Welcome to The Smart Homebuying Podcast! This is the podcast for parents who are ready to create a lasting foundation for their family. If you’re dreaming of a safe, stable home that you can truly call your own, where your kids can grow up with confidence and security, you’re in the right place.
I’m Laura—a mom of two, a proud homeowner, and a dedicated homebuying coach here to help you achieve more than just a house. This journey is about building a secure future, investing in generational wealth, and finding that feeling of independence and accomplishment. You’ve worked hard, saved, and dreamed, and now I’m here to make sure those dreams come to life in the best way possible.
Each week, three times a week, I’ll share solo episodes packed with actionable tips and invite experts to discuss everything from budgeting and finding a trustworthy agent to avoiding the common mistakes that can hold families back. This podcast is designed to empower you with the knowledge and confidence to make smart, future-focused decisions that align with your family’s biggest goals.
And yes, I’m here as the real me—Hispanic immigrant, fun-loving mom, and friend who understands just how much this journey matters. I keep things honest, straightforward, and always with your family’s dreams in mind. I’ll even throw in some Spanglish here and there to keep it lively—because buying a home doesn’t have to be stiff and serious; it can be exciting, empowering, and yes, even a little fun!
If you’re ready to take the leap, secure your family’s future, and reach that dream of homeownership with confidence, join me every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. Let’s take one step closer to the home—and the life—you deserve.
Tune in to The Smart Homebuying Podcast and start building the future you’ve always dreamed of!
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What Others Say About Our Podcast...
"I have literally listened to every single podcast you've put out! Your podcast gave me the confidence and knowledge to be serious about being a first-time home buyer! Truly, I wouldn't be where I am today if I hadn't learned so much to make me feel like it was a realistic possibility. More importantly, they made me feel like I didn't have to navigate this stuff alone. Even though I never met you or had a convo with you or any of your guests, I always felt like I had an expert on my side."
Nik
Podcast Episodes
The Top 100 Agent in America Shares Her Best Advice For Home Buyers, With Marsha Strange – The First Time Home Buyer Podcast – Episode 73
Title Marsha Strange opened her own brokerage, Top Tier Realty, in Albuquerque, New Mexico in 2009. Since then she has worked every aspect of the Real Estate Industry representing buyers, sellers, investors, and Banks, in both Residential and Commercial markets. Get In Touch With Our Guest Today If you’d like…
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Why You Shouldn’t Get Emotionally Attached To A Home Before You Get The Keys, with Sally Masters – The First Time Home Buyer Podcast – Episode 72
Title For almost two decades, Sally Masters has been successfully representing home buyers and sellers throughout Naples and its surrounding areas. Today, she is recognized as one of Southwest Florida’s most outstanding real estate professionals. Helping people buy and sell homes is her passion and what she loves. Get In…
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Why You Should Have Realistic Expectations About Your Home Inspection, with Joe Konopacki – The First Time Home Buyer Podcast – Episode 70
Title Joe Konopacki is an Illinois licensed home inspector, new home Energy Rater, and Building Consultant who advises homeowners who are buying, selling, building new, or improving their existing home. Get In Touch With Our Guest Today If you’d like to get in touch with our guest today, click on…
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After 3,700 Transactions These Are The 3 Top Home Buyer Mistakes, with Missy Stagers – The First Time Home Buyer Podcast – Episode 71
Title Missy Stagers is a real estate broker based in San Antonio and the owner of M. Stagers Realty Partners. In her 25 years in business she has served over 3,700 clients, and she loves working with first time home buyers. Get In Touch With Our Guest Today If you’d…
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Why You Need Objective Advice When Buying Your First Home, With Abbe Bishop – The First Time Home Buyer Podcast – Episode 69
Title Abbe Bishop is the Director of Development at the Community Housing Partnership, in Franklin, Tennessee, where she serves home buyers and prepares them for obtaining and maintaining safe housing. Get In Touch With Our Guest Today If you’d like to get in touch with our guest today, click on…
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What Closing More Than 1,000 Transactions in NYC Has Taught Me About Buying Your Home, With Wesley Stanton – The First Time Home Buyer Podcast – Episode 68
Title Wesley Stanton is the co-founder of The Stanton Hoch Team, one of the most successful real estate teams in NYC, that has an elite group of real estate agents, selected to cater to the needs of New York City’s most sophisticated clients. Get In Touch With Our Guest Today…
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Why You Should Use The 1% Rent To Value Ratio If You Are Buying An Investment Property, with Lane Kawaoka – The First Time Home Buyer Podcast – Episode 67
Title Lane Kawaoka is an engineer and real estate investor from Hawaii that now owns more than 3,000 properties. Lane also teaches others how to invest in property to become financially free. Get In Touch With Our Guest Today If you’d like to get in touch with our guest today,…
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Why You Should Pay Special Attention To The Location Of Your New Home Matters So Much, With Philip Henn – The First Time Home Buyer Podcast – Episode 66
