Mortgage Questions, Answered in Under a Minute

Avoid these common mistakes that slow down mortgage approvals

August 17, 2026 · 35 seconds

All right, so there's a couple of things that could actually delay your pre-approval. One thing is, is buying a car or buying furniture or financing something right before you're looking to purchase. Another thing could be you've recently changed jobs and your pay compensation type doesn't match with the loan program that we're trying to get you qualified for. So whether it be your income or whether it be your liabilities or even your credit score, it's always a good thing before you make any major financial decisions to talk to your loan officer if you know that you're going to be buying a house in the next several months so that we can build a plan so that when you do pull the trigger and buy, you buy with confidence and you buy with Valor.

Avoid these common mistakes that slow down loan approvals

July 31, 2026 · 24 seconds

What can slow down your mortgage pre-approval? Well, technically what slows it down is you. If you're looking to get pre-approved, but you're not providing the needed documentation for your loan officer to approve you, then that slows us down. We are missing something. We're going to stop until that document comes. So if you want to make sure that you get everything said, ask your loan officer exactly what you need. If you want to buy with confidence, buy with Valor.

Talk to a lender before you tour homes

July 17, 2026 · 19 seconds

You want to know a little secret, one that can save you a lot of heartache, is talking to a lender first and then talking to your real estate agent, so that you understand what you can afford. You can avoid a lot of heartache if you actually knew what's possible and what's not possible. So if you want to buy with confidence, buy with Valor.

Prequalification and preapproval are not interchangeable

July 8, 2026 · 35 seconds

One of these things are not like the other, one of these things just doesn't belong. You're all familiar with that: pre-qualified versus pre-approval, right? The difference between those two is someone can call me up and give me basic information and say, hey, this is my income, this is my credit score, this is how much I owe in other debts. Then I can turn around and share with them a pre-qualification of, I think you would qualify for X. However, once I see their bank statements, their tax returns, their pay stubs, all of that fun jazz, have accessed their credit, then I'm going to give them a pre-approval and say you're eligible to purchase up to X amount. So if you're wanting to buy with confidence, buy with Valor.

Why Zillow's estimate is often different from your real payment

June 24, 2026 · 33 seconds

Zillow's got you again, do they? Where you went and you saw a house and you really like it, you've fallen in love with it, and then you went to go talk to the bank to be able to determine what's my payment. And now your heart and your pocketbook don't match. So that's the reason why it's always important to try and talk to a lender first and then go look at houses to be able to establish what can I comfortably afford and what's my price range. Just because you can afford a million dollar house doesn't mean necessarily that you want a million dollar house either. So there's both ends of the spectrum. So if you want to buy with confidence, buy with Valor.

Don't start touring homes until you have this one thing

June 19, 2026 · 25 seconds

All right, so if you're new to home buying or home shopping, my recommendation would be not to go look at homes until you've been pre-approved. The logic to this is nobody wants to fall in love with a house and then not be able to afford the house. So if you have an idea as to what you can afford and what might be possible, then your emotions don't get ahead of you and your pocketbook follow behind. This way, your pocketbook goes ahead of you and your emotions can keep up with your pocketbook.

How long a mortgage preapproval stays valid and when it needs updating

March 13, 2026 · 33 seconds

So how long do pre-approvals last? Pre-approvals are typically good for about 90 days. However, documents tend to expire. Your credit report is usually good for about 60 to 90 days, but your pay stubs may only be good for say 30 to 60 days. So as you go looking for a house, let's say it takes you 30, 60, 90 days to be able to find that house, your mortgage loan officer probably is going to want to refresh documentation. So if you have any questions, feel free to give us a call that you can buy with confidence and buy with Valor.

Simple steps to get the most out of your mortgage consultation

March 11, 2026 · 23 seconds

The best way to prepare for a consultation with Valor Mortgage is one, to click on the link below to be able to schedule a consultation. Two, you can give our office a call. Or three, you're welcome to stop by our office in Springfield, Tennessee on Main Street. We look forward to seeing you. If you've got any questions, let us know. That way when you buy, you buy with confidence and you buy with Valor.

Common reasons a preapproval gets delayed and how to avoid them

March 9, 2026 · 27 seconds

What might cause your pre-approval to be delayed and getting processed? It could be something as simple as not having the correct documentation up front to be able to finalize your pre-approval. Usually it's very simple documentation to be able to qualify but sometimes scenarios play out such that require extra documentation that are not usually used in a primary pre-approval. So if you have questions feel free to give us a call so that when you do buy you buy with confidence and you buy with Valor.

Pre-approval: fast, good or cheap?

February 27, 2026 · 23 seconds

So often people have misconceptions about the pre-approval process. I ask you to think about fast, good, and cheap. If you're wanting to be able to have a pre-approval done thoroughly, it may not always be done quickly because we're trying to be as thorough as possible on the front end so that when you do buy, that there's less questions and that you're able to buy with confidence when you buy with Valor.

Three key factors lenders look at during preapproval

February 9, 2026 · 37 seconds

All right, there's three factors that we look for when we get you pre-approved. One of them is your capacity, capacity to be able to purchase. What is your monthly income, and allow you to be able to purchase. The next item we're looking at is collateral. The house that you're buying, does it value what we're anticipating that you're borrowing for? And the third item, the big C, is credit. We're going to look at your credit and determine your past payment history. Is it substantial enough to be able to issue you credit for your mortgage? If you have more questions about your pre-approval, feel free to give us a call. That way when you buy, you buy with confidence and you buy with Valor.

