Straight talk on mