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Kathryn ColeREALTOR® · Springfield, MO

For teachers

Real estate solutions for teachers

As a former teacher of 15 years, I understand the unique needs of educators. Money, timeline, teaching contracts, and more. I get it all. Below are lots of resources to help.

Kathryn Cole, REALTOR

In my words

Why I love working with teachers

I love working with teachers. I taught for 15 years, so I understand the money, the timeline, and a teaching contract. You plan ahead, you care about the details, and you already know how to keep a big promise on a calendar that does not slip. Buying or selling a home should feel that clear.

Tell me what your school year looks like. I will walk you through the steps in plain language, help you time the move, and answer questions as they come up. You can stay focused on your students. I will stay focused on the house.

I am Kathryn Cole, REALTOR® and Broker Salesperson with Keller Williams Local. My office is in the Springfield area.

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Buying

Buying a home as a teacher

Buying while you teach is a project with a real deadline. I keep the steps in order, explain each one in plain language, and plan showings around the school day.

  1. 1Tell me what you needTown, commute to school, space, and what a comfortable payment feels like. I serve the Springfield area.
  2. 2Get pre-approvedA pre-approval letter shows sellers you are ready and gives you a price range before you fall in love with a house. Jennifer Pillado at Flat Branch Home Loans is the lender on this page.
  3. 3Tour with a planI group showings so you are not driving all over the Springfield area on a school night. If summer is your only open window, say so early.
  4. 4Offer, inspect, and closeI write the offer, explain each deadline in plain language, and stay with you through inspection, appraisal, and closing.
  5. 5Move before the new school yearWhen the school year is the deadline, I work backward from it so closing and moving day are not a surprise when students return.
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Down payment help

Missouri has state and local down payment assistance options. The links below go to official program sites. Terms change, so I do not repeat amounts or eligibility rules here. Jennifer Pillado at Flat Branch Home Loans and I can walk you through what you qualify for.

If you are buying in the Springfield area, ask us which local options apply. The city link on this page is the City of Springfield program.

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Summer move timeline

A summer move is easier when the search starts before summer. These are timing habits I use with teachers. They are not a promise about how fast a house will sell or close.

  1. 1Spring: start the conversationReach out before summer break fills up. Share whether you are buying, selling, or both, and when you hope to have the keys.
  2. 2Get pre-approved before you tourPre-approval comes before house hunting. It keeps you from touring homes that will not work, and it makes an offer stronger.
  3. 3Leave time for the middle stepsInspections, any repairs you and the seller agree to, the appraisal, and loan paperwork all sit between the offer and the keys. Do not plan the moving truck for the day after you write the offer.
  4. 4Close before the new school yearA closing date before students return gives you time to move, change your address, and settle in. If the right house will not be ready in time, I will help you choose a later closing instead of a rushed one.
  5. 5Protect your school-year energyGroup tours. Ask for evening or weekend showings. If you are selling, tell me which days the house can be shown. A calm calendar beats a packed one.
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A lender I trust

Start with Jennifer Pillado at Flat Branch Home Loans. She is the lender I recommend when you want pre-approval and a clear look at assistance programs. The details below are the same ones on my lenders page.

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Selling

Selling a home as a teacher

Selling on a school calendar is its own kind of planning. I help you list, show, and close without giving up the classroom week, including when the sale and the next purchase have to happen together.

  1. 1Plan around the school calendarIf you want to be moved before the next school year, start the listing conversation in the spring. That leaves time for photos, showings, and a closing that does not land in the first weeks of class.
  2. 2Showings that respect the school dayTell me which hours you can leave the house. I can aim showings for after school, evenings, and weekends so your classroom day stays intact.
  3. 3Selling and buying at onceMany teachers need to sell one home and buy the next in the same season. I line up both sides and help you decide what has to happen first, including where you will stay if the dates do not match.
  4. 4A home that still has to live wellIf you are teaching while the home is listed, I will talk through what to prep and what to leave alone so the house can stay livable.

See how I sell a home

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Calculator

Buy and sell estimate

I built a calculator for teachers who need to sell and buy. For a planning estimate you can use today, the sell and buy calculator on this site walks through a sale and the next purchase. It is an estimate, not a loan quote.

Open the sell and buy calculatorAsk me for a custom buy/sell estimate

My teacher calculator link is not published here yet. Call, text, or email me and I will put an estimate together for you.