Preapproval gives real buying power — here’s the difference

January 21, 2026 · 26 seconds

The difference between a pre-qualification and pre-approval can be very substantial. A pre-qualification can be just a simple conversation of hearing pertinent information towards your scenario, but then a pre-approval is a full-fledged dive into your finances. Pulling your credit, looking at bank statements, looking at tax returns, income statements, but looking at everything that pertains to your financial profile. That way when I write a pre-approval for you, we know that it's worth its weight in gold.

Simple preparation can improve your preapproval and speed up the process

January 9, 2026 · 19 seconds

So these are the documents that you need to gather for your pre-approval. Your last 30 days pay stubs, your last two years W-2s, two months bank statements, all pages, and two forms of ID. Once you've gathered these together, you'll be set to be able to get pre-approved to buy with confidence and buy with Valor. So give us a call.

Preapproval can be quicker than you think when you’re prepared

January 7, 2026 · 24 seconds

So how long does it take to get pre-approved? Well, that answer depends. If you're able to get everything lined up quickly and documents to our office in a timely manner, typically we can get you qualified within maybe a half a day or less. But if your file is more complex, then it's going to take a longer period of time to make sure that we've crossed our T's and dotted our I's. But if you're looking to get qualified, then give us a call so you can buy with confidence and buy with Valor.

Typical timing only, not a guarantee. It depends on your documents and your file.

Avoid these pre-approval pitfalls

November 21, 2025 · 20 seconds

So three major mistakes I see before someone gets pre-approved would be making the choice to close the wrong accounts, a co-signing on someone else's loan, or making a big purchase that has a payment plan. One of the things that we look at is your debt to income ratio and your credit scores, and those items can have a huge impact on your whole pre-approval process.

How Valor Mortgage keeps the process simple

November 19, 2025 · 22 seconds

If you're new to the mortgage scene and you're looking to come into my office and to talk about mortgages to see if it's a fit for you, first of all, I'm going to sit and I'm going to listen to all your concerns. Second, I'm going to walk you through what the mortgage process looks like from start to finish so you have an idea of what to expect. Third, I'm going to do my best to have you out the door with a pre-approval letter in hand so that you can go start looking at homes that day.

Same-day letters are not guaranteed. A pre-approval is not a commitment to lend.

One thing to do before house hunting

October 31, 2025 · 7 seconds

House hunting without pre-approval is like shopping without knowing your budget. Let's get you ready to buy with confidence.

Financially savvy, but new to buying a home

August 28, 2026 · 33 seconds

All right. So this morning I had a guy contact me and very smart gentleman. And he reached out and he said, Chris, I'm financially savvy, but I honestly don't know how to buy a house. And that's not an issue. We love to work with people like this. This allows us to be able to go through the entire process. And once you're done going through the entire process, you feel a ton more comfortable. And if you feel comfortable and you trust us, then that means you'll refer others to us to be able to help them. Buying doesn't have to be stressful as long as you understand exactly what you're getting into. And we would love to help you with that. So when you buy, buy with confidence, buy with Valor.

Don't assume you're disqualified without knowing your options

August 26, 2026 · 11 seconds

Do you think you're priced out of the mortgage market? Think again. Give me a call. Let's see if we can make the numbers work for you. When you do buy, want to buy with confidence and buy with Valor.

A new school year can be a good time to move

August 24, 2026 · 15 seconds

Hey, is your family looking to change schools, potentially going from grade school to high school, or maybe high school to college? Give us a call. We'd love to have a conversation as a new school year begins to be able to get your family into a new home. So buy with confidence, buy with Valor.

Buying this fall? Get pre-approved in August

August 21, 2026 · 14 seconds

If you're looking to get pre-approved for this fall, August is the perfect time to get pre-approved. Knowing the timing of when you need to purchase is also key to a confident purchase. So if you're looking to buy with confidence, buy with Valor.

Changing jobs during the mortgage process? Watch this first

July 29, 2026 · 34 seconds

If you're looking to purchase a house and you're not sure if you should do it before or after you change jobs, first of all, talk to your loan officer. Second of all, more than likely, they're going to discourage you from changing jobs because when you change jobs, more than likely your compensation type could change or how it's being measured could change. So that could result in a reduction of your actual income and reduce how much you could actually qualify for, or simply disqualify you altogether. So if you have questions about your job, make sure that you call Chris myself, but buy with confidence and buy with Valor and give us a call.

Specialized loans you may not know about

July 27, 2026 · 35 seconds

You're looking to buy a house in Tennessee and you're wondering, what's my options? Typically you're looking at options, you're thinking of the standard programs, conventional, FHA, but you may not realize that there's a lot more options than just the simple options that you may find online. If you do some deeper digging, you may find some specialized loans for specialized people, like police officers or maybe veterans or maybe teachers. There's lots of programs that are more specialized that you may not be aware of, so you should reach out to your loan officer, myself. Give us a call so that when you buy, you buy with confidence, you buy with Valor.

