A big bank gives you one rate sheet. We shop your loan across multiple lenders.

That’s the difference between a broker and a bank, and it’s the reason it matters who you call first.

Why work with a broker instead of a bank

When you walk into a bank, or call a big call-center lender, you get access to exactly one set of rates, one set of guidelines, and one loan program that fits — or doesn’t. As a licensed mortgage broker, I work with several lenders and shop your loan across all of them to find the most cost-effective program, rate, and fee structure for your specific situation. If one lender’s guidelines don’t fit your income or credit picture, another one’s might. You get the option; the bank gives you the only option they have.

I’ve been doing this in Arizona since 1996. That’s not a number I put on a business card — it’s nearly 30 years of watching rate environments shift, loan programs come and go, and enough closings to know where the real risks in a file usually hide before they become a problem at the closing table.

And when you call, you get me — not a loan processing assembly line where you’re transferred between four different people who’ve never spoken to each other. I keep you and everyone else in the transaction updated on exactly where your file stands, start to finish. This business isn’t complicated. But it is detailed, and the details are what determine whether your closing is smooth or stressful.

Loan programs

FHA — Low down payment options and flexible credit requirements, especially useful for first-time buyers.

VA — For eligible veterans and service members, with flexible down payment options.

Conventional — Competitive rates for buyers with strong credit, with low down payment options.

Jumbo — For luxury and high-balance purchases above conventional loan limits, common in many Phoenix-area neighborhoods.

Down Payment Assistance — Arizona has several down payment assistance programs available through our lender network — covering a portion of your down payment, your closing costs, or both, depending on the program and your situation. Whether you qualify, and which program fits best, is worth a real conversation rather than a guess. Ask us — the answer is often different than people assume.

What buying actually looks like

Pre-approval comes first, not last. Before you fall in love with a house, you should know exactly what you qualify for and what your payment will look like. A real pre-approval — not a five-minute online estimate — takes a look at your actual income, credit, and assets, so the number you’re given is a number you can trust when you make an offer.

“Shopping around” doesn’t mean four different applications. You can compare lenders without four hard credit pulls dinging your score — and since I’m already shopping multiple lenders on your behalf as a broker, you get that comparison built in, without doing the legwork yourself.

Timelines are predictable, not mysterious. A typical purchase closes in 30 to 45 days from a fully executed contract. I’ll tell you upfront what that timeline looks like for your specific file, and flag early — not the week before closing — if anything is going to slow it down.

Questions are normal, not annoying. If you’re a first-time buyer, you’re supposed to have questions. Ask them. A good loan officer would rather explain something twice now than have you surprised at the closing table.

Ready to see what you qualify for?

The first step costs you nothing and takes about fifteen minutes: a real conversation about your situation, followed by a pre-approval you can actually use when you’re ready to make an offer.

Start Your Application → michael@magnoliamtge.com