Signed & Funded with Scott Alfano

You found the house. Now comes the part that trips up almost every first-time buyer: actually writing the offer. Most people think an offer is just a number — it's not. It's a package, and every piece of that package sends a signal to the seller. In this episode, Scott breaks down every component of a real estate offer — purchase price, earnest money, contingencies, closing timeline, and escalatio...

There's real money available to first-time buyers in Washington — from the state, from counties, from cities — and most buyers never touch it because they don't know it exists. In this episode, Scott breaks down every major assistance program available in 2026, who qualifies, how much you can actually get, and how to stack programs to dramatically reduce what you bring to closing. What you'll lear...

Most first-time buyers think they need 20% down to buy a home. That myth is costing people years. In this episode, Scott breaks down what your real minimum down payment options look like — FHA, Conventional, VA, USDA — with actual dollar amounts so you know exactly where you stand. He also explains PMI in plain English (including why it's not permanent), and covers down payment assistance programs...

Most buyers think pre-qualification and pre-approval are basically the same thing. They're not — and in a competitive market like Seattle, that distinction can be the difference between winning the house and losing it. In this episode, Scott breaks down exactly what pre-approval means, what the process actually looks like, and what to avoid between getting approved and getting to the closing table...

Episode 4: The Seattle Market Right Now — What the Numbers Mean The headlines say Seattle home prices are dropping and inventory is surging — but what does that actually mean for buyers and sellers? In this episode, Scott Alfano cuts through the noise and breaks down what's really happening in the Seattle housing market right now, what the data tells us, and how to position yourself whether you're...

Getting pre-approved for a certain amount doesn't mean you should spend it. In this episode, Scott breaks down the real math behind affordability — including the Debt-to-Income ratio lenders actually use — and why the number that lets you sleep at night is more important than the number the bank hands you. What you'll learn: Why online affordability calculators like Zillow's can't actually tell yo...

Your credit score doesn't just determine whether you get approved for a mortgage — it controls your interest rate, your monthly payment, and how much you'll pay over the life of your loan. In this episode, Scott breaks down exactly how credit scores work, what goes into them, and what you can do right now to put yourself in the best position before you buy. What you'll learn: How mortgage lenders...

Most homebuyers treat the agent and the lender as two separate worlds — but they're not. In this episode, Scott Alfano breaks down how the buying and financing process actually connect, what happens at each stage, and why understanding both sides puts you in a stronger position from day one. If you're thinking about buying a home, this is the episode to start with.