Lindsay Barron LaBonte - Loan Originator, Applied Mortgage

Who is the most punctual on the Applied Mortgage team?

The secret is I told everyone 2pm even though the real set up time was 2:30 🥳

I know my team by now - there is always an extra call to make and another family who needs help.

But once in a while we hit pause and pull off an awesome event!

An entire trunk full of diapers is headed to the United Way of the Franklin & Hampshire Region Diaper Drive!

Over 100 amazing community members made this happen at our Picnic 🏡💚✅

If you’re buying a home in Western Massachusetts, stop letting national real estate headlines tell you what’s happening here. 📍

Northampton. Amherst. Easthampton.
Our market plays by its own rules — and in many price points, it’s still a seller’s market.

That doesn’t mean buyers can’t win. It means your strategy matters.

🏡 Know your numbers before you shop
🏡 Build the right local real estate + lending team
🏡 Get fully vetted with our Platinum Preapproval
🏡 And when the house calls for it, explore our Cash Buyer Program to compete without a traditional financing contingency

You don’t need to be the buyer with the most money.

You need to be the buyer with the best plan.

We’ve been helping people buy homes in Western Mass for 20 years. We know this market, we know how local offers compete, and we know how to build financing strategies around the house you actually want to win.

Comment CASH and I’ll send you the details on how our Cash Buyer Program works. 👇

If I wanted to buy a house in Northampton in the next 6 months, I would NOT wait until I saw the perfect listing to start figuring this stuff out.

Here’s what I’d do now:

1️⃣ Get clear on my monthly budget.
Not “what can I qualify for?” What payment actually feels comfortable every month while still leaving room for real life.

2️⃣ Pay down credit card debt.
Lower balances can potentially improve your credit score AND reduce monthly debt — both can help when it’s time to qualify.

3️⃣ Ask family about gift funds. 👀
This one surprises people. Gift funds from eligible family members can be allowed toward a home purchase. If someone has ever said, “We’d love to help you buy your first house someday,” now is the time to have that conversation.

4️⃣ Try to save 3% for a down payment + roughly 3% for closing costs.
Could you potentially buy with less? Yes. There are lower down payment programs, assistance programs, seller credits and other strategies. But building that savings gives you OPTIONS.

5️⃣ Get a Platinum Preapproval from Applied Mortgage .
This is more than a quick prequal. We review your documentation upfront so you know your numbers and have a real stamp of approval when it’s time to make an offer.

6️⃣ Stop scrolling Zillow and call a great local agent.
Get set up with direct MLS alerts so you know when properties that fit your search hit the market — and have someone local helping you understand what you’re seeing.

7️⃣ Start going to open houses.
You’ll quickly figure out what $500K vs. $600K actually looks like in Northampton, which neighborhoods you like, what you’re willing to compromise on…and what you definitely are not.

Six months is actually a GREAT runway.

You don’t have to be ready to buy today. You just want to be ready when the right house shows up. 🏡

Thinking Northampton or Western MA in the next 6–12 months? Let’s build the strategy before you need it.

Jenny & I had the opportunity to promote the United Way of the Franklin & Hampshire Region diaper drive on Mass Appeal 🤩🤩

Diapers are a basic need. And they aren’t covered by SNAP or WIC.

That’s why the United Way Diaper Bank matters so much — providing nearly 20,000 diapers and pull-ups every month to local families. 💙

I loved getting to help spread the word on Mass Appeal today!

And this Friday, we’re turning our Applied Mortgage Summer Picnic into another opportunity to help. 🏠

☀️ Friday, August 14 | 4–8pm
📍 Summit View, Holyoke
🧷 Bring diapers or wipes for the United Way Diaper Drive
🔥 Your donation gets you entered to win a Blackstone Grill!

Come for the food, drinks, co****le and family fun — and help us send a whole lot of diapers back with United Way.

More Than Mortgages. People. Homes. Community.