Title Philip Henn is a top-producing real estate broker with over 20 years of experience working in NYC and for the last few months in the Scottsdale area of Arizona. Philip represents buyers and sellers alike and he has considerable experience selling new developments, along with helping domestic and foreign…
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Why You Should Never Ever Let Go Of A Home Inspection, with Romeo B. Garza – The First Time Home Buyer Podcast – Episode 65
Title Romeo B Garza is a home inspector and a contractor with over 20 years of experience. He is based in Texas where he operates a remodeling business called Safeguard Remodeling, an inspection business called Quality Home Inspections. Get In Touch With Our Guest Today If you’d like to get…
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Why You Shouldn’t Speculate When Buying Your First Home, With Paul Moore – The First Time Home Buyer Podcast – Episode 64
Title Paul Moore is the ultimate real estate expert. He has flipped 80 properties, built a number of new homes, and appeared on HGTV’s House Hunters. On top of that he is a podcast host and the author of the book The Perfect Investment, which is about multi-family real estate…
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Why Serial Numbers Can Help You Understand and Negotiate Your Purchase Price, with Michael Newport – The First Time Home Buyer Podcast – Episode 63
Title Michael Newport is an experienced real estate agent. Originally from San Diego, CA he helps home buyers and sellers throughout the entire Triangle Area of North Carolina. Get In Touch With Our Guest Today If you’d like to get in touch with our guest today, click on the link…
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25 Years Inspecting Homes And This Is What I’ve Learned, with Lisa Alajajian Giroux – The First Time Home Buyer Podcast – Episode 62
Title Lisa Alajajian Giroux is an ASHI certified home inspector with over 24 years of experience in New England. She is also the first woman officer of the American Society of Home Inspectors and she takes great pride in helping and educating first time buyers. Get In Touch With Our…
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The 3 Things Every Home Buyer Should Do Before Looking At Homes, with Artie Lehl – The First Time Home Buyer Podcast – Episode 61
Title Artie Lehl is the Programs Manager at the Douglas County Housing Partnership, in Denver, where he is in charge of the Home Ownership Program, which provides education, down payment assistance and other resources to help first time home buyers purchase their first home. Get In Touch With Our Guest…
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What +350 Coop Transactions in New York Have Taught Me, with Susanna Saarinen – The First Time Home Buyer Podcast – Episode 60
Title Susanna Saarinen is a real estate broker and the founder ofAccess Property Group, a real estate agency with offices in New York City. With over 18 years of experience helping people buy homes in the Manhattan area she is an expert in negotiation strategies that will get you your…
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$25,000 Saved After A Home Inspection In A New Property, with Rose Buckley – The First Time Home Buyer Podcast – Episode 59
Title Rose Buckley is an experienced home inspector and former educator. Teaching home buyers about their prospective homes and how to maintain them has helped her become a sought-after professional in her real estate market. Get In Touch With Our Guest Today If you’d like to get in touch with…
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What I Learned After 17 Years Doing Home Inspections, with Welmoed Sisson – The First Time Home Buyer Podcast – Episode 58
Title Welmoed Sisson is an ASHI-certified residential home inspector in central Maryland, adjunct professor at Frederick Community College, and author of the book “101 Things You Don’t Want In Your Home”. She is also the the “Mrs. Bob” of the company “Inspections by Bob”. Get In Touch With Our Guest…
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Why After 43 Years Helping Home Buyers Carla Always Insists On Not Getting More Debt Just Before Closing, with Carla Potts – The First Time Home Buyer Podcast – Episode 57
Title Carla Potts is the Deputy Director for NECAC, the North East Community Action Corporation, a non-profit organization based in Missouri whose mission is to improve communities and make America a better place to live. Carla has been helping first time home buyers for 43 years. Get In Touch With…
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Over 1,000 First Time Home Buyers Helped and This Is What I Learned, with Laura Olvera – The First Time Home Buyer Podcast – Episode 56
Title Laura Olvera currently oversees Community Partners for Affordable Housing’s (CPAH) education and counseling services and has the responsibility of educating and empowering future home buyers to prepare for successful homeownership. She also works with current homeowners, providing Post-Purchase Counseling to offer guidance and assist them in sustaining their homeownership….
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How You Can Save Money Buying A Home By Negotiating Everything, with Erin Helle – The First Time Home Buyer Podcast – Episode 55
Title Erin Helle is an Army wife, veteran, entrepreneur, and mom to two little girls! She is passionate about financial freedom, real estate investing, and empowering everyone she meets to achieve all their goals and be successful. Get In Touch With Our Guest Today If you’d like to get in…
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How A Single Mom of 4 Achieved Her Dreams Of Owning A Home, with Susan Colbert – The First Time Home Buyer Podcast – Episode 54
Title Susan Colbert is the Community Expansion and Engagement Program Director for Ohio State University Extension in Franklin County, Ohio. Under her leadership, her team offers a vast array of programs in the community to help improve the quality of life of residents, including helping first time home buyers. Get…
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