In Episode 15 of The Fitze Is Right, Maryland realtor Jen Fitze tackles the biggest debate in real estate right now — is it actually impossible to buy a home if you're under 40 in 2026?

The average first-time home buyer age in America is now 40, according to the National Association of Realtors. It's climbed from the low 30s over the past decade. But Jen says that stat is misleading — and she has the proof.

Jen just helped multiple buyers under 25 purchase their first homes. Her youngest buyer ever was 19 years old. A 25-year-old teacher with a 2-year-old just closed last week. And Jocelynn, who appeared on a previous episode, bought at 24 while self-employed and fresh out of debt.

So why does everyone think it's impossible? Jen breaks down the five biggest myths stopping young people from buying: you need 20% down (you don't — FHA is 3.5%, VA and USDA are 0%), you need perfect credit (minimum is 580-620, not 800), you can't buy with student loans (you can), you need a high income (a teacher just did it), and the market is going to crash so you should wait (it's not, and you can't time it).

She also reveals what most agents and lenders won't tell you about grants and assistance programs. There are first-time buyer grants that cover down payments and closing costs — some you never have to pay back. There are specific grants for first responders, teachers, and nurses. And in Maryland, first-time buyers get a break on state recordation taxes worth approximately $7,800 that most people don't even know exists.

The episode covers the real barriers young people face — cost of living increases, student loan debt, wages that haven't kept up with housing prices, and a rental market where you can't find anything under $2,000. Jen doesn't sugarcoat it. But she also doesn't let young people use those barriers as excuses to self-disqualify without even trying.

Her verdict: It is NOT impossible. But you have to be smart, stop overspending, ask for help, and reach out to a lender six months before you think you're ready. And stop buying coffee every day.

In this episode you'll learn: → Why the average buyer age of 40 is misleading → The 5 biggest myths stopping young people from buying → Every loan type and the actual minimum down payment for each → The minimum credit score you actually need → Grants and programs most buyers don't know exist → The $7,800 Maryland tax break for first-time buyers → What Jen's youngest buyer (19 years old) did to make it work → The exact steps to take starting today if you want to buy

New episodes weekly. Follow Jen Fitze on social media for daily real estate tips.

Thanks for listening to The Fitze Is Right with Jen Fitze... the real estate podcast that tells you what your agent won't.

New episodes drop every other week. If this episode helped you or made your jaw drop, leave a 5-star review; it's the single best way to help new listeners find the show.

Got a real estate horror story of your own? We want to hear it. Send your story to @jenniferfitzecompassrealestate and Jen might read and react to it live on a future episode.

CONNECT WITH JEN: All socials @jenniferfitzecompassrealestate

WORK WITH JEN: Buying or selling a home in Maryland? Jen has over 20 years of experience helping families in Harford County, Baltimore County, and beyond. Reach out at jensellsmd@gmail.com

In Episode 14 of The Fitze Is Right, Maryland realtor Jen Fitze wraps up her two-part comments series — reading and reacting to the comments you left on Episodes 7 through 12. And the internet did not disappoint.

From Episode 7’s story about Jocelynn buying her first home at 24, someone commented “Nobody buys a home under 40 these days.” Jen has thoughts — and she’s dedicating an entire future episode to proving them wrong. Another commenter asked why anyone would buy when they could just keep renting. Jen’s response: “You might as well open up the window and throw your money out.”

The home inspection episode sparked a debate with actual inspection companies in the comments. One company corrected Jen about whether inspectors can move furniture. Jen clarified — they’re not required to, and if something is inaccessible, the seller has to move it themselves. Another commenter told Jen to “stick with selling, not inspecting.” A third told her to cover up her tattoos. Jen’s response to that one involves pea pods, carrots, and her husband.

The beach condo episode brought out the economists. Someone calculated that Jen only made $34K per year on her $270K to $475K flip. Jen breaks down why that math misses the point — seasonal rental properties aren’t about profit, they’re about breaking even while someone else pays your mortgage. She also reveals the thermostat war with tenants who kept turning the AC to dangerous levels, and Airbnb’s refusal to help when the unit froze.

