First Fidelity to advise potential home buyers at the Taste of Annandale

Bruce Gordon with a Yeti mug like the ones he plans to raffle off at the Taste of Annandale.

“We’re different; we’re small, responsive, and competitive,” says Bruce Gordon, senior loan officer with the First Fidelity Funding Group, a mortgage company based in Fairfax.

“As a result, we can empathize with our borrowers; we can help them reach their goals and dreams,” Gordon says.

First Fidelity supports the Taste of Annandale as a Silver-level sponsor, and Gordon, a resident of Annandale, will be at the Oct. 13 festival to educate the public on how easy it can be to become a homeowner.

“We work very will with first-time home buyers,” Gordon says. While many people think they’ll need a large down payment, he says, you can guy a home with as little as 3 percent down.

Before applying for a mortgage, however, you do need to get your financial house in order – to bring up your credit score – and decide what you can afford, he notes. Any money you plan to use for a down payment needs to be in your account for at least 60 days. Also, you need to have a steady income, “without too many crazy deposits.”

People also need to figure out where they want to live, he says. If you want to live in Annandale, you’re going to have to pay a lot more or buy a smaller house than if you’re willing to settle for someplace farther out like Woodbridge.

If Gordon finds that a potential client is not financially ready to buy a house, he advises them on how to get there.

His mantra is “smart mortgages, expert service.”