When Crystal and Jorge Javier outgrew their small attic apartment in New Jersey, buying a home felt like a natural next step. After all, they had just received a nice tax refund and Jorge had just gotten a raise at work.
Jorge is the general manager of a real estate company, and Krystal is a stay-at-home mom with a one-and-a-half-year-old and two-month-old, and they are expecting their third baby soon. The couple wanted parking, on-site laundry and more square footage. Their goal was to be within driving distance of both his workplace in New York City and his church in New Jersey.
Early on in their home buying journey, the couple received an interesting offer. “Do you want to be on TV?” Jorge’s brother-in-law’s girlfriend was involved in “This First House,” a spinoff of the popular show “This Old House,” which aired on Roku on April 27, 2026. Show hosts Camille and Zach Dettmore walk young couples through the process of buying and renovating a home while also budgeting for renovations.
Jorge grew up watching “This Old House,” so after talking with the casting director, the couple agreed. But without a home, there is no show. They quickly searched for an apartment before production began.
Javier’s real estate agent introduced them to a mortgage lender. But unfortunately, the lender rejected their application. The couple had too much debt and not enough income, and their debt-to-income ratio was too high for lenders.
It was the first of many hurdles the couple faced when trying to buy a home on a shoestring budget.
Getting financing for a house before the show was recorded was no mean feat.
It took another six months, two more lenders, and several failed offers before the Javiers found a home. As is the case for many homebuyers, the borrowing process was tedious.
After being denied their first mortgage, they applied for a $350,000 Federal Housing Administration (FHA) loan with less stringent requirements and were approved along with a down payment grant from the state of New Jersey. The house search has begun.
However, FHA loans have more stringent real estate requirements, including being “move-in ready.” Coupled with the couple’s pre-approved amount, inventory was limited. This is not an unusual experience. A December 2025 Bankrate analysis found that the median income earner in the U.S. is priced out of 75% of the housing market.
“After we started looking within our budget, we realized we didn’t have much,” says Jorge.
Still, they visited available homes and made offers. In most cases, they felt that their offers were not seriously considered. Other homebuyers were offering cash or up to $30,000 above list price. Sellers are also wary of accepting FHA loans because of the rigorous screening, small down payments, and long transaction times. “We had to expand our research and loosen our expectations,” Crystal says.
Eventually, one offer was accepted, but the couple was then ghosted by the seller. Our real estate agent recommended we change lenders to save money on the deal, so we transferred our files and were approved by a third traditional lender. Jorge’s parents also threw in a lifeline — nearly $30,000, to be exact — to make the purchase possible. “I didn’t know my parents would lend me that amount,” he admitted. “That was a shock to me.”
The deal has not yet been completed. “I guess they didn’t think we could seriously afford it,” Crystal says. They were back to square one.
As first time home buyers on a tight budget, what do we know?We didn’t have a chance to ask any questions along the way.
— Crystal Javier
A homely atmosphere, but not without compromises
Ultimately, Crystal found a two-bedroom, one-bathroom, 1,000-square-foot condo in Somerset County, New Jersey. It wasn’t as close to town as they had expected, and it wasn’t a single-family home with a garden, driveway, or indoor laundry. But the list price was $275,000, so they were able to make an offer $25,000 over asking.
The couple had to compromise some of their original terms. “The alternative was to rent another, bigger space and throw the money away,” Jorge says.
After their offer was accepted, they purchased a condo with a 7.25% mortgage rate.
‘This First House’ host helped the couple renovate
Javier and his wife got the keys to their new home and were ready to record. Home improvement store owners Camille and Zach Dettmore helped paint, renovate the kitchen and floors, install new lighting and appliances, and purchase furniture for the premiere season of “This First House.”
“They worked well with each other,” says Camille.
Still, Zach says he’s not going to watch the show and think the couple had a good time. “For most people who aren’t wealthy, that’s difficult,” he explains. “It’s about managing your expectations and finding out what’s actually essential.”
Choosing a home buying team was a ‘very intimate process’
The Javiers argue that the team you choose to help you buy a home is important for things like choosing a mortgage lender and finding a real estate agent. “Buying a home is a very intimate process,” Jorge explains. “It’s like a marriage counselor.” He continues that the team should have your best interests in mind, but also be motivated to steer you in the right direction.
As first-time homebuyers on a tight budget, they didn’t necessarily feel like the team understood their needs until they met the staff at This First House. “I feel like it’s not taken very seriously because the budget is so small,” Crystal says. “They have so much experience, but we don’t know what they’re saying.”
The Dettmores made Javier and his wife feel understood and understood by their young children during the renovation. Both parents know that a home should not only be beautiful, but also practical and easy to clean.
They have felt at home since moving in eight months ago. Jorge says he loves coming home to his family every night after work. And as homeowners, they value the freedom to one day sell their home or leave it to their children.
“We’re building equity and our money doesn’t just go to one person,” Crystal said.
They feel like they’re part of the community, too. The couple pays their property taxes, attends a nearby church, and visits local libraries and parks. “When the community is good, the neighborhood is good, people like it, and when it’s good, property values go up,” Jorge explains. “And the people who live there are part of that.”