The best time to prepare for buying a home is before you're ready

July 24, 2026 · 14 seconds

So if you're looking to get prepared to buy this fall, let's have a conversation. Let's get you pre-approved to be able to purchase or at least let's just build a game plan so that you know exactly what to expect. If you want to buy with confidence, buy with Valor.

The down payment is only part of the upfront cost

July 22, 2026 · 21 seconds

So you want to know the difference between closing costs and down payment. Down payment, you're actually taking your money or gift funds and you're putting it into the actual equity of the purchase of the house, versus closing costs are the cost of paying other people to help you get the financing acquired to be able to buy the house. buy with confidence and buy with Valor.

Don't finance furniture or a car before closing

July 20, 2026 · 25 seconds

Don't buy furniture yet. See, if you buy something with finance while you're buying a house, it totally can throw off your mortgage. So technically you can buy that car and you can finance that car, but it's a high chance you might be living in that car. So if you can hold off on buying anything until you finalize your home purchase, then you can buy with confidence and buy with Valor.

The perfect rate doesn't exist

June 29, 2026 · 26 seconds

The perfect rate doesn't exist. So right now, everyone in the market is trying to time it for the perfect interest rate to be able to purchase. But yet the market continues to do this, and oftentimes it does this. So as you are waiting, home prices are adjusting, interest rates are adjusting, and you're potentially missing out on home appreciation, money that could be in your pocket in your future. So if you want to buy with confidence, buy with Valor.

Home values can fall as well as rise. This is general information, not investment advice.

You probably don't need 20% down to buy a home

June 22, 2026 · 33 seconds

So I had someone ask me the other day, they believed that they had to save up 20% to be able to purchase a house. And this is a total myth. There are products out there that will make it so you can be able to purchase 100% financing, 3.5% down, 5% down, 20%, 40% down if you truly wanted to. The catch is sometimes home prices continue to appreciate and you're trying to save up that 20%. And so you're constantly chasing your tail trying to save up money. And during that time, you're losing out on home appreciation. The 20% myth, it's not valid. If you're looking to purchase, buy with confidence, buy with Valor.

Home values can fall as well as rise. Down payment options depend on the program and your eligibility.

Changing jobs during preapproval? Here’s what matters

May 18, 2026 · 28 seconds

So what happens if you switch jobs during a pre-approval? One, it potentially could kill the deal. But if you're looking to switch from a salary to salary position, your income stays the same, then you could be in a good spot. However, if your pay type changes, let's say it goes from salary to commission or salary to hourly, then it could result in a denied option. So if you're looking to figure out what your options are, then give us a call. That way when you buy, you buy with confidence and you buy with Valor.

Down payment assistance programs could lower your upfront costs

April 8, 2026 · 31 seconds

So what down payment assistance programs are available to buyers? There's actually a handful of products that could be available, but one that I'll talk on primarily is if you're looking to use an FHA loan, we can partner that with a, either a forgivable down payment assistance program or a second mortgage to be able to cover your down payment or down payment and a portion of your closing cost expense. So if you're looking to purchase and you need help with your down payment, give us a call. We'll be happy to talk with you and you can buy with confidence and buy with Valor.

You may qualify for a mortgage even without two full years of job history

March 30, 2026 · 33 seconds

Do you need two years of work history to get pre-approved? Typically, the answer is yes, but there are some situations where that may not be the case. One such situation may be if you've been, let's say, a nurse and you've been in nursing school for so long and you're just starting your first job, we can use your college diploma and the college transcripts to be able to show that you technically have two years of work history or two years of training in your field of expertise. So this could apply to other things as well. So if you have any other questions, feel free to give us a call. We can help you to buy with confidence and buy with Valor.

Smart ways to use your tax refund to support future homeownership

March 23, 2026 · 23 seconds

What's a good way to use your tax refund? There's a couple different ways. One, you could use it toward a down payment in purchasing a home. Or two, if you're looking to do down payment assistance or 100% financing, we may be able to use it as your reserve fund in your mortgage process. If you have questions, give us a call. We'll be happy to help you. We'll be happy to get you to buy with confidence and to buy with Valor.

Why title insurance matters and when you’re required to have it

March 18, 2026 · 37 seconds

So is title insurance mandatory or optional? If you're getting a mortgage on your property, the lender's title policy is going to be mandatory. And that's a benefit for you because that covers you. If John buys a house and there's no title insurance and there's a lien against that property, then now John owns that lien as well. So title insurance is to cover your backside when you purchase a home so that you're not also purchasing someone else's debt. So if you have more questions, give us a call. Be happy to talk with you. So when you do buy, you buy with confidence and you buy with Valor.

A lender’s title policy protects the lender. The policy that protects you as the buyer is an owner’s title policy, which is usually a separate, optional purchase.

Planning to buy a home in TN this spring? Start preparing now

February 18, 2026 · 16 seconds

If you're looking to buy a home this spring in Tennessee, this is what you need to do. One, give us a call. Two, start gathering documents together. And three, get prepared to move. So please give us a call to answer your questions so that you can buy with confidence and buy with Valor.

