01 — Welcome
Your journey home starts here.
Buying a home isn't a transaction. It's a lifestyle move — and depending on where you are in life, it might be the biggest financial decision you'll make this decade. My job isn't to push you through it. It's to make sure you walk in informed, walk out with the keys, and have someone in your corner long after closing.
This page is a working guide — pulled directly from the resource I hand to every Forrester Group buyer. Use it. Bookmark it. And when you have questions, call me.
From Damian —
"Your journey to homeownership is unique. It's okay to have questions. Let's start the conversation."
02 — Why It Matters
What you get with Forrester Group.
Twenty years of buying experience condensed into eleven things that move the needle:
- Local Market Knowledge. Pricing trends, neighborhood dynamics, and which streets are about to pop.
- Full MLS Access. Including the listings that haven't hit Zillow yet — and the ones quietly coming off-market.
- Negotiation. Offer to counter-offer. I've been in thousands of these conversations.
- Paperwork & Legal. Every disclosure, every signature, every deadline — covered.
- The Network. Inspectors, attorneys, lenders, contractors. Vetted, local, and they pick up when I call.
- Time Saved. I do the legwork — so you don't burn weekends chasing dead listings.
- Representation. A buyer's agent's first obligation is to you. That's a legal duty, not a marketing line.
- Expert Guidance. What to look for, what to overlook, where the long-term value lives.
- Steady Hand. Buying is emotional. I help you keep the long view when it gets bumpy.
- Resale Insight. Which renovations move the needle when it's time to sell — and which don't.
- Problem-Solving. When inspections surface something or financing wobbles, you want a broker who's seen it before.
03 — Financing
Tips for selecting a lender.
Your lender choice shapes your monthly payment for the next 30 years. Don't pick the first name your friend mentioned. Run them through this:
- Research & Compare. Banks, credit unions, online lenders. Compare rates, fees, terms.
- Check Reputation. Reviews and testimonials. Customer service matters when something goes sideways.
- Understand Interest Rates. Look at APR, not just the rate. APR includes the loan costs.
- Ask About Loan Types. Fixed, ARM, FHA, VA — each fits different situations.
- Examine Fees. Origination, closing costs, prepayment penalties.
- Pre-Approval Process. Get pre-approved early. It's leverage when you make an offer.
- Customer Service. Responsive lenders save deals.
- Ask for Recommendations. Friends, family, your realtor. Real experiences matter.
- Read the Fine Print. Every line. Twice.
- Accessibility. Especially first time? Pick someone who answers their phone.
04 — Glossary
Mortgage terms, decoded.
The vocabulary you'll hear at the closing table — without the legalese.
- Mortgage: A loan used to purchase a home, where the home itself is collateral.
- Principal: The amount borrowed.
- Interest: The cost of borrowing, expressed as a percentage of the principal.
- Down Payment: Upfront payment, usually a % of purchase price.
- Fixed-Rate Mortgage: Interest rate stays the same for the full loan term.
- Adjustable-Rate Mortgage (ARM): Interest rate changes periodically based on a financial index.
- Escrow: Account a third party uses to hold funds for property taxes and homeowner's insurance.
- Closing Costs: Fees and expenses to finalize a mortgage — separate from the down payment.
- Amortization: Spreading a loan into a series of fixed payments over time.
- Private Mortgage Insurance (PMI): Required if your down payment is under 20%. Protects the lender.
- Equity: The portion of the home you actually own — value minus mortgage balance.
- Foreclosure: Lender takes the property after the borrower fails to pay.
- Refinancing: Replacing the original mortgage to get a better rate or convert equity to cash.
- Loan-to-Value (LTV): Mortgage amount divided by appraised value. Lenders use this to gauge risk.
- Term: Length of time to repay — typically 15 or 30 years.
- Underwriting: Lender's process for deciding if your application is acceptable.
05 — After Closing
Congratulations on the keys. Now what?
Below is the New Home Resource Guide — vetted local contacts to get utilities running, addresses changed, and your new place secured. These are the same numbers I share with every Forrester Group buyer the day we close.
If you need a recommendation that isn't here — cleaners, handymen, landscapers — call or text me. I keep a short list of pros I trust.
06 — Utilities & Services
Get the lights on, fast.
Gas, Electric & Energy
Yellowstone Valley Electric Co-op
Local electric service
(406) 348-3411
City of Billings Public Utilities
Water, sewer, garbage
(406) 657-8315
Internet & Communications
Garbage, Recycling & Water
07 — Address & Records
Update everything officially.
License, registration, voter rolls. Make the calls in week one — don't put it off.
Yellowstone County Motor Vehicle
Title transfers, vehicle registration
(406) 256-2833
08 — Home Security
First thing I tell every buyer: change the locks.
You don't know who has a key — old contractors, prior owners, the realtor's lockbox. Day one, get a locksmith out. It's the cheapest peace of mind you'll ever buy.