- 9841 Washingtonian Blvd #200 Gaithersburg, MD 20878
★★★★★ 5.0 · 150+ Verified Google Reviews · 500+ DMV homes sold
Buy Your Home in the DMV — the Stress-Free Way
Whether it’s your first home or your forever home, Real Estate Connection helps you get pre-approved, unlock down payment assistance and first-time buyer programs you may not know about, and find the right home in Maryland, DC, or Northern Virginia — guided every step by a team that’s sold hundreds of DMV homes.
Free Buyer Consultation
Your home-buying head start.
- ✓Know your true budget with fast pre-approval.
- ✓Tap down payment assistance & grants across MD, DC & VA.
- ✓Explore $0-down VA & USDA loan options.
- ✓One expert team from search to closing day.
Free, no obligation. We’ll meet you wherever you are in the process.
500+
DMV homes bought & sold$0
down possible with VA & USDA24hr
pre-approval turnaround5.0★
150+ Google reviews
Buying across the DMV
One team that knows DC, Maryland & Northern Virginia
The DMV isn’t one market — it’s three, each with its own prices, neighborhoods, taxes, and buyer competition. Should you buy a condo in DC, a townhome in Alexandria, or a single-family home in Montgomery County? Our specialists know all three sides of the river and guide you to the right home for your budget, commute, and lifestyle — while making sure you don’t leave any assistance program on the table.
$0 Down
You may be closer to owning than you think
VA and USDA loans can offer no down payment for eligible buyers — and assistance programs can help cover the rest. Many DMV buyers qualify for thousands they never knew existed.
Down payment assistance & buyer programs
Real money toward your DMV home
Maryland, DC, and Virginia each run programs that can put thousands toward your down payment and closing costs. Here’s a starting point — we’ll match you to the ones you qualify for.
Maryland
MMP & local programs
- Maryland Mortgage Program — down payment & closing help, loans or grants
- 1st Time Advantage for first-time buyers
- Montgomery & Gaithersburg local assistance
- Frederick County homebuyer assistance
- Mortgage Credit Certificate tax savings
Washington, DC
DC Open Doors & HPAP
- DC Open Doors — down payment & closing assistance
- HPAP gap financing for first-time buyers
- Employer-assisted programs for District employees
- Extra help for first responders & educators
- Below-market first-mortgage options
Virginia
Virginia Housing programs
- Down Payment Assistance Grants (no repayment)
- Flex programs for first-time & repeat buyers
- DHCD gap financing for eligible incomes
- Closing cost assistance options
- Mortgage Credit Certificate tax savings
Loan options
The right financing for your situation
We connect you with trusted lenders and the loan that fits — explore the options below.
FHA →
Low down payment, flexible credit — great for first-time buyers.
VA →
$0 down, no PMI for veterans & service members.
USDA →
$0 down in eligible rural & suburban areas.
Conventional →
As little as 3% down for strong-credit buyers.
First-Time Buyer →
Assistance, grants & reduced-rate programs.
Compare All →
See every program side by side.
How it works
From pre-approval to keys in four steps
1
Get pre-approved
We connect you with a trusted lender and find your programs, so you know your real budget and buying power.
2
Find your home
We search on- and off-market listings across DC, Maryland, and Northern Virginia and tour the best fits with you.
3
Make a winning offer
We craft a competitive offer and negotiate hard to get you the home at the right terms.
4
Close with confidence
We manage inspections, appraisal, and closing so move-in day arrives smoothly.
Who we help buy
Every kind of DMV buyer
🔑
First-Time Buyers
We make the first purchase clear and affordable — and surface every assistance program you qualify for.
🏡
Move-Up & Move-Down
Buying your next home? We coordinate the sale of your current one so the timing lines up.
🎖️
Veterans & Military
Maximize your VA benefit with $0 down and base-aware guidance for PCS moves.
🧳
Relocating to the DMV
Moving in from out of state? We guide your whole relocation with remote tours and area expertise.
📈
Investors
Build a rental portfolio with off-market deals and investor financing connections.
🏗️
New Construction
We represent your interests with builders so you get the right home and terms.
BC
Why buy with REC
A trusted name in DMV real estate
Real Estate Connection is led by Brian C. Coester, a licensed Maryland broker and host of The Real Estate Report. Our team has helped 500+ DMV families buy and sell — earning 150+ five-star reviews along the way. When you buy with REC, you get a full-service brokerage that handles buying, selling, renting, and financing, all under one roof.
Brian C. Coester · Licensed Real Estate Broker (Maryland) · Host of The Real Estate Report · Founder, Real Estate Connection
🗺️
Cross-market experts
One team that knows DC, Maryland, and Northern Virginia.
💸
Programs maximized
We make sure you don’t miss assistance you qualify for.
🤝
Full service
Buy, sell, rent, and finance — all in one place.
⭐
Proven & trusted
500+ homes and 150+ five-star reviews.
★★★★★ 5.0 · 150+ Verified Google Reviews
DMV buyers love working with REC
★★★★★
“Real Estate Connection was a tremendous help during a particularly stressful time in my life. I had less than 60 days — they made it happen.”
Abdullah Elamari
Verified Google Review
★★★★★
“Brian is super efficient, timely and no nonsense. Just good business acumen all around. Got the deal done in about 24 hours which was awesome to experience.”
Ali Naim
Verified Google Review
★★★★★
“The absolute BEST real estate agency I’ve ever been to! They’re very relatable and have no problem answering any questions you may have.”
Halle Berryhill
Verified Google Review
Buyer questions
Buying in the DMV — FAQs
Can I buy a home in the DMV with little or no money down? +
Often, yes. VA loans (for eligible veterans and service members) and USDA loans (in eligible areas) can offer $0 down. FHA allows as little as 3.5% down and conventional programs as little as 3%. On top of that, Maryland, DC, and Virginia run down payment assistance programs that can reduce or cover your out-of-pocket cost.
What first-time buyer programs are available in the DMV? +
Maryland offers the Maryland Mortgage Program plus local programs like Montgomery and Gaithersburg assistance; DC offers DC Open Doors and HPAP; and Virginia offers Virginia Housing grants and Flex programs. Many provide thousands toward down payment and closing costs. Eligibility depends on income, price, and credit, and most require a homebuyer education course.
How much do I need to earn, and what credit score? +
It varies by program. Assistance programs use income limits that scale with household size and county, and credit requirements often start around 620. We’ll connect you with a trusted lender to review your full picture and match you to the programs you qualify for.
Do I need to get pre-approved before I start looking? +
Yes — it’s the smartest first step. Pre-approval tells you your true budget and makes your offer far stronger in the competitive DMV market. We connect you with a trusted lender who can issue a pre-approval letter, often within a day.
How much does it cost to work with a buyer’s agent? +
We’ll explain buyer representation and any compensation clearly and in writing before you tour, as required under current industry rules — so there are no surprises. Many costs may be negotiated as part of your purchase. Ask us and we’ll walk you through exactly how it works.
I’m relocating from out of state — can you still help? +
Absolutely. We guide out-of-area buyers with live video tours, neighborhood and school breakdowns, and digital closing — so you can find and buy the right DMV home before you even arrive.
Free · No obligation · DC · MD · VA
Let’s get you the keys to your DMV home.
Start with a free consultation and pre-approval. We’ll find your programs, your budget, and the right home — and guide you all the way to closing.
★★★★★ 5.0 · 150+ Verified Google Reviews · 500+ DMV homes bought & sold