Personable from day one, and walked him through his first purchase making sure every important detail actually made sense.
Jacob D. · Knoxville, TNFirst-time buyer
First-time buyers · East Tennessee
You don’t need to know anything yet. That’s what Autumn’s for.
Every first-time buyer starts at zero. The ones who end up happy just had someone patient explaining each step in plain English. This page is that — and so is Autumn’s phone.
is it dumb that I don’t even know where to start? 😅
Not even a little. Nobody is born knowing this. Tell me where you are and we’ll build the plan together — step one is literally just this text.
Myths, busted
Six things you’ve heard that aren’t true
You need 20% down.
The truth: Conventional loans start at 3% down for first-time buyers, FHA at 3.5%, and VA and USDA at $0. On a $300,000 house, 3% is $9,000 — not $60,000. The 20% number is about avoiding mortgage insurance, not about getting approved.
You need perfect credit.
The truth: Scores in the low 600s qualify for several programs, and FHA goes lower. A score matters for pricing, but “not perfect” is the norm, not the exception. Autumn sees the actual number before you assume anything.
You should wait for rates to drop.
The truth: Nobody can time rates — not Autumn, not the news. What you can control is buying a house you can afford today and refinancing later if rates improve. Waiting also means paying rent, and rent is a 100% interest rate.
A pre-approval will hurt your credit.
The truth: A mortgage credit pull is a single hard inquiry, and multiple mortgage pulls within a short shopping window count as one. The impact is small and temporary. Not knowing where you stand costs far more.
Find the house first, then worry about the loan.
The truth: Backwards. In East Tennessee’s market, listing agents want a real pre-approval attached to your offer. Getting the financing sorted first means you shop with confidence and your offer gets taken seriously.
Student loans mean you can’t buy.
The truth: Student debt goes into your debt-to-income ratio like any other payment, and income-driven repayment plans are handled more fairly than they used to be. Plenty of Autumn’s first-time buyers are still paying on their degrees.
The path
From “thinking about it” to keys, in six steps
- 01
The conversation
A ten-minute text or call. Where you are, what you want, what’s making you nervous. No application yet.
- 02
Pre-approval
Credit, income and assets reviewed up front. You get a number you can trust and a letter sellers respect.
- 03
Your real budget
Not the max you qualify for — the payment you’ll actually be comfortable with. Taxes, insurance and HOA included.
- 04
House hunting
Shop with your agent knowing exactly what each listing would cost per month. Autumn runs numbers on any address, fast.
- 05
Under contract
Offer accepted. Appraisal, inspection and underwriting start. Autumn keeps you updated every week, minimum.
- 06
Clear to close
Underwriting signs off, you sign, you get keys. Most of Autumn’s buyers close on the date in the contract.
Tennessee down payment help
THDA Great Choice: the money most first-time buyers never claim
The Tennessee Housing Development Agency offers Great Choice Plus — a second loan that covers down payment and closing costs for eligible buyers. It pairs with FHA, VA, USDA and conventional first mortgages, requires a short homebuyer education course, and has income and purchase-price limits that vary by county.
Autumn has placed plenty of buyers in Knox, Blount, Sevier and Loudon counties with THDA help. If you qualify on income but rent has eaten your savings, this is the program built for you.
How THDA assistance works →we make decent money but have like $4k saved. is that even enough? 😬
Possibly, yes. THDA Great Choice Plus can cover most of the down payment and closing costs. Send me your county and household income and I’ll check the limits today.
Real clients, real reviews
Five stars.4.9 across 134 verified reviews
Pulled from Experience.com, Google & Zillow — every word verified, every buyer real.
Three houses in a row with Autumn and her team — fast communication, efficient processing, thorough every single time.
Lindsey B. · Knoxville, TN3rd home with Autumn
Patient and deeply knowledgeable. Three purchases later, he still can’t recommend her enough.
Mark B. · Knoxville, TNRepeat client
Second time working with Autumn: smooth, on time, and focused on what was actually best for their situation.
Theresa V. · Loudon, TNRepeat client
An absolute workhorse who shoots you straight and keeps you in the loop at every step of the process.
Michael W. · Corryton, TNPurchase
Great communication, went to work when a competing loan offer showed up, and helped them understand their options before their old home even sold.
Andrew P. · Maryville, TNBuy & sell
Transparent, clear, thoughtful and thorough — great people and great service.
Kinley K. · Knoxville, TNPurchase
Super friendly, responsive, and communication was excellent the whole way through.
Sara F. · Sevierville, TNPurchase
So easy to work with, and they always knew exactly where their loan stood. Already recommending her to family.
Christopher M. · Knoxville, TNPurchase
The entire team was kind and helpful with every single step.
Rachel L. · Dandridge, TNPurchase
Personable from day one, and walked him through his first purchase making sure every important detail actually made sense.
Jacob D. · Knoxville, TNFirst-time buyer
Three houses in a row with Autumn and her team — fast communication, efficient processing, thorough every single time.
Lindsey B. · Knoxville, TN3rd home with Autumn
Patient and deeply knowledgeable. Three purchases later, he still can’t recommend her enough.
Mark B. · Knoxville, TNRepeat client
Second time working with Autumn: smooth, on time, and focused on what was actually best for their situation.
Theresa V. · Loudon, TNRepeat client
An absolute workhorse who shoots you straight and keeps you in the loop at every step of the process.
Michael W. · Corryton, TNPurchase
Great communication, went to work when a competing loan offer showed up, and helped them understand their options before their old home even sold.
Andrew P. · Maryville, TNBuy & sell
Transparent, clear, thoughtful and thorough — great people and great service.
Kinley K. · Knoxville, TNPurchase
Super friendly, responsive, and communication was excellent the whole way through.
Sara F. · Sevierville, TNPurchase
So easy to work with, and they always knew exactly where their loan stood. Already recommending her to family.
Christopher M. · Knoxville, TNPurchase
The entire team was kind and helpful with every single step.
Rachel L. · Dandridge, TNPurchase
The money questions
What first-time buyers actually ask
How much money do I actually need to buy my first house in Knoxville?
Down payment plus closing costs plus a small reserve. With a 3–3.5% down program and THDA Great Choice Plus covering most of the down payment and closing costs, some buyers bring under $5,000 to the table. Others bring more to keep the payment lower. Autumn will show you both versions.
What credit score do I need?
Several programs start in the low-to-mid 600s, and FHA guidelines go lower. Your score affects pricing more than approval. If you’re not there yet, Autumn can tell you exactly what to work on and for how long.
What is THDA Great Choice, and do I qualify?
THDA is the Tennessee Housing Development Agency. Its Great Choice Home Loan pairs with Great Choice Plus down payment assistance for buyers under county income and purchase-price limits who complete a short homebuyer education course. Autumn is experienced with the program and will check your county’s limits in one conversation.
What are closing costs, and who pays them?
Lender fees, title and attorney fees, appraisal, prepaid taxes and insurance — usually 2–4% of the price in Tennessee. Sellers can contribute toward them, gifts from family are allowed, and THDA assistance can cover a portion. You rarely pay all of it yourself.
How long does it take from pre-approval to keys?
Pre-approval can happen within a day of having your documents. Once you’re under contract, 30 days is typical for Autumn’s team and faster is possible. House hunting in between is up to you and the market.
Your first step is a text, not a form.
Tell Autumn where you’re starting from. She’ll tell you what’s realistic, what it would cost, and what to do next — in plain English.