This week I co-hosted an event with a mortgage agent Lisa Okun, called ‘What Every Woman Should Know Before Buying’. A room full of women gathered at the female co-working space Make Lemonade on Monday night, to educate themselves and more confidently navigate the homebuying process.

13 years ago, I purchased a detached home in Little Italy, by myself. At the time, it was $456,000. These kinds of prices are unheard of today but back then, it was a scary sum to drop by myself. It was also a total fixer-upper that I completely renovated, with the help of a few family members and friends. Picture me: Laying down floors, building walls, and envisioning what the future could hold. Buying a home is the most empowering move I’ve ever made, and that’s why I became a realtor. As the co-founder of a national women’s organization, I merged my passion for empowering women with my experience in real estate to help other women do what I did.

More women are buying property and leading the homebuying process than ever before. Statistics show that single women are purchasing homes at twice the rate of single men. But even so, many realtors fail to meet their needs. I’ve had far too many clients tell me that their realtors talked down to them. Others shared that their realtor directed all of the questions to their husband and not to them. This is not okay.

My portion of the event guided the audience through the experience of working with a realtor — and what they should expect from them. We covered everything from the repercussions (and advantages) of making an offer without conditions, open house etiquette, why it’s important to find a realtor who takes the time to understand your wants and needs and so much more. Buying a home can be incredibly daunting. If your realtor fails to figure out your wish list, future goals, affordability and more, they might not be able to look out for your best interests.

Some people think the first step is to start going to open houses, but actually you should reach out to a lender like Lisa first to figure out your financing, what you can afford and get pre-approved for a mortgage. Lisa has noticed that women are often more active in the process than their male counterparts, which is why we both work hard to coach our clients to make informed decisions that are right for them.

At the end of the event, we answered a Q&A, and it was wonderful to see the audience bring so many great questions to the table and gain clarity on the homebuying journey. Whether you’re in the process of saving for a downpayment or are actively looking for homes, knowledge is power. Rally a team of experts who have your back and equip yourself with the information you need, and you’ll be toasting your achievement at your housewarming party before you know it!