Short sales are making a comeback — Jen reveals that COVID-era buyers who overpaid are now underwater and having to short sale, rent out, or bring money to get out. Her advice on timing the market: “You can’t. There’s never the perfect time.”

The FAQ episode’s comments brought the heat. The white van story continues to generate safety discussions. The $675K listing that sold for $677 after being listed at $850K is still Jen’s most-discussed moment. And a commenter criticized Jen’s “persona” — only for Jen to reveal the agent who beat her does daily “get ready with me” videos. “The honest one didn’t get it.”

In this episode you’ll learn: → Why renting is “throwing money out the window” according to Jen → The real economics of seasonal vacation rentals → Why short sales are coming back in 2026 → Whether you can time the real estate market (spoiler: you can’t) → What happens when inspectors can’t access parts of the house → Why listing agents sometimes lie about your home’s value → Jen’s response to being told to cover her tattoos

New episodes weekly. Follow Jen Fitze on social media for daily real estate tips.

Thanks for listening to The Fitze Is Right with Jen Fitze... the real estate podcast that tells you what your agent won't.

New episodes drop every other week. If this episode helped you or made your jaw drop, leave a 5-star review; it's the single best way to help new listeners find the show.

Got a real estate horror story of your own? We want to hear it. Send your story to @jenniferfitzecompassrealestate and Jen might read and react to it live on a future episode.

CONNECT WITH JEN: All socials @jenniferfitzecompassrealestate

WORK WITH JEN: Buying or selling a home in Maryland? Jen has over 20 years of experience helping families in Harford County, Baltimore County, and beyond. Reach out at jensellsmd@gmail.com

In Episode 13 of The Fitze Is Right, Maryland realtor Jen Fitze goes back to the beginning and reads the comments you've been leaving on every episode — starting with Episodes 1 through 6. The love, the hate, the corrections, and the ones that genuinely made her question humanity.

From the very first episode about black mold and a drug raid, people had opinions. Someone asked if the home inspector should be liable for missing mold behind walls — Jen explains exactly why they're not and what inspectors can and can't do. Others said her story was fake. She has the pictures.

Episode 2's tree dream buyer is still generating questions. Is she still in the house? Yes — Jen still drives by to check. Can buyers just back out of a contract? No — and both brokerages can sue you if you try.

Episode 3 is where things got heated. The Facebook post episode produced clips that hit nearly a million views, and the comments reflect it. One person admitted to selling a house that was struck by lightning and completely rewired — and never disclosed it. Another buyer found water damage, buckets, and brand new shingles hidden behind a garage. The house dropped $100,000 in two weeks. Someone said using a realtor is a waste of money. Jen's response: "Let me send you my 173-item checklist."

Jen also breaks down Maryland's disclosure vs. disclaimer system — most sellers choose to tell buyers almost nothing — and explains what a CLUE report is and why every buyer should request one.

Episode 4 brings the love letter debate. Buyers used to submit family photos and children's drawings with their offers. It violates Fair Housing and Jen explains exactly why. Also addressed: the "realtor" pronunciation debate that won't die.

Episode 5 features a respectful disagreement with George, a mortgage broker of 26 years who thinks Jen's $25K pricing strategy is wrong. Jen disagrees — strongly. And a supporter named Tammy shares a story about a seller who overpriced by $100K, went through three agents, and sold for exactly what Jen would have suggested.

Episode 6 wraps with someone telling Jen to "stop trading in fear" about roof inspections. Jen's response involves Nebraska, corn, and a reality check about what happens when you ignore missing shingles.

Part 2 — covering Episodes 7 through 12 — is coming next week.

In this episode you'll learn: → Why home inspectors aren't liable for hidden mold behind furniture → What happens legally if you try to back out of a contract → What a CLUE report is and why it's the "Carfax" for houses → The difference between disclosure and disclaimer in Maryland → Why love letters to sellers violate Fair Housing → How to handle overpriced sellers who won't listen → Jen's response to every type of hate comment

New episodes weekly. Follow Jen Fitze on social media for daily real estate tips.

Thanks for listening to The Fitze Is Right with Jen Fitze... the real estate podcast that tells you what your agent won't.

