Questions worth asking

Less than most people assume. Conventional loans can start around 3% down for qualified first-time buyers, FHA around 3.5%, and VA loans require no down payment for eligible borrowers. The right answer depends on your credit, income and the property — ask Ryan to price your specific situation.

A mortgage application does involve a credit inquiry, which can have a small, temporary effect. Mortgage inquiries made within a short shopping window are generally treated as a single inquiry by the major scoring models, so comparing lenders does not multiply the impact.

A pre-qualification is an estimate based on what you tell us. A pre-approval means your information has actually been reviewed and verified. Sellers take pre-approvals seriously and often disregard pre-qualifications entirely.

Timing depends on the property, the appraisal and how quickly documents come back. Ryan will give you a realistic target date when he reviews your file, and tell you promptly if anything changes it.

Often yes. What matters is your debt-to-income ratio, not the existence of debt by itself. Plenty of borrowers close with student loans, car payments and credit cards outstanding.

Generally recent pay stubs, W-2s or tax returns, bank statements and a photo ID. Self-employment, rental income or recent job changes add a few items. You can scan and upload everything from your phone through the application portal.

It depends on where your current rate sits against today's market, how long you plan to stay, and what the closing costs are. It is a straightforward calculation — ask and you will get a real answer rather than a sales pitch.

It estimates a monthly payment from the numbers you enter, including principal, interest, property taxes, insurance and mortgage insurance. It is a planning tool, not a quote. Your actual payment comes from an official Loan Estimate after you apply.