Affordability is still the No. 1 barrier keeping buyers on the sidelines. Prices haven’t meaningfully softened, and while rates are easing slowly, many hopeful buyers still feel stuck in the “almost ready” bucket. That’s where the Key Mortgage NEST Program steps in. This is one of the most underrated affordability tools we have.

The NEST is a free, guided readiness program designed for motivated buyers who aren’t mortgage-ready yet. Instead of losing these clients to time, life changes, or internet noise, the program creates a clear, personalized plan so they can move from “I wish” to “I’m ready.”

How the NEST helps buyers overcome today’s affordability challenges: 

• It gives buyers clarity on what they can afford and how to get there.
  Most buyers don’t have an income problem — they have an information problem. With the NEST, we map out savings goals, realistic timelines, credit strategies, and monthly payment ranges.  
• It can improve credit, which can improve rates.
  Even a modest credit improvement can lower a rate, lower private mortgage insurance, and lower total monthly payments. The NEST provides step-by-step credit action plans to make that happen.
• It replaces “wait and see” with an actual game plan.
  In this market, passive buyers get priced out. The NEST turns waiting into preparation with regular check-ins, accountability, and the coaching they need to keep moving forward.
• It builds savings capacity.
  Downpayment and closing costs are two of the biggest affordability hurdles. Through budgeting, savings milestones, and custom timelines, the NEST helps buyers build the cash reserves needed to make the numbers work.
• It keeps buyers emotionally engaged while they prepare.
  If affordability feels impossible, many buyers give up entirely. The NEST brings structure, encouragement, and bite-sized milestones that keep them connected to the process, and to you.

Why this matters for your pipeline (and your clients)

As an agent, you spend time, energy, and emotional labor nurturing buyers long before they’re ready. The NEST ensures those efforts aren’t lost.

It protects your pipeline, strengthens your client relationships, and creates a smoother handoff from “dreaming” to “shopping.” And when the buyer is ready? They come back prepped, educated, preapproved, and confident, which means fewer surprises and fewer delays.

The NEST isn’t just a nurture program, it’s an affordability accelerator.
By solving readiness, it helps solve affordability. Because buyers who understand the numbers, improve their financial position, and prepare intentionally are the ones who succeed in a tight market.

And the best part? It’s free for clients and a value-add you can offer immediately. Talk to your Key Mortgage loan officer about how to use the NEST to help your clients today. It’s never too early to begin these conversations. Don’t have a Key Mortgage loan officer? Talk to your managing broker to match you with someone today!