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Contractors

Help around a move

When a home needs a pro, I share the same vetted list I keep for every client. These trades come up often around a move. Nobody pays to be listed. This is not a teacher discount list.

Home Inspectors

Cleaners

Handymen & Punch List Pros

Painters

Packing & Moving

Locksmiths & Re-Key Pros

See the full contractor directory

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Local perks

Local teacher goodies

A few local spots look out for teachers. I only list a business after I have confirmed the perk myself.

Coming soon. Know a business that loves on teachers? Tell me.

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Client stories

What teachers say

“Kathryn recently helped us in our home journey. We had a very short timeline. From the time we hired her until we were in our new home was a month and 4 days! She was efficient and always available to answer questions. Her knowledge of the housing market is remarkable. Thanks Kathryn! I would definitely recommend her if you are searching searching for a home.”
Kris McClardBolivar Intermediate SchoolGoogle, 5 stars
“The best realtor in Springfield Missouri by far as far as I'm concerned. She did a fantastic job helping us find our new home in Republic. On top of every detail.”
Steve McClardBolivar High SchoolGoogle, 5 stars
“Our experience buying a home was by no means a normal ride. However, Kathryn stuck by our side around every corner, speed limit signs, and the storms. She goes above and beyond to make sure her clients are informed, and she takes great care of them! She is punctual and precise in her communication. If you're looking for someone who will be honest with you and advocate for you, this is your realtor. I highly recommend working with Kathryn to help find your future home!”
Juliana BeatieMark Twain ElementaryGoogle, 5 stars
“Wow! Talk about a woman who goes above and beyond what you think her job may be! Kathryn is who you want on your team whether you're buying your first home or your 21st home. The professionals who work with Kathryn all speak so highly of her as well, you can tell she is a business woman of integrity! Kathryn was willing to answer all the silly questions, talk me through the panic attacks, and be the advocate I needed through the purchase of my new home!”
Kyrie MilesWanda Grey ElementaryGoogle, 5 stars
“Kathryn was super helpful! She was incredible at answering questions, providing support, and finding us everything we need!”
Courtni DillardLaunch SPSGoogle, 5 stars
“My husband and I can't recommend Kathryn highly enough. Kathryn did so much to help us through the home buying experience. She's a fantastic advocate for her clients and is an incredible resource. She answered all of our questions thoroughly and quickly and was extremely patient with us as first time homebuyers. We were lucky to have her on our side through it all!”
Megan MannPhelps Center for the GiftedGoogle, 5 stars
“Kathryn does an amazing job. She works hard, listens, cares and wanted to help us find the best housing situation for our needs.”
Chelsea PerrineLaunch SPSGoogle, 5 stars
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FAQ

Questions teachers ask

Can teachers get help with a down payment?
Sometimes. Missouri Housing Development Commission publishes statewide homebuyer programs, and the City of Springfield publishes its own down payment assistance page. HUD also publishes the Good Neighbor Next Door sales program, which includes teachers. Each program has its own rules, and those rules change. My lender and I walk through the official pages with you. I do not list amounts or who qualifies on this page.
When should I start if I want to move over the summer?
Start in the spring. Pre-approval, tours, inspections, and closing all take time. Aim to close before the new school year so you are not moving during the first weeks of class. If summer is your only window for showings, tell me early so I can group the tours.
Can I sell my home and buy the next one in the same season?
Yes. I coordinate the sale and the purchase so you have a plan for both closings. Until my teacher calculator link is published on this page, call, text, or email me for a custom buy and sell estimate.
Which area do you cover?
I help teachers in the Springfield area. More of the places I serve are on my service areas page.
Do I have to use Jennifer Pillado for my loan?
No. Jennifer Pillado at Flat Branch Home Loans is the lender I recommend here, especially when you want help sorting assistance programs. You may use another lender. Other lenders I work with are on my lenders page.
What if I only want to sell?
That is welcome. Call, text, or email me and say you want to sell. I will talk through timing around the school calendar, showings, and what comes next.

More questions are answered on the FAQ page.

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Contact

Talk with me

Call, text, or email me. Tell me you are a teacher, and whether you want to buy, sell, or both.

Call me at (417) 319-4687Text me at (417) 319-4687Email me at kathryn@homeiseverything.com

Keller Williams Local office 417.883.4900. You can also email kathryncole@kw.com.

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(417) 319-4687 (c) · 417.883.4900 (o)

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