A simple overview of what to expect when buying a home

February 11, 2026 · 64 seconds

So what should I expect in buying a house? The process looks like this. I typically tell people that there's five steps. The first step is to get pre-approved. Make sure that your finances are in order and you understand a rough estimate of where your house payment might be at. The second, find the house, find the realtor. You want to probably make a list of this is a must-have, this is an okay, and this is a nope, don't want this. That way when you go look for a house, you know exactly what you're looking for. The third step is going to be underwriting. We're going to take all your information and we're going to send it to an underwriter to get initial approval. Once that comes back, step four, answer any questions that the underwriter has. Send it back to the underwriter for a second time. And fifth, it's going to be to go to the closing table, to wire any funds to the title company, sign loan documents, and get keys to your house. So five steps in buying a house. Pre-approval, find the house, find the realtor, underwrite, underwrite, close. If you have any questions, feel free to give us a call. My name is Chris with Valor Mortgage that you can buy with confidence and buy with Valor.

Should you buy now or later? Here’s how to think through the decision

February 4, 2026 · 32 seconds

So is it better to buy now or to wait? I always encourage clients to check out their options and see if they're comfortable with the mortgage payment of buying now. The burden of waiting could be one, interest rates could go higher. Two, interest rates could go lower, but if they go lower, that means more people qualify and there's more demand, which means home prices have the potential to go higher. So if you're looking to purchase and you want to see what your options are, I would encourage you to give us a call to buy with confidence and buy with Valor.

No one can predict rates or home prices. This is general information, not financial advice.

Learn the loan types available to first-time homebuyers

January 30, 2026 · 35 seconds

What loan types are available for first-time home buyers? Well, actually, there's a handful of products that may be a best fit for you. The first option may be a 1% down conventional option where the lender provides 2% towards your down payment. Another option would be an FHA loan that requires a 3.5% down payment. A third option could be a USDA loan. USDA, depending on the location of the property, allows you to finance the entirety of the home. If you want to walk through your options, feel free to give us a call so that you can buy with confidence and buy with Valor.

Lender-contribution programs vary by lender and can change or end. Availability, income limits and other requirements apply.

You don’t need 20% down — most buyers qualify with much less

January 16, 2026 · 27 seconds

So do you need to put 20% down when buying a home? It's actually a myth. There are many products that allow you to be able to purchase a home putting less than 20% down. FHA allows you to put 3.5%. Conventional allows you to put 3% or possibly less. And USDA even lets you do 100% financing. And if you're a veteran, there are options for you for also for 100% financing. So if you're looking to buy and you wanna buy with confidence and buy with Valor, then give us a call.

Simple steps to prepare for buying a home in 2026 with confidence

December 26, 2025 · 18 seconds

So what do you need to do to get prepared to purchase a property in 2026? One, have a conversation with your local mortgage broker, myself. Two, start gathering documents together. And three, get prepared to move. If you need help, give us a call. My name is Chris. I work with Valor Mortgage, where you buy with confidence and buy with Valor.

You don't need perfect credit to become a homeowner

August 31, 2026 · 25 seconds

So you've heard the myth about you having to have perfect credit to be able to buy a house. Well, that's just it. It's a myth. Many people have been able to buy a house with sub-grade credit, anywhere from 500 all the way to 800 plus. So if you're looking to purchase a house, it doesn't necessarily mean that your credit is the factor that's stopping you. Or even better yet, no credit is stopping you. Give us a call and see if we can help you. So buy with confidence and buy with Valor.

Score ranges are general. Not every program or lender accepts every score, and no-score options have their own requirements.

Don't pay off debt until you understand how it affects your approval

August 12, 2026 · 35 seconds

If someone comes to me and asks me straight up, should I start paying things off before I apply for a mortgage? The short answer is going to be most likely no. However, the two main distinguishers here, there's either revolving or credit card debt, which if you can pay it down, is a benefit. However, if you pay debt that's installment loans with a car payment, then that's going to actually could hinder your mortgage. It actually could lower your score. So I would encourage you to talk to a mortgage broker or myself to be able to determine what debts should I pay off before I buy. So if you want to buy with confidence, buy with Valor.

Credit app scores vs. mortgage scores

July 15, 2026 · 23 seconds

There's a lot of talk of two different credit scores. There's one that you can get when you're with Credit Karma or Credit Sesame or the other third-party apps you get on your phone. But then there's the actual mortgage score that the investors are going to be using. Those are calculated just slightly different. But there's also a new thing that's come out, the Vantage credit score. So if you're looking to learn more, give me a call and we'll talk. You can buy with confidence and buy with Valor.

Your credit score isn’t the whole story when getting approved

May 4, 2026 · 31 seconds

So how important is your credit score to getting pre-approved? Your credit score is going to help you determine which loan program you fit best into. So typically someone with a 600 credit score to a 680 credit score typically fits best into a FHA loan or a VA loan or sometimes even a USDA loan. However, someone who has a credit score of 700 or higher typically can fit into a conventional loan option. So if you're looking to purchase and you want to have a conversation, then give us a call to buy with confidence and buy with Valor.

Credit score ranges are general examples. Program fit depends on your whole file and on lender guidelines.