New episodes drop every other week. If this episode helped you or made your jaw drop, leave a 5-star review; it's the single best way to help new listeners find the show.

Got a real estate horror story of your own? We want to hear it. Send your story to @jenniferfitzecompassrealestate and Jen might read and react to it live on a future episode.

CONNECT WITH JEN: All socials @jenniferfitzecompassrealestate

WORK WITH JEN: Buying or selling a home in Maryland? Jen has over 20 years of experience helping families in Harford County, Baltimore County, and beyond. Reach out at jensellsmd@gmail.com

In Episode 12 of The Fitze Is Right, Maryland realtor Jen Fitze answers every question you've been too afraid to ask your agent — the money questions, the awkward questions, the ones most agents dodge.

How much money do you actually need to buy your first home? Spoiler: it's not 20% down. That's a myth. But closing costs on top of the down payment can add $8,000 to $15,000 that nobody warns first-time buyers about until it's too late.

What's the difference between pre-qualified and pre-approved? One means almost nothing. The other means you're actually ready to buy. Most buyers don't know the difference and it costs them houses.

What does Jen know about the house she's selling that she legally doesn't have to tell the buyer? She answers honestly — and the answer might keep you up at night.

What's the shadiest thing she's ever seen another agent do? She gives the specific story. No vague answers. No protecting anyone.

Can you fire your agent? Yes. And most people have no idea they're allowed to. Jen explains exactly how, when, and what happens to their commission.

Is dual agency bad? One agent representing both the buyer and seller means nobody is truly fighting for either side. They can't negotiate, can't advise, can't help — but they keep both commissions. Jen doesn't hold back.

And the big one: Are realtors overpaid? Jen has 173 things on her checklist for every transaction. Her hourly rate breaks down to about $40 an hour. She fronts all costs out of pocket. She doesn't get paid until settlement — and if the deal falls through, she gets nothing. She has thoughts.

Plus: what happens when a couple disagrees about a house, the biggest lie a seller has ever told Jen, what happens when your appraisal comes in low, whether it's smarter to buy or rent, and a rapid fire speed round that includes the question every agent dreads: "What's the most you've ever made on one deal?"

In this episode you'll learn: → The actual dollar amount you need to buy your first home → Why pre-qualified means almost nothing → What your agent knows about your house but doesn't have to tell you → How to fire your agent and what happens to their commission → Why dual agency means nobody is fighting for you → Whether realtors are actually overpaid — the honest math → The shadiest thing Jen has ever seen another agent do

New episodes weekly. Follow Jen Fitze on social media for daily real estate tips.

Thanks for listening to The Fitze Is Right with Jen Fitze... the real estate podcast that tells you what your agent won't.

New episodes drop every other week. If this episode helped you or made your jaw drop, leave a 5-star review; it's the single best way to help new listeners find the show.

Got a real estate horror story of your own? We want to hear it. Send your story to @jenniferfitzecompassrealestate and Jen might read and react to it live on a future episode.

CONNECT WITH JEN: All socials @jenniferfitzecompassrealestate

WORK WITH JEN: Buying or selling a home in Maryland? Jen has over 20 years of experience helping families in Harford County, Baltimore County, and beyond. Reach out at jensellsmd@gmail.com

In Episode 11 of The Fitze Is Right, Maryland realtor Jen Fitze reads and reacts to one of the most painful viewer stories the podcast has ever received — an 11-month short sale nightmare that ended in total devastation.

A couple found their dream home — a four-bedroom colonial listed at $285,000 in a neighborhood where everything else was selling for $360,000 or more. Their agent told them it was a short sale and that the process would take "a couple extra months." It didn't.

They submitted their offer in March. Sixty days passed. Ninety days. Nothing. Their agent kept saying the bank was reviewing it. Meanwhile, they were living month-to-month in a tiny apartment with two kids. Their landlord raised the rent twice. They were paying an extra $400 a month just waiting.

By month five, their agent was harder to reach. By month seven, they discovered she had never done a short sale before — she was Googling the process while they were living through it. Then the bank assigned a new negotiator and the entire review started over from scratch.

At month nine, they finally got a verbal approval. Their agent called screaming. They cried. They told their kids they'd have their own rooms. They gave their landlord 30 days notice. They started packing. They picked out paint colors.

Two weeks later, the bank changed the terms. They wanted $15,000 more. The couple didn't have it. Their agent told them to pay it because they'd already waited so long. They borrowed $8,000 from family and scraped together the rest.

Then came the final blow. The seller had filed for bankruptcy during the process. The sale was frozen by the court. Indefinitely. Their agent didn't even know — she found out when the buyers told her.

After 11 months, thousands in extra rent, borrowed money from family, and their entire lives on hold — the deal was dead. They eventually bought a different house seven months later with a different agent. It cost them $80,000 more.

Jen breaks down everything that went wrong, what a short sale actually is, why the timeline is 6-18 months not "a couple extra months," the sunk cost trap of "you've waited this long," and how to spot an agent who's Googling your transaction instead of managing it.

In this episode you'll learn:
→ What a short sale actually is and why they take 6-18 months
→ Why "a couple extra months" is the most dangerous thing an agent can say
→ The bankruptcy loophole that lets sellers stay in homes for years without paying
→ Why verbal approval from the bank means nothing
→ The sunk cost trap and why "you've waited this long" is terrible advice
→ How to spot an agent who's never done a short sale before
→ Whether short sales are ever worth it in today's market

New episodes weekly. Follow Jen Fitze on social media for daily real estate tips.

Thanks for listening to The Fitze Is Right with Jen Fitze... the real estate podcast that tells you what your agent won't.

New episodes drop every other week. If this episode helped you or made your jaw drop, leave a 5-star review; it's the single best way to help new listeners find the show.

Got a real estate horror story of your own? We want to hear it. Send your story to @jenniferfitzecompassrealestate and Jen might read and react to it live on a future episode.

CONNECT WITH JEN: All socials @jenniferfitzecompassrealestate

WORK WITH JEN: Buying or selling a home in Maryland? Jen has over 20 years of experience helping families in Harford County, Baltimore County, and beyond. Reach out at jensellsmd@gmail.com

In Episode 10 of The Fitze Is Right, Maryland realtor Jen Fitze tells a story she's never shared on the podcast — her own. Not a client's deal. Not a horror story from a transaction. This is Jen and her husband's personal journey buying, renting, and selling four beach condos in Ocean City, Maryland.

It started with a dream. Growing up, Jen and Chris each had one week at the beach per year. That was all their families could afford. When they got married, they started renting the same condo in Ocean City for two weeks every summer — spending over $3,000 a year on someone else's property. After four or five years of this, Jen asked the question that changed everything: what if we just bought one?

They got approved — she still doesn't know how — and found their dream unit at the Capri. Right on the beach. Beautiful view. $10,000 over budget, because of course it was. They hired a property manager, rented it out when they weren't there, and the first year the numbers came in: $30,000 in rental income against $27,000-$28,000 in expenses. Barely breaking even — but they had a beach house.

The plan was simple: buy a new condo every two years, using the rental history to qualify for the next mortgage. By the end, they owned four units. One bedroom on the ocean. Two-bedroom oceanfronts. A bayside unit where they could watch fireworks from the balcony — Jen's absolute favorite.

Then COVID hit. No rentals allowed. Four mortgages plus their primary home. No income. "We went broke a little."

Jen pulls back the curtain on the tenant nightmares — renters who opened the sliders and ran the AC at 58 degrees all weekend, destroying the entire unit. Curling iron burns on white dressers. Bottle caps down the garbage disposal. Margarita stains on white pillows, flipped over like Jen wouldn't notice.

Eventually, they made the decision to sell. The first condo — purchased for $270,000 — sold for $475,000. Six years of equity growth. They used a 1031 exchange to defer taxes, rolled everything into a new home, and now have a tiny mortgage.

Jen's verdict on being a landlord? Social media glamorizes it. The internet makes you think it's passive income. It's not. It's a second job with no days off. It's a financial gamble. And a pandemic can wipe you out overnight. If you're going to do it, have your strategy, your team, and your expectations in order — or you're going to fail.

In this episode you'll learn:
→ How Jen and her husband went from renting to owning 4 beach condos
→ The real math of vacation rental income vs. expenses
→ What COVID did to landlords who depended on seasonal rentals
→ The worst thing tenants ever did to one of their condos
→ What a 1031 exchange is and how it defers your taxes
→ Why "passive income" from rentals is mostly a myth
→ The one lease rule every landlord should have

New episodes weekly. Follow Jen Fitze on social media for daily real estate tips.

Thanks for listening to The Fitze Is Right with Jen Fitze... the real estate podcast that tells you what your agent won't.

New episodes drop every other week. If this episode helped you or made your jaw drop, leave a 5-star review; it's the single best way to help new listeners find the show.

Got a real estate horror story of your own? We want to hear it. Send your story to @jenniferfitzecompassrealestate and Jen might read and react to it live on a future episode.

CONNECT WITH JEN: All socials @jenniferfitzecompassrealestate

WORK WITH JEN: Buying or selling a home in Maryland? Jen has over 20 years of experience helping families in Harford County, Baltimore County, and beyond. Reach out at jensellsmd@gmail.com

In Episode 9 of The Fitze Is Right, Maryland realtor Jen Fitze tells the story of the most chaotic listing of her career — one that ended with an arrest, a restraining order, and a seller she's still tagged as "incarcerated" in her CRM.

It started as a simple referral. A realtor friend at a 55-and-older new construction community in Perry Hall called Jen to list a woman's house. The seller needed to sell in order to qualify to buy in the new community. Simple enough. Jen drove down, met the woman — super sweet, 90 pounds, not even five feet tall — toured the house, which was clean and beautifully decorated. Everything seemed perfect.

Then Jen heard yelling from the basement. On the tour, one daughter's bedroom was locked with a note that said she could never show it. The stairwell to the basement had no trespassing signs posted in the seller's own home. The basement was completely off limits.

What Jen discovered: one daughter upstairs had mental health issues. Another daughter and her wife were living in the basement rent-free, screaming obscenities at their mother. The husband, sitting on the couch ignoring everything, apparently doesn't live there — and now Jen knew why.

It got worse. During listing photos, the upstairs daughter's bedroom door had warnings written on it: "Keep out. No trespassing. You'll go to jail." When the daughter was finally gone, Jen was able to see the room — the walls were covered in drawings and nasty messages to the mother. In Sharpie.

Then came the phone call no agent ever expects. The builder's agent called: "We have a problem." The 90-pound seller had been arrested for assault on her basement daughter. A restraining order was filed — against the mother. She couldn't return to her own house. The daughters threw her clothes on the front lawn.

A few days later? Arrested again. Same charge. Jen had to withdraw the listing and put in the notes: "Seller is incarcerated." The seller lost $10,000 in good faith deposit on the new construction because she couldn't sell her house. The daughters won — they were living there for free and sabotaged the entire sale.

Jen also breaks down the financial reality of being a realtor that most people don't understand: agents front all costs out of pocket, don't get paid until settlement, and if the deal falls through, they eat every dollar they invested. Plus four scenarios that can kill a deal — from financing falling through to title search surprises.

In this episode you'll learn: → What happens when a seller's family sabotages a home sale → Why the basement is where all the problems hide → What realtors actually pay out of pocket before getting paid → Why realtors only earn about $40/hour when you break it down → Four things that can kill a deal between contract and closing → Why you should never buy anything during escrow — not even gum

New episodes weekly. Follow Jen Fitze on social media for daily real estate tips.

Thanks for listening to The Fitze Is Right with Jen Fitze... the real estate podcast that tells you what your agent won't.

New episodes drop every other week. If this episode helped you or made your jaw drop, leave a 5-star review; it's the single best way to help new listeners find the show.

Got a real estate horror story of your own? We want to hear it. Send your story to @jenniferfitzecompassrealestate and Jen might read and react to it live on a future episode.

CONNECT WITH JEN: All socials @jenniferfitzecompassrealestate

WORK WITH JEN: Buying or selling a home in Maryland? Jen has over 20 years of experience helping families in Harford County, Baltimore County, and beyond. Reach out at jensellsmd@gmail.com