Ryan Penn · First-time home buyer guidance
You do not have to know every step before taking the first one. Get practical answers, local perspective and a home search built around you.
A real estate agent who welcomes your questions
Buying your first home in Colorado brings a lot of new decisions. Ryan Penn helps first-time home buyers in Denver and Lakewood compare homes, understand the next step and approach negotiations with a clear plan.
From your first questions to the closing table, the goal is to make the details easier to understand—not to rush you into a property. Start with what you can comfortably afford, what matters to you and the tradeoffs you are willing to make.
Meet Ryan PennYour first-home roadmap
01
Talk with a mortgage lender about financing, then consider the full cost of ownership: payments, taxes, insurance, HOA dues, utilities, maintenance and a reserve for unexpected expenses. Your comfort level matters as much as a lender’s approval.
02
Compare lenders and discuss loan options, cash needed to close and timing. Talk with Ryan about representation, services, compensation and written agreements before arranging tours.
03
Separate must-haves from nice-to-haves. Compare Denver, Lakewood and nearby communities by your own budget, daily destinations, home style and upkeep preferences.
04
Tour with questions about condition, layout, maintenance and ongoing costs. For condos and townhomes, review the association’s documents and financial obligations with the appropriate professionals.
05
Review comparable sales, terms and your limits with Ryan. Once under contract, track financing, inspections, document review and other deadlines carefully. No two properties or contracts are the same.
06
Confirm your closing figures and remaining tasks with your lender and closing team. Plan the move, utilities and immediate maintenance so the transition does not end with receiving the keys.
Use these official resources to prepare questions for your lender. Programs and eligibility can change; financing advice and approval come from your lender, not from a review or a general buying guide.
Explore Colorado homeownership education and participating lender information.
Visit official resource ↗Review CHFA assistance options and ask a participating lender about current eligibility and terms.
Visit official resource ↗Use the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s guide to compare loan offers and costs.
Visit official resource ↗First-time home buyer reviews
Read how first-time buyers describe working with Ryan Penn. These historical reviews retain their original wording and brokerage references. Past experiences do not guarantee future outcomes; current representation arrangements are discussed before touring.
Ryan Penn recently helped my husband and I find and purchase our first home. A friend of mine recommended him and I am so glad I called him. Ryan was everything I wanted in a Realtor-- quick to respond, organized, detailed, professional, and very easy to work with. I was nervous about shopping in the current market, and Ryan guided us through it in a…
Ryan Penn recently helped my husband and I find and purchase our first home. A friend of mine recommended him and I am so glad I called him. Ryan was everything I wanted in a Realtor-- quick to respond, organized, detailed, professional, and very easy to work with. I was nervous about shopping in the current market, and Ryan guided us through it in a way that took away a lot of the anxiety. I can honestly say he went above and beyond for us, particularly when we had some unexpected problems around closing and after the sale. He continued to stay in touch with us and got the issues resolved, long after we closed, proving to me that he genuinely cares about his clients' home buying experience and that he is committed to doing good business. I would recommend him to anyone and will go to him first when it comes time to sell our home.
My wife and I interviewed a number of different real estate agents before settling on Ryan. This was our first house purchase and an important decision. Ryan was happy to take us to see as many houses as we wanted without requiring an exclusivity agreement first. He was very knowledgeable of the locations as well as pointing out flaws and bonuses to every house we…
My wife and I interviewed a number of different real estate agents before settling on Ryan. This was our first house purchase and an important decision. Ryan was happy to take us to see as many houses as we wanted without requiring an exclusivity agreement first. He was very knowledgeable of the locations as well as pointing out flaws and bonuses to every house we viewed. Ryan was never pushy and never tried to get us to put in an offer for a house that we didn't like. During the negotiation phase for our house, Ryan's experience and competence enabled us to get a better deal than we had hoped for. I couldn't recommend him more highly.
I just closed on my first house with Ryan Penn as my realtor. I have two friends that have also worked with Ryan and he came highly recommended. I couldn't have done it without Ryan's help and expertise, he made the whole home buying process so much easier and less stressful. I wouldn't trust anyone else to buy or sell a home. A++
I highly recommend Ryan Penn and 360dwellings. As first time homebuyers in the Denver market, we simply couldn't have asked for a better experience in purchasing our first home. Ryan is smart, accessible (he took us to last-minute showings on Easter Sunday) and is a skilled negotiator. Not only does he have a deep understanding of the Denver real estate market, he also brings a…
I highly recommend Ryan Penn and 360dwellings. As first time homebuyers in the Denver market, we simply couldn't have asked for a better experience in purchasing our first home. Ryan is smart, accessible (he took us to last-minute showings on Easter Sunday) and is a skilled negotiator. Not only does he have a deep understanding of the Denver real estate market, he also brings a breadth of knowledge in home construction and was able to provide us with valuable advice and information beyond what I would expect from a typical real estate agent. He made what we expected to be a very complicated process quite simple, and guided us every step of the way. He is honest, detailed, reliable and patient. Ryan was truly the best real estate agent we could have asked for, and I highly recommend him and 360dwellings to anyone looking to purchase in the Denver market.
My wife and I just bought our first home, and I don't know what we would've done without Ryan Penn and 360dwellings. Ryan patiently explained each step of the process and helped us understand each decision we needed to make. His partner Neil was also a pleasure to work with and was always there to help when Ryan wasn't available. Ryan has a client-first mentality…
My wife and I just bought our first home, and I don't know what we would've done without Ryan Penn and 360dwellings. Ryan patiently explained each step of the process and helped us understand each decision we needed to make. His partner Neil was also a pleasure to work with and was always there to help when Ryan wasn't available. Ryan has a client-first mentality and excels at everything a realtor is supposed to do, but perhaps the best thing about working with him is his positive attitude and great sense of humor. He managed to make the home buying process fun, and we will absolutely look to 360dwellings for future real estate needs.
Ryan helped us buy our first home. And as you might imagine its a pretty complicated process. Ryan helped us make the best decisions and take the complexity out of a very convoluted process. Our experience with Ryan was great. He never made us feel less important than any of his clients and we always knew where we stood. Thanks again Ryan!
Start with your timing, a comfortable monthly budget and a conversation with a lender. Then discuss your priorities with Ryan so your home search reflects both financing and the way you want to live.
Yes. Ryan works with buyers in Lakewood, Denver and surrounding communities. The search can include condos, townhomes or single-family homes according to your priorities and budget.
CHFA offers homeownership programs through participating lenders, including assistance options for eligible borrowers. Eligibility, available programs and financing terms vary. Ask a participating lender to review the current requirements and total costs with you.
Ask your lender and closing team for estimates of closing costs, prepaid items and cash needed to close. Also plan for moving, ongoing taxes and insurance, any HOA dues, utilities, maintenance and reserves. Compare official Loan Estimates when evaluating mortgage offers.
No. A first conversation can help you organize your questions, understand the buying process and decide what to explore next. You do not need to have every detail figured out.
Start with a conversation
Tell Ryan about your timeline, your questions and what you hope to find in your first Denver-area home.
Talk with Ryan about buying