Low credit doesn’t mean no options — here’s how lenders look at it

May 1, 2026 · 42 seconds

So you've got a low credit score and how can we work with that? Typically, if someone has a credit score lower than 580, there is options to be able to purchase, but you're going to need a lot larger down payment. If your credit score tends to be between a 580 to a 620, we're going to be able to use potentially an FHA loan or even a VA loan to be able to help you to purchase. But we want to see what's called compensating factors. We may want to see reserves in your bank account or we were looking for specific things as to why your score is where it's at. However, if your score is higher, then it opens up a lot more options for you when you're looking to purchase a home. So if you want to know what your options are, then give us a call. That way you can buy with confidence and buy with Valor.

Credit score ranges are general examples. Minimums and down payment requirements depend on the program and lender.

Buying again after foreclosure — here’s what you need to know

April 22, 2026 · 21 seconds

So what happens if you've had a recent foreclosure? Well, it all depends on timing. If you've had a recent housing incident, it's all about when did that property come out of your name? There's a waiting period most likely that we have to carry through. But if you have more questions and you want to talk more about this, then give us a call. We'd love to be able to help you buy with confidence and buy with Valor.

Three things that can stop you from buying a home

April 17, 2026 · 23 seconds

So doing these things may prevent you from buying a home. One, not making your payments on time. Two, allowing debts to go to collections. And three, actually paying debt off could impact your credit score. So if you want help navigating this, please give us a call. When you do buy, we want you to buy with confidence and buy with Valor.

How lenders use your three credit scores

April 13, 2026 · 32 seconds

Do we look at multiple credit scores when we look at your pre-approval? The short answer is yes. We pull all three credit scores and then we base your credit decision off of the middle of the three. There are other products that may not require all the credit scores but for a typical purchase it's three scores and then use the middle. If there are multiple people on the application then it is the lower of the middle two scores. If you're looking and have questions feel free to give us a call to buy with confidence and buy with Valor.

Bankruptcy does not mean you can’t qualify — here’s what matters

April 6, 2026 · 26 seconds

If you've had a bankruptcy in your past, does it disqualify you from being able to buy a home? No, it doesn't. Not necessarily. There are several conditions that we would have to walk you through to be able to determine if it's possible. Bankruptcies come in different forms, and so understanding what type of bankruptcy was it, was there a house included in the bankruptcy, and several other factors. If you've got more questions, I'd be more than happy to talk with you. So give us a call so that when you do buy, you buy with confidence and you buy with Valor.

Student loans don’t stop you from buying — here’s what actually matters

February 13, 2026 · 36 seconds

How can student loans impact your ability to borrow? If you are in full repayment and it is time for those loans to become due, that payment is going to impact your debt-to-income ratio, one of the factors that we look at in buying a home. However, depending on you, we may be able to use less of the payment in our calculations. If we are able to do that, then that student loan actually has little to minimal impact on the qualifying process. I'd love to be able to go over more specifics with you. Give us a call. That way when you do buy, you buy with confidence, you buy with Valor.

Before paying off debt, talk to a lender — it could save your approval

January 5, 2026 · 41 seconds

You need to avoid making this first-time homebuyer mistake. Common first-time homebuyer mistake actually can be paying off debt. There's different types of debt that when it comes to looking at your credit, there's typically revolving debt, mortgage debt, and installment debt. A gentleman I spoke with yesterday that actually had paid off a car loan, an installment debt, and because that debt was no longer reporting, it actually impacted his score and it had a swing of about 40 points between what his score was and where it's at now. One of the big things I can encourage someone to do is talk to a mortgage professional first before you make any major debt moves. That way you can understand what is going to have the big impact on your credit.

One borrower’s experience. How a payoff affects a score varies by person.

Avoid these common mortgage mistakes before buying

November 12, 2025 · 24 seconds

paying off debt before you start the process. Typically, it's a better thing specifically for installment loans like car payments. If you have 10 payments or less, those payments shouldn't count against you. But if you pay those off before and those accounts get updated, then that actually could be detrimental to your credit. We take a snapshot of your credit and then give you guidance whether or not what needs to happen next.

Whether a debt with 10 or fewer payments can be left out depends on the loan program and the lender.

How much house, or how much payment?

September 9, 2026 · 27 seconds

So how much house versus how much payment? That's the big questions we should be asking. If someone comes to me and says, Hey, how much house can I afford? Typically they're going to be able to afford more house than they're comfortable with. So typically my big question is I change it from how much house to what's the max payment you're comfortable with because just because you can afford a million dollar house doesn't necessarily mean you want a million dollar payment. So if you want to come and talk to me and ask questions, give me a call so you can buy with confidence and buy with Valor.

Online calculators are helpful, but they don't tell the whole story

August 7, 2026 · 37 seconds

All right. So when you go online, you're looking to be able to figure out what your payment might be. It's oftentimes that you use an online calculator. Those online calculators are helpful, but they may not always be a hundred percent accurate because you may not know what your exact interest rate is. You may not know if your product has mortgage insurance. You may not know if you're going to be putting a down payment or not. So they're used as a good guide or to gauge where your payment might be. But I would highly encourage you to talk to a loan officer myself to be able to get a rough idea of what that true payment could look like. So when you're looking to buy, buy with confidence and buy with Valor.

