Purchasing my first home in Washington, DC was truly a journey, but one that was absolutely worth…read moreit thanks to David Toaff, his team at First Home Mortgage, and my realtor Terinee Bonds.
I was originally introduced to David through Emily Atwood back in May 2019. After a minor setback, I was reconnected with him by Mr. Bill Milko in June 2022, and from that point forward the process officially began. From June 29, 2022 to December 11, 2022, this six-month journey taught me patience, discipline, and the importance of having the right people in your corner.
At first, I found a condo in Northwest DC that I absolutely loved. The price was around $220,000, which was amazing for DC, but unfortunately FHA would not approve it because the HOA reserves did not meet the required percentage threshold. While it was disappointing at the time, everything happens for a reason because I later found another property for $325,000 that turned out to be the right fit for me.
I was also approved for the DC HPAP First-Time Homebuyer Program along with DC Open Doors, which were both incredibly helpful programs for low-to-middle income homebuyers. I highly recommend anyone looking to purchase in DC to explore those opportunities.
There were definitely bumps along the way. In August, I had to resolve my 2021 tax bill, which became part of the process. Throughout everything, David remained patient, professional, knowledgeable, and personable. He genuinely cared and always kept my best interest at heart. He also stayed on me about my spending habits, especially my DoorDash spending, making sure I stayed financially on track to successfully close.
David also made sure everything was taken care of through his amazing team, Josh and Danielle. They consistently checked in with me through calls and emails at least three times a week, making sure I understood every step of the process. That level of communication and support made a huge difference because buying a home can feel overwhelming, especially as a first-time buyer. They truly walked me through the process from beginning to end and helped make things much less stressful than they could have been.
What really stood out to me about David was his personality. He is truly a people person and just an overall down-to-earth guy who genuinely believes in helping people achieve homeownership. You can tell this is more than just business for him. He wants to see people succeed and become homeowners, especially those who may not think it's possible for them. That kind of authenticity matters during a major life decision like buying a home.
Terinee Bonds, who I originally met through Redfin in 2019 and who is now with Keller Williams, was equally amazing. She consistently checked in, advocated for me, and helped guide me through every obstacle that came up along the way. Like David, she was personable, caring, patient, and truly invested in helping me succeed throughout the process.
In the end, I only had to bring about $3,250 to closing, and I also received seller credits, which made a huge difference.
I am beyond grateful for David, Josh, Danielle, and Terinee. I highly recommend First Home Mortgage and Terinee Bonds to anyone looking to purchase a home, especially first-time homebuyers navigating the DC market. Their professionalism, honesty, communication, patience, and dedication truly made this dream possible. He will really work for his clients and it's worth it. Trust his word he is extremely knowledgeable.
10/10 overall!!!