Finance & Home
PenFed Mortgages: My Honest Take on Homebuying
By: Amber Guyton | May 6, 2026 | 8 min read
For as long as I can remember, the idea of “home” has always felt deeply meaningful. Any four walls could be a house or a residence to which one belonged, but a home was different. Home is a feeling. A feeling of safety and belonging. A familiar and familial place of love and acceptance. A haven filled with memories from the past and dreams for the future. As a child, I was surrounded by all the love and protection a child could ask for at home. And I’ve carried that feeling into my adulthood.
My parents divorced when I was four years old, and my Mom did the very best she could to ensure our sense of home was not disrupted by the move and a shift in household income. When I was in kindergarten and first grade, we lived in a rental house that was suitable for my mom, older sister, and me, but the shoddy electrical system and lack of ownership didn’t give us the safety and security we needed as we navigated this new chapter of our lives. My mom wanted more for us, but was doing the very best she could.
Enter my loving grandparents. They wanted to offer support and relief to my mom and our new normal, so they offered a solution that would give us a better shot at the future. My grandfather gifted a portion of his land to my mom, which was next door to my grandparents' home. My mom would buy a mobile home, her first solo home purchase, place it on the land, and we’d create our new home in the safe perimeter of a tight-knit rural community surrounded by family that loved us dearly. It was a generous, priceless gift that meant the world to my family.
Little did I know that this decision and home purchase would lay the foundation for my idea of home. The sound of the crickets chirping in the nearby corn fields. The clothes hanging on the line in my grandparents’ backyard. The blooming hydrangeas that anchored our front porches. The smell of collard greens and fresh pies in the kitchen.
The family gatherings, laughter, and dance parties filled the living room. The wallpapered breakfast nook we’d enjoy thousands of meals in. The layered beds that tucked us in at night. We didn’t have much money, but we were rich beyond our wildest dreams. It gave us the confidence to excel in the world and become our best selves as adults and future homeowners years later.
When I daydream about those childhood memories, the word that comes to mind is joy. Joy, happiness, gratitude, and abundance are what made that house a home. I started my blog and interior design firm, Blessed Little Bungalow, because I believe that no matter where you’re from or how much money you make, everyone deserves to love where they live. Over the past decade, I’ve helped clients across the country fall in love with their homes and design them in ways that make them feel safe, seen, and celebrated every day. Interior design is more than just furniture, paint, and decor that take up space. It’s an art that creates a functional and aesthetically pleasing experience for you to take up space. That is the type of home we all deserve.
As a homeowner, I’ve purchased four homes in my lifetime. Long before I was handed the keys to decorate them to my heart’s content, there were many steps and challenges that I juggled along the way, and no experience was the same. I felt every emotion imaginable—pride, excitement, exhaustion, fear, and triumph. There were tears of sadness when properties or financing fell through, but also tears of joy when I made it to the finish line, signed on the dotted line, and finally walked through the front door of a house I now owned. It’s always an indescribable feeling, one that is one of the most rewarding experiences I’ve ever had.
But let’s be honest—the homebuying journey can feel lonely, stressful, and overwhelming: endless applications, paperwork, an emotional rollercoaster of property visits and offers. There’s the pressure to save for the biggest purchase of your life, and the mental challenge of parting with those savings for a set of keys. Questions arise: Who can you trust? Who has your best interests at heart? And there are constant thoughts: “Should I really do this?” “Can I afford this?” “Do I deserve this?” That’s why having the right support can make such a difference.
PenFed® Home™ is one option designed to help make the process feel more predictable. PenFed® Home™ connects homebuyers with a trusted network of real estate agents while also offering access to PenFed’s mortgage solutions, all under one roof1. One of the biggest stressors in buying a home is juggling different parts of the process at once, so having support that feels more streamlined can go a long way.
PenFed® Home™ is also structured to deliver competitive pricing, fewer fees, and a trusted network of real estate agents, all under one roof1. Beyond your down payment, there are several fees, closing costs, and other expenses that can add up quickly, and plenty of opportunities for surprises. That’s why programs like PenFed’s Very Important Buyer (VIB) program2 stand out. As a Very Important Buyer (VIB)2, pay no origination or appraisal fees when you choose to combine real estate agent services and mortgage. On top of that, PenFed offers rates priced up to $10,000 lower than the nation’s largest lender3. That can make a noticeable difference in your overall cost and leave more money in your pocket to actually enjoy your home once you secure it.
As I tell my loved ones and interior design clients, the smoother your homebuying process is, the more energy and excitement you’ll have for turning your house into a home. This starts with having the right support system in your corner. Whether you’re a first-time homebuyer or you’ve been through this a time or two before, like me, that kind of support can help the process feel less stressful and more empowering.
It’s time to fall in love with home again. With the right tools and partners, purchasing a new home can be empowering rather than overwhelming.
Ready to Start Your Homebuying Journey?
Get pre-approved in minutes and see what you can afford.
