First-Time Home Buyers in Tennessee, Georgia, or Alabama | Jai Williams AXEN Realty
Jai Williams is a licensed REALTOR® with active licensure in Tennessee, Georgia, and Alabama. She serves buyers, sellers, and relocating families across all three states and provides real estate guidance and referral connections for clients nationwide.
Buying your first home in Tennessee is one of the most significant financial decisions you will make. The process has more moving parts than most first-time buyers expect, and the stakes of getting it wrong are real. Jai specializes in guiding first-time buyers from the very first question through the day they get their keys, with every step explained before it happens, not after.
Where First-Time Buyers in Tennessee Start
The starting point is not searching listings. The starting point is understanding your buying power. That means a pre-approval conversation with a qualified lender before you see a single home. Jai works with buyers who are not yet pre-approved and helps them get positioned with the right lender for their situation before the search begins.
Tennessee has several first-time buyer programs through the Tennessee Housing Development Agency that significantly reduce the cash needed to close. THDA Great Choice Home Loans offer below-market interest rates. The Great Choice Plus program layers in down payment assistance of up to 6% of the loan amount. Eligibility is income and purchase price dependent and varies by county.
Down payment assistance Tennessee | Full first-time buyer guide
What the Tennessee Homebuying Process Looks Like
Tennessee uses TAR contract forms and follows the Residential Property Disclosure Act. First-time buyers have specific rights under Tennessee law including the right to a full seller disclosure and a due diligence period. Jai explains every step, pre-approval, search, offer, inspections, loan finalization, and closing, before each stage begins so buyers are never surprised.
Smart Homebuying 101
Jai offers a free homebuyer education workshop that covers the 20 most costly first-time buyer mistakes and how to avoid every one. The workshop is open to anyone and carries no obligation.
Register for Smart Homebuying 101
Schedule a Complimentary Consultation
Ready to take the next step? Jai offers a free, no-obligation strategy consultation for buyers, sellers, and families in transition. In-person or virtual.
Or call directly: (423) 826-6500
Email: info@jaiwilliams.com
Conventional loans typically require a minimum 620 credit score. FHA loans are available with scores as low as 580 with 3.5% down. THDA Great Choice loans follow FHA guidelines. Jai helps buyers understand where they stand and what steps to take to qualify for the best available rate before applying.
FHA loans require 3.5% down. Conventional loans are available at 3% down for qualifying buyers. THDA Great Choice Plus provides up to 6% in down payment assistance, which can bring the out-of-pocket requirement close to zero for eligible buyers. Jai reviews all available options during a buyer consultation.
TAR forms are the standard residential contract forms published by Tennessee REALTORS® and used in most Tennessee home sales. They define your offer terms, contingencies, inspection rights, and closing conditions. Understanding what you are signing before you sign it is one of the most important things Jai does for every first-time buyer she works with.
Yes. Tennessee has a large active duty and veteran population and VA loans are widely used in the market. VA loans offer zero down payment, no private mortgage insurance, and competitive interest rates for eligible veterans and active duty service members. Jai is familiar with VA loan transactions and coordinates with VA-approved lenders throughout the process.