The home's price doesn't tell you what you'll actually pay each month

June 26, 2026 · 47 seconds

So price isn't exactly your payment. If you're wanting to be able to establish what your monthly payment is, then you're going to need to be able to see the bigger picture. Because broken down within your total payment is going to be your principal, how much you actually owe and actually paying that month, the interest that has accrued since the last payment, your taxes, how much the city and the county are potentially charging you monthly for your taxes that you'll pay annually, your homeowners insurance, and finally, one that most people may not even consider is your homeowners association. If you're buying a house within a homeowners association neighborhood, that actually gets included as well. It actually can reduce how much you get qualified for. So your total payment isn't necessarily the price. Your total payment is those items smashed together that you pay monthly. If you want to buy with confidence, buy with Valor.

Breaking down what actually makes up your monthly mortgage payment

April 24, 2026 · 26 seconds

What goes into a monthly mortgage payment is primarily four things. Your total principal, your interest, your taxes, and your insurance. Sometimes you may have extra things such as your mortgage insurance and your homeowners association. Those items sandwich in and create your PITI or your total monthly mortgage payment. If you're interested in knowing more, give us a call to buy with confidence and buy with Valor.

Understanding Loan to Value and why it matters when qualifying

April 3, 2026 · 20 seconds

So what exactly does loan to value mean? Loan to value is basically taking how much you're borrowing, divide it by the actual value of the home, and that gives you a ratio. And that ratio is loan to value. If you have any other questions, feel free to give us a call. That way when you buy, you buy with confidence and you buy with Valor.

PMI isn’t always a bad thing — here’s how it actually works

January 23, 2026 · 38 seconds

So what is PMI and why do I need it? If you're looking to purchase using conventional financing, putting a less than 20% down is going to require you to have PMI or private mortgage insurance. This private mortgage insurance is different from typical homeowners insurance or any other types of insurance. It is an insurance to reduce the risk to the investor. So if you're looking to purchase a home and you're putting less than 20% down using conventional financing, then you're going to be required to have private mortgage insurance. But if you want to look at your options and see where you can save the most money, then give us a call and buy with confidence and buy with Valor.

Many TN Veterans are closer to homeownership than they think

May 27, 2026 · 22 seconds

Tennessee Veterans, this is what you can do to begin your path to home ownership. Number one, start gathering your documents together to what you need to get your certificate of eligibility. Two, give us a call and let us take an application to start you on that path to home ownership. So give us a call so that we can answer all of your questions. So when you do buy, you buy with confidence and you buy with Valor.

Self-employed buyers can qualify — preparation is the key

April 29, 2026 · 31 seconds

So how can self-employed borrowers get pre-approved? There's two different things that we're going to look at. One, we're going to look at your tax returns and determine whether or not you've written off all of your income. If you have and that route doesn't work, then we're going to look at a product called bank statement loans. In bank statement loans, we're going to look at the average income for the 12 months or 24 months of your bank statements and use that amount to qualify you to purchase. So if you're looking to purchase and you're self-employed, then reach out to us so that you can buy with confidence and buy with Valor. Thank you.

Bank statement loans are non-QM programs. Rates, down payment, credit and reserve requirements are set by each investor and vary.

Construction loans: one closing instead of three

April 20, 2026 · 38 seconds

So do we offer construction products? We actually do. Our construction products are very unique. For a conventional loan, you would only need about 5% as your down payment, but for veterans it's 100% financing. And so with these two options, it's called a one-time close new construction. With a one-time close new construction, you have options to be able to buy the land, get a construction component and to be able to get permanent financing, all with only one closing. And what that means for you is that you're not paying three different closing costs and going to three different closings to be able to close your mortgage.

Availability and down payment depend on the lender, the program and your eligibility. Construction loans still have closing costs; the point here is one closing rather than several.

A quick breakdown of DSCR loans and why investors use them

March 2, 2026 · 25 seconds

Loan types that are available for investors. One that comes to mind is a DSCR loan. DSCR loan looks specifically at the rental income that comes in from that property and not going into the in-depth qualification of somebody's financials. So it's a much simpler way to qualify and be able to purchase investment properties for your business. If you're looking to purchase an investment property, you want to buy with confidence, buy with Valor, then give us a call.

DSCR loans are non-QM investor loans. Rates, down payment, credit and reserve requirements are set by each investor and vary.

How Clarksville veterans can buy a first home with a VA loan

December 22, 2025 · 33 seconds

So if you're a veteran in Clarksville, this is how you can get your first home. Using a VA loan to be able to purchase is an awesome incentive that veterans have. Typically you have a cheaper interest rate than a standard conventional loan. If you're putting less than 20% down, you have no mortgage insurance, whereas a conventional loan would require you to have mortgage insurance. You actually don't have to have a down payment. VA financing allows you to have 0% down when you're purchasing your home. So if you're a veteran in Clarksville, reach out to us so that you can buy with confidence and buy with Valor.

Rates vary by borrower, lender and market, so a VA rate may or may not be lower than a conventional rate on your loan. A VA funding fee may apply unless you are exempt. VA loans are subject to eligibility.

Not one size fits all: USDA and VA loans

November 5, 2025 · 37 seconds

At Valor Mortgage, we have a handful of loan offerings that we can offer, and it's not a one-size-fits-all mentality. One of the loan programs that we offer is a USDA loan. USDA loan is designed more for the rural areas. It is 100% financing and would allow you to be able to purchase potentially with no money out of pocket. A second loan option would be for specifically for veterans. Veterans are able to purchase with 100% financing with less restrictions than other programs. It is designated only for veterans. Typically, it is a cheaper interest rate than other loan programs, and typically there is less cost associated with these loans to be able to get them to the closing table.

