2–4% of the loan amount. With DPA programs and seller concessions, many buyers close with $3,000–$7,000 out of pocket — use the Cash to Close calculator above for your specific scenario.
What's the difference between pre-qual and pre-approval?
Pre-qual is based on self-reported numbers — weak in competitive markets. Pre-approval requires income docs, bank statements, and a credit pull — it's verified, which makes your offer credible. In the DMV, listing agents recommend pre-approval before showing homes.
How do I win in a competitive market without overpaying?
Strong offers are about more than price. Escalation clauses, clean contingencies, flexible closing dates, pre-approval strength, and proof of funds all matter. We build an offer strategy before you tour — so when you want to move, we move fast and smart.
Do I pay the buyer's agent commission?
Since August 2024 NAR settlement, buyer's agent compensation is negotiated directly between buyer and agent — it's no longer automatically included in the seller's commission. We're fully transparent about our compensation model and can walk you through your options on a strategy call.
What are down payment assistance programs?
DPA programs provide grants or soft-second loans to cover your down payment or closing costs — sometimes both. Many are forgivable if you stay in the home for a set period. MD, DC, and VA all have active programs. We check your eligibility at no cost before you apply for anything.
Should I buy or keep renting?
Run the Rent vs. Buy calculator above for a 5-year analysis. Generally: if your timeline is 3+ years, buying builds equity while rent just builds your landlord's wealth. In the DMV, where rents typically rise 3–5%/yr and values appreciate steadily, buying often wins in years 3–5 depending on down payment and price point.
Can I use this service without any commitment?
Yes. Use every calculator, book a strategy call, download the buyer kit, search listings — none of it requires a signed agreement. We earn your business by being the most prepared and honest team in the market, not by locking you in before you're ready.
Your Move

Ready to Buy?
Let's Build Your Plan.

No pressure. No commitment. One conversation to know exactly where you stand and what your next move should be.