First-time buyer · West Michigan
Step-by-step guidance from a Grand Rapids mortgage advisor who has been in mortgage lending since 2017, focused on helping clients actually understand what they qualify for, what it costs, and what comes next.
Charlie Peterson · Certified Mortgage Advisor · Priority Home Mortgage · NMLS #1632141
No jargon
Programs explained by name in plain English. APR, DTI, LTV, PMI: defined when used, not dropped on you.
No pressure
If the right answer is "wait three months and prep your credit," that is what we tell you. Honest counsel beats a fast yes.
No handoffs
Charlie runs your file from first call through closing. He attends close. He checks in annually after.
Programs you should know about
There is no "best" program in the abstract. The right one depends on your credit, your savings, where you are buying, and how long you plan to stay. Here is how each one fits.
Michigan first-time buyer with a moderate income
Michigan State Housing Development Authority offers up to $10,000 in down-payment assistance for qualifying first-time buyers. Income and purchase-price limits apply by county.
Stronger credit, want to keep monthly cost down
3% down conventional loan with no MSHDA layering required. Mortgage insurance is required but cancellable at 80% loan-to-value, which is typically the better long-term math.
Thinner credit file or recent credit events
3.5% down with a 580+ credit score. FHA is the right answer when conventional is not yet an option, and a refinance into conventional is typically the right play once your credit profile improves.
Eligible service members, veterans, or rural buyers
VA loans offer 0% down with no mortgage insurance for eligible service members and veterans. USDA loans offer 0% down for eligible rural areas, including most of the West Michigan lakeshore.
Eligibility, income limits, and program rules change. Anything you read here is a starting point, not a quote. Charlie verifies your specific eligibility before recommending a path.
From first call to keys
Most first-time buyers go from "thinking about it" to "moving in" inside 60 to 120 days. Here is what each step actually looks like.
A 20-minute call with Charlie. No application, no commitment. The goal is a clear picture of where you stand and what your real next step is.
The full application takes about 25 minutes online. Documents: pay stubs, two years of W-2s or returns, two months of bank statements, ID.
A real letter your real-estate agent will take seriously. We explain what it commits you to and what it does not.
Charlie models payments on specific listings during your search at no charge. The search is honest because the numbers are honest.
Typically 2 to 4 weeks once your offer is accepted. Charlie attends closing. He is not the loan officer who hands you off after pre-approval.
Step one of the path
A 20-minute call with Charlie. No application, no credit pull, no commitment. He listens to where you are, walks through what you'd actually qualify for, and names the real next step. If the right answer is "wait three months and prep your credit," he'll say so.
Prefer to text or call directly? (248) 762-8685 or charlie@mypriorityhome.com .
The numbers people underestimate
Most first-time buyers plan for the down payment and forget the rest. In West Michigan, total closing costs typically run 2% to 4% of the purchase price, on top of your down payment.
The good news: in most loan programs, the seller can credit you toward those costs. That is a negotiating lever your real-estate agent and Charlie can help you use.
$275,000 home
$5,500 to $11,000
Typical buyer-side closing costs (2% to 4%).
$375,000 home
$7,500 to $15,000
Same percentage range, larger absolute number.
Seller credit cap
3% to 6%
Of purchase price. Varies by loan type and down-payment size.
Lender credit option
Trade rate for cash
A slightly higher rate can reduce cash to close. We model it both ways.
Examples are illustrative for May 2026 West Michigan transactions. Your actual figures depend on the program, the property, and the closing terms.
From clients who closed on their first home
Free download
A plain-English walkthrough of buying your first home in Grand Rapids and the lakeshore. MSHDA programs, the FHA-vs-conventional decision, what closing actually costs, and the eight-step path from first call to keys.
One email. No drip-marketing avalanche. We won’t share your address.
Ready to start
The secure Priority Home Mortgage application, which Charlie calls the initial questionnaire, takes about 25 minutes. You’ll have a real pre-approval letter inside 48 hours. No fee to apply, no obligation, no credit pull surprises.
Already a homeowner thinking about a move-up purchase, a jumbo loan, or an investment property? Charlie’s advisory practice is at workwithcharlie.com/advisory.