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FINANCE & HOME
PenFed Mortgages: My Honest Take on Homebuying
By: Amber Guyton • May 6, 2026 • 8 min read
For as long as I can remember, the idea of “home” has always felt deeply meaningful. Any four walls could be a house or a residence to which one belonged, but a home was different. Home is a feeling. A feeling of safety and belonging. A familiar and familial place of love and acceptance. A haven filled with memories from the past and dreams for the future. As a child, I was surrounded by all the love and protection a child could ask for at home. And I’ve carried that feeling into my adulthood.
My parents divorced when I was four years old, and my Mom did the very best she could to ensure our sense of home was not disrupted by the move and a shift in household income. When I was in kindergarten and first grade, we lived in a rental house that was suitable for my mom, older sister, and me, but the shoddy electrical system and lack of ownership didn’t give us the safety and security we needed as we navigated this new chapter of our lives. My mom wanted more for us, but was doing the very best she could.
Enter my loving grandparents. They wanted to offer support and relief to my mom and our new normal, so they offered a solution that would give us a better shot at the future. My grandfather gifted a portion of his land to my mom, which was next door to my grandparents' home. My mom would buy a mobile home, her first solo home purchase, place it on the land, and we’d create our new home in the safe perimeter of a tight-knit rural community surrounded by family that loved us dearly. It was a generous, priceless gift that meant the world to my family.
Little did I know that this decision and home purchase would lay the foundation for my idea of home. The sound of the crickets chirping in the nearby corn fields. The clothes hanging on the line in my grandparents’ backyard. The blooming hydrangeas that anchored our front porches. The smell of collard greens and fresh pies in the kitchen.
The family gatherings, laughter, and dance parties filled the living room. The wallpapered breakfast nook we’d enjoy thousands of meals in. The layered beds that tucked us in at night. We didn’t have much money, but we were rich beyond our wildest dreams. It gave us the confidence to excel in the world and become our best selves as adults and future homeowners years later.
When I daydream about those childhood memories, the word that comes to mind is joy. Joy, happiness, gratitude, and abundance are what made that house a home. I started my blog and interior design firm, Blessed Little Bungalow, because I believe that no matter where you’re from or how much money you make, everyone deserves to love where they live. Over the past decade, I’ve helped clients across the country fall in love with their homes and design them in ways that make them feel safe, seen, and celebrated every day. Interior design is more than just furniture, paint, and decor that take up space. It’s an art that creates a functional and aesthetically pleasing experience for you to take up space. That is the type of home we all deserve.
As a homeowner, I’ve purchased four homes in my lifetime. Long before I was handed the keys to decorate them to my heart’s content, there were many steps and challenges that I juggled along the way, and no experience was the same. I felt every emotion imaginable—pride, excitement, exhaustion, fear, and triumph. There were tears of sadness when properties or financing fell through, but also tears of joy when I made it to the finish line, signed on the dotted line, and finally walked through the front door of a house I now owned. It’s always an indescribable feeling, one that is one of the most rewarding experiences I’ve ever had.
But let’s be honest—the homebuying journey can feel lonely, stressful, and overwhelming: endless applications, paperwork, an emotional rollercoaster of property visits and offers. There’s the pressure to save for the biggest purchase of your life, and the mental challenge of parting with those savings for a set of keys. Questions arise: Who can you trust? Who has your best interests at heart? And there are constant thoughts: “Should I really do this?” “Can I afford this?” “Do I deserve this?” That’s why having the right support can make such a difference.
PenFed® Home™ is one option designed to help make the process feel more predictable. PenFed® Home™ connects homebuyers with a trusted network of real estate agents while also offering access to PenFed’s mortgage solutions, all under one roof1. One of the biggest stressors in buying a home is juggling different parts of the process at once, so having support that feels more streamlined can go a long way.
PenFed® Home™ is also structured to deliver competitive pricing, fewer fees, and a trusted network of real estate agents, all under one roof1. Beyond your down payment, there are several fees, closing costs, and other expenses that can add up quickly, and plenty of opportunities for surprises. That’s why programs like PenFed’s Very Important Buyer (VIB) program2 stand out. As a Very Important Buyer (VIB)2, pay no origination or appraisal fees when you choose to combine real estate agent services and mortgage. On top of that, PenFed offers rates priced up to $10,000 lower than the nation’s largest lender3. That can make a noticeable difference in your overall cost and leave more money in your pocket to actually enjoy your home once you secure it.
As I tell my loved ones and interior design clients, the smoother your homebuying process is, the more energy and excitement you’ll have for turning your house into a home. This starts with having the right support system in your corner. Whether you’re a first-time homebuyer or you’ve been through this a time or two before, like me, that kind of support can help the process feel less stressful and more empowering.
It’s time to fall in love with home again. With the right tools and partners, purchasing a new home can be empowering rather than overwhelming.
Ready to Start Your Homebuying Journey?
Get pre-approved in minutes and see what you can afford.