Rates vary by borrower, lender and market, so a VA rate may or may not be lower than another option on your loan. A VA funding fee may apply, and USDA has guarantee fees and income limits. USDA and VA loans are subject to eligibility.

You don’t always need a 1% drop to refinance — here’s why

April 27, 2026 · 30 seconds

So do you really have to wait for the rate to drop a full percent before you refinance? Well, the short answer is it depends because your scenario may not be your neighbor's scenario. If you're looking to try and save money, that may be the best for you. But if you're looking to change your term and pay your mortgage off faster, or you're looking to pull equity out of your property to be able to pay for college or pay for debt, then that's better reason to refinance. So if you've got questions, then give us a call so that you can finance with confidence and finance with valor. Thank you.

Simple strategies to pay off your mortgage faster than scheduled

March 4, 2026 · 34 seconds

How can you pay your mortgage off faster? There's a couple things you could do. One is you can refinance to try and get a cheaper interest rate if the market permits. Two, you can do an extra payment or a couple extra payments a year, and that will substantially reduce the amount of debt that you'll be paying over time. The third one is your tax return. It's an opportune time to be able to take a large chunk of money and put it towards a financial investment like your house. If you have any other questions, feel free to give us a call. That way, when you do buy or refinance, you do so with confidence and you do it with valor.

A refinance has closing costs, so compare them with the possible savings. The effect of extra payments depends on your loan.

Homeownership and long-term wealth

February 23, 2026 · 35 seconds

Why is home ownership the first step in generational wealth? The first step is because you're building equity in an asset. As time progresses, you're building more and more of that equity to be able to either pull equity out of for paying for college or pulling equity out for paying for anything else that your family may need in the future. But also, you're providing an opportunity for a consistent housing expense. Consistent housing expense over a long period of time enables you to be able to plan financially for your family. If you have any future questions, feel free to give me a call so that when you do buy, you buy with confidence and you buy with Valor.

Home values can fall as well as rise, and borrowing against equity adds debt. A fixed-rate payment can still change with taxes and insurance. This is general information, not financial advice.

You don’t need a 1% rate drop to refinance — here’s the real rule

February 6, 2026 · 25 seconds

Do you need to wait for a 1% drop in rate in order to refinance? Maybe not. Everybody's situation is going to be a little bit different. So if you're looking to pull cash out or you're looking to lower your payment or you're looking to change the term of your loan, everybody's situation is going to be different. If you would give us a call so that we might be able to help you to figure out what is best for your scenario. So when you finance, finance with confidence and finance with valor.

A refinance can strengthen your financial picture in more ways than one

December 29, 2025 · 32 seconds

So why you should consider refinancing your home? There's three things that I can think of off the top of my head. One would be to pull out equity to be able to pay down credit card debt, or maybe to pay for college. A second item may be to reduce your overall mortgage payment. Maybe the interest rates have dropped and it's a better fit for you to have a cheaper payment per month. A third option may be that you want to compress your debt to be able to pay it off sooner. So maybe another term. So if you're looking to refinance, give us a call. Call Valor Mortgage. buy with confidence. buy with Valor.

A refinance has closing costs, and it may not lower your total cost. Pulling out equity increases what you owe, and it secures that debt with your home.

Three ways to get mortgage help in Tennessee

October 24, 2025 · 26 seconds

There are three ways that getting help with your mortgage can happen in the state of Tennessee. The first one would be if you've fallen behind, there are programs within the state of Tennessee to be able to help you keep your home. Secondly, you can always refinance. If you want to refinance to try and get a lower payment to help make that more manageable. And third, if you're buying a home, there's always the opportunity for down payment assistance. And also for first-time homebuyers, there could also be your closing cost assistance.

Struggling with your mortgage payment? Three options in Tennessee

October 18, 2025 · 51 seconds

Struggling with your mortgage payment or simply just searching help with mortgage, to know that you're not alone. In the state of Tennessee, there's three different things that you can do to try and help with your mortgage. The first one would be to get help with against foreclosure. There are programs out there to be able to help you keep your home. The second thing would be to refinance. It could be refinancing to simply lower your mortgage payment, spread it over a longer period of time, or it could be pulling out equity out of your house to be able to pay other debts to make your mortgage payment more manageable. The third item could be maybe you're looking for help with a mortgage for down payment assistance or closing assistance. There's often programs available to help with both of these. So whether you're looking to avoid foreclosure, you're looking to refinance for a cheaper mortgage payment, or maybe you're just looking for assistance in buying a house for down payment or closing costs, feel free to give us a call before it's too late. Thanks.

A longer term can lower the payment but raise the total interest you pay, and a refinance has closing costs. Assistance programs have their own eligibility rules.

Here’s the approach I take to make the mortgage process easier

March 27, 2026 · 27 seconds

So what do I want my clients to experience throughout the process? One, I want them to be able to understand what's going on. I want them to feel comfortable from the start of the process. Two, I want them to be able to feel that they could call their loan officer with any questions they may have. But three, I want the conversations to have been such that when they get to the end of the process that they feel like they've been working with family from the start. And that's the culture that we try and drive from Valor Mortgage.

