Inman

Broker launches first-time-buyer education site

A Portland, Ore.-based real estate broker has launched a national homebuyer education website.

FearlessHomebuyer.com walks first-time homebuyers through the real estate transaction process, from deciding whether or not to buy, to obtaining financing, to estimating fix-up costs. Husband and wife Dave and Darci Axness, principal broker and office manager, respectively, at Axness & Kofman Real Estate, launched the site in October.

The site’s content is based on a first-time homebuyer class Dave Axness teaches at Portland Community College as well as the couple’s own experience buying their home.

"We made a lot of mistakes buying that first home that could have been avoided with some simple lessons beforehand. So, when I became a real estate agent, I made sure that none of my clients made the classic mistakes that I had," Dave Axness explained in a website description.

The site’s 50 or so lessons often take the form of step-by-step guides and sometimes include colorful videos created by Darci Axness.

While some lessons include local homebuying tips, most of the site’s content is relevant to homebuyers anywhere in the U.S. Users can take the lessons in order, starting with "Getting Your Financial House in Order" all the way through to "What Happens Now That I’m a Homeowner?" or jump around to lessons most useful to them.