Your Real Estate BFF

Carol Riggles • May 31, 2022

Who is the Best Friend of a Home Buyer?

Your Real Estate Agent

From the moment you become qualified by a lender for a mortgage, your real estate agent takes you by the hand and guides you through the entire process of finding and purchasing the perfect home for you and your family. 

Here is what you can expect from your agent: 

• Become completely familiar with your needs, wants and budget 

• Send listings to you that fit your needs 

• Set up showings for homes that you are interested in looking at 

• When you are ready to make an offer, your agent should help you to determine what the offer should be based on your budget and knowledge of the current market 

• Write up contract offer that fully protects you if you need to cancel based on inspections 

• Schedule and coordinate all required inspections 

• Help you choose a settlement company 

• Schedule and attend final walk-thru before settlement 

• Attend settlement to make sure all paperwork matches contract agreement 

 

Oftentimes, this relationship can span over the course of an entire year and can involve a lot of stress and heartbreak.  A great agent, like a great friend, will understand what an emotional roller coaster ride buying a home can be, especially if it is your first time. 


Choosing the right agent is essential so here are some tips from industry experts: (Excerpted from www.forbes.com) 

 

Choose The Person, Not The Experience 

“I am a firm believer in choosing an agent who works for you and with you. Don't choose an agent based solely on experience. Although it’s good to have, it's not everything. You will be spending a lot of time with that agent and you need to mesh. Choose someone relatable and real. Choose for you, not for the house. Choose someone good at talking and negotiating.” 

 

Remember Chemistry Is Key 

“It's best to interview at least three agents before picking the one you work with. Focus on neighborhood expertise; look for hyperlocal. Ask yourself, "Is their marketing about them or their properties?" Also, can you trust them, are they honest? Chemistry is the key.” 

 

Find Someone Who Has Your Best Interests At Heart 

“Ask yourself, "Does my real estate agent have my best interests at heart?" Be honest and transparent about what you’re looking for, and if an agent isn’t bringing you the right options, it’s likely they aren’t looking for houses for you but rather to benefit themselves. Ask questions upfront and don’t be afraid to move on to someone else if the relationship doesn’t feel right.” 

 

Go With Your Gut Feeling 

“Your brain uses logic and emotion when making a decision, and that specific feeling you get when doing so is your intuition — your gut feeling. If you're interviewing a real estate agent for the job, first look to see that they do a lot of business and have a lot of raving fans. Second, go with your gut feeling. If it feels right, he's the guy or gal for the job.” 

 

Find An Agent You Can Trust 

“As the client, you begin the dialogue — but pay close attention to the agent or broker and how he/she listens and asks YOU questions. Most successful agents have access to the technology it takes to find options for purchase, but it takes a human being to understand and work to achieve your specific goals. Take time to find a human you respect and trust.” 

 

Find A Compassionate Agent Who Understands You 

“Let’s face it — buying a house is a stressful task, especially if you are facing a divorce, having a baby, mourning the death of a spouse, etc. You need an agent who is patient with you and your circumstances. Interview an agent or broker and see if they have the same emotions, outlook on life, personality, as you do.” 

 

Seek Clear Lines Of Communication 

“First and foremost, you need to feel completely comfortable talking and communicating with the real estate agent. If it feels awkward or if there is undue pressure placed on you by a real estate agent, this is not the right fit.” 

 

Seek Referrals From Other Homeowners 

“Despite the technology that seems to take over much of the searching for a home, the right real estate agent is still a human-to-human choice. Referral is best. There's no bigger compliment to an agent than a referral from a past client. Ask homeowners who they would recommend. If you know the area you want to purchase in or sell your home in, there will be an expert in that area.” 

 

This last recommendation is my favorite!  IHA’s Purchase Repair Homeownership Program has been around since 2012, and two agents have really stepped up and embraced the program and the low-income clients that qualify. 


Kelly Losquadro has been working with our clients since 2014 and has successfully helped 22 of them become homeowners! 


Here is what they have to say about Kelly: 

“Kelly Losquadro is absolutely the best realtor and best to have when purchasing a home through the program. She knows all the ins and outs about the program. I loved everything about her from her bubbly personality to listening to what her client was looking for and finding that perfect home. I still feel that I didn’t thank her enough! Awesome lady to say the least and we are so in love with our forever home that she went to bat for me!” 


“Kelly Losquadro can best be described as wonderful in every way. She Is extremely knowledgeable and is highly motivated to do everything she can possibly do for her client. As a first time home buyer, I simply cannot imagine having to going through the entire process without her. I highly recommend Kelly and am certainly hoping to work with her again in the future.”

  

“I can’t say enough good things about Kelly. She is awesome she listens to her clients and goes out of her way to make sure she finds the very best for them. She is such a sweetheart and I always recommend her to anyone that is looking for an agent. And I always tell them if you want someone who listens and is understanding and goes the extra mile you want Kelly. When I go to sell my home it will be with Kelly hands down.” 


