Johnson Mortgage Group

I've been doing this for almost 10 years. And the one thing I want every first-time buyer in Springfield to hear right now is this: you have more control over this process than you think.

Yes, rates fluctuate. That part is out of your hands.

But your credit profile, your debt-to-income ratio, the down payment assistance programs you qualify for, the grants that are sitting right now waiting to be used, those are all things we can work on together.

I've helped buyers who thought they were years away from being ready walk into a home they love because we focused on the right things. The market is always going to do what it does. Your financial picture is where we start.

Kyle Johnson | Loan Officer
M: 417-576-6698 | W: kjohnson.gershman.com

A lot of homeowners in Springfield are sitting on more money than they realize. Not in their savings account. Not in their 401k. In their home!

Equity is the difference between what your home is worth today and what you still owe on it. And for a lot of people who bought a few years ago, that number has grown significantly. The question I get asked more and more is, "Kyle, can I actually do something with that?"

The answer is totally! You can use it to consolidate debt that's costing you every month. You can use it to fund a renovation that adds value back to the home. Some of my clients have used it to help cover a down payment on an investment property. It's not free money, and it's not the right move for everyone, BUT for the right situation it can be one of the smartest financial tools you have access to.

If you own a home and you've never had a conversation about what your equity position looks like right now, that's worth knowing. Even if you don't do anything with it today.

Kyle Johnson | Loan Officer
M: 417-576-6698 | W: kjohnson.gershman.com

If you're self-employed and you've been told buying a home is going to be complicated, I want you to hear me out!

Yes, your file looks different than someone with a W-2. Your income comes from a different place, it's documented differently, and the way an underwriter reads it is different. But different doesn't mean disqualified.

I've worked with business owners, contractors, and freelancers right here in Springfield who thought the mortgage process wasn't built for them. In some cases they'd already been turned away somewhere else. What they needed wasn't a different income, they needed a lender who actually knew how to read their situation and find the right loan for it.

If you're putting money back into your business, your tax returns might show less income than what you're actually bringing in. That's a conversation worth having before you assume the answer is no!

Kyle Johnson | Loan Officer
M: 417-576-6698 | W: kjohnson.gershman.com