E-closings: buying a home without leaving the house

December 15, 2025 · 20 seconds

Yeah, well, AI, technology, those who adapt and use technology to the best of your abilities. The example to that is e-closings. I can technically never meet my clients and they can close online and never have to go to a closing or never have to leave their house to buy a house.

E-closing availability depends on the lender, the title company and the county. The title company is your choice or your agent’s.

Mortgage news vs. reality

October 30, 2025 · 18 seconds

One thing I would encourage is that when you're looking to get a quote or get information in regards to a mortgage, that you get the information directly from the source. A lot of times you may hear on the news or in the media that interest rates are doing one thing or doing the other, but by the time they may get their information, that data may be old.

Coffee or tea? The question that divides everyone

September 4, 2026 · 13 seconds

I'm neither. I'm a water drinker. I've been educated that water and apple will do the same equivalent of coffee and tea. I'm a water guy, so you can call me the water boy.

The little morning habits that set the tone for the day

August 10, 2026 · 16 seconds

Probably the most me thing about my morning routine, my goal is to get up every morning and exercise, but then also to spend maybe a half hour to an hour just sitting and reading and having some quiet time before my son wakes up and the day gets started. But that's probably the most me thing about my morning routine.

A Springfield favorite: The Depot

July 13, 2026 · 16 seconds

So every so often, once a week, there comes a time when you decide you don't want to make supper. My family's go-to is this place called The Depot. The Depot is probably one of the most popular places in regards to eateries here in town. Made from an old train depot.

How I got into the mortgage business

July 6, 2026 · 15 seconds

What made me fall in love with what I do? I actually wanted something that gave me lots of autonomy and lots of freedom, but also be in sales. Somebody contacted me and said, hey, if you get your license, I'll hire you. I took it, I ran with it, I learned it, and now I'm running my own shop.

Helping out with Habitat for Humanity

June 10, 2026 · 28 seconds

Habitat for Humanity, they're, I believe it was started by Jimmy Carter. Their goal is trying to provide housing for families who may not be able to afford it. The cool thing with Habitat for Humanity is when they purchase a house, they get a house that's interest-free. It's very, very inexpensive housing, but in order to get into the program, it's very challenging, if you will. You imagine you're one of many people trying to get access to a house with a mortgage with no interest. So this is an organization that I helped out with for a while.

Habitat for Humanity was founded by Millard and Linda Fuller in 1976. President Jimmy Carter was its best-known volunteer.

The meaning behind the name Valor Mortgage and what it represents

March 16, 2026 · 34 seconds

So why the name Valor Mortgage? Valor Mortgage actually came from a disaster response trip that I got the privilege of going on back in 2018. From that trip, it spawned the idea of Gideon's Mighty Men of Valor. Gideon's Mighty Men of Valor or Valor Mortgage. So that resonated with me because the idea of small but mighty, that you can do mighty things with a small team, right? So I wanted to be able to take those same values from a small team and to be able to apply that to my own life and my own company and started Valor Mortgage back in 2019.

Chris shares a lighthearted story about Christmas lights and homeownership

December 19, 2025 · 27 seconds

So when I was single and renting, my idea of Christmas decorations was the Charlie Brown Christmas tree and maybe the Grinch with a string of lights. So then I got married and now my wife asks me to hang Christmas lights. And the big thing that comes to my mind is National Lampoon's Christmas movie, right? And the phrase, it's stressful, but it's ours and we built this house together. So we built this chaos with confidence and this house with valor.

Chris shares the unique story of his first mortgage experience

December 17, 2025 · 37 seconds

So buying my first home was a little bit different than probably your average process. I was living with my parents. My dad approached me and he said, hey, we need to build you a house. So my first mortgage was actually refinancing the house that my dad and I built to be able to pay my parents back. My first purchase, per se, wasn't a purchase, but a refinance. And it was interesting to be able to have been on this side of the desk, working through the mortgage process, and then realized once I flipped to the opposite side of the desk, what it's like for someone who's actually trying to complete a mortgage and to be able to have that financial stability.

Chris shares why he started Valor Mortgage and how he supports buyers

December 12, 2025 · 34 seconds

Hi, my name is Chris. I'm the owner of Valor Mortgage. I started Valor Mortgage back in 2019. I realized that this area did not have a mortgage broker option. Most of the options in the area were primarily bank-focused and brokers allow more of an opportunity, lower credit scores, or even higher flexibility when it comes to debt-to-income ratio. I got into the mortgage industry in 2015. I wanted to be able to have a position that allowed me to have flexible schedules and to be able to essentially help other people in their financial journey. I look forward to working with you as well.

Products and credit requirements depend on the lender on your loan.

What inspired Valor Mortgage to serve through lending

December 8, 2025 · 19 seconds

One of the reasons why I got into the real estate side of things was to help people. Buying a house is a big decision in your life. And so being able to walk someone through the process, be able to answer the questions and to be able to make them feel comfortable in a very stressful environment was something that I've really enjoyed.

A real mortgage story: the names on the documents

December 1, 2025 · 17 seconds

I haven't had multiple names, but I hear that happens, and I'm just like, they went through the whole process, and he didn't know that she'd been married before, or he didn't know that she had been married that many times before, and didn't recognize the names on the document, if you will.