Just  

Love Kelly  

Thank you 😊  

Patricia Galloway purchased her home through our program in 2014, then began volunteering with IHA to help others achieve the same goal.  Patricia was so enamored with the program she decided to become a real estate agent herself and has helped 11 of our clients purchase a home. 


Here is what our clients have to say about Patricia: 

“Patricia was very professional during the whole process of buying my home. Always looking after me, very respectful, punctual, it felt like she was the one buying her own home, very invested in my case. I’m forever grateful with Patricia and IHA, for helping me getting my own house.  I 100% recommend Patricia!!!” 


“Patricia is so easy to work with and she really listens to her client's needs.” 


“I would like to share why Patricia was amazing!  First of all from the moment I reached out to her she was attentive supportive and professional.  Before we went to look at any homes she sent me a portal of available homes based on my preference.  She was extremely knowledgeable about the homes that were in my preference and I could call at almost any time and ask any questions about the homes we looked at or were planning to look at.  Her schedule was extremely versatile.  What I appreciated most is how patient and calm she was!  When I was anxious and nervous she did her best to try and explain what was going on in the house buying process. She also told me to make sure I love the house because I was the one who’s got to live in it … All in all, Ms. Patricia Galloway was amazing and for sure a pleasure to work with and would recommend to anyone!!!!!” 

Together, these two incredible agents have served 30% of our Purchase Repair Homeownership Program home buyers! 

Gary Free resident at Residences at Railroad Square Apartments

March 3, 2025
Gary Free grew up in Brunswick, MD. The first time he saw the Residences at Railroad Square, he knew he would love to live in the apartments. Now all he can think to himself is, “I am living here!” Gary said the day he signed his lease he was so happy! He has a picture hanging in his apartment that says, “You’re Home.” Gary looks at it often and says to himself, “I am!” He finally feels at peace. Gary feels his home is nice! He also feels one of the ways of living at Residences of Railroad Square is that he now has everything he ever wanted, asked for and needed. The only thing he feels is a concern is that most of the time he gets lonely. His goal is to try to meet people. He says, “I’m a very friendly person.” Gary says his experience living at the Residences at Railroad Square has been rather good. If he has any concerns he can talk to the office staff. He feels it can’t get any better than this!

Lease-up of Residence of Railroad Square

By Crystal Thomas • March 3, 2025
With excitement and anticipation, I watched the groundbreaking on June 29, 2023, with my assistant Vickie and IHA’s Supportive Services coordinator, Sandi. By the middle of September 2023 concrete walls were being set up. We watched as the roof was completed; then the windows and doors were installed. We impatiently waited for the day we received permission to see the inside of the Residences of Railroad Square property. Finally, on September 25, 2024, we had the privilege to tour the inside of this beautiful property. On the weekend of September 27, 2024, the IHA property management team along with the CEO Jodie, held a two-day in-person application event. The owners of First Stop Brunswick generously donated their space at 2. E. Baltimore Street. That lease up kick off generated 56 applications. Over the next three months, ninety more applications were submitted. Each applicant came with their own story which stirred our hearts. No matter how different their stories may have been, they all had the same wish, a place to call home for Christmas! On November 5, 2024, the first resident signed their lease and on December 23, 2024, the last empty unit was filled! Not only were we able to fulfill these residents' Christmas wishes but it also filled our hearts with joy!

Interfaith Housing Alliance (IHA) is proud to announce 4 funding awards received this quarter from community partners.

March 3, 2025
In November 2024, IHA was awarded a $20,000 grant from Delaplaine Foundation, Inc. This grant supports IHA’s three workshop series: Credit Café ; Financial Freedom Bootcamp ; and Ready, Set, Go… Home! In Credit Café, participants work specifically on improving their credit. Financial Freedom Bootcamp builds critical foundational skills for financial success. Ready, Set, Go… Home! walks participants through the entire homebuying process from start to finish. IHA also received a $1,574.37 designated grant from The PNC Homeownership Fund of The Community Foundation of Frederick County. These pass-through funds will directly support low- to moderate-income (LMI) households in achieving homeownership in Frederick County. In December 2024, IHA was awarded a $29,498 grant from the Maryland Affordable Housing Trust (MAHT). MAHT is administered by the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) through the Division of Neighborhood Revitalization. This grant program is a valuable resource for the advancement of affordable housing initiatives and will provide operational assistance to IHA’s affordable multifamily community in Cumberland, MD. In January 2025, IHA was awarded a $2,500 grant by The Natelli Communities Charitable Fund of The Community Foundation of Frederick County. These unrestricted funds will support IHA’s work across the multiple counties served by our programs and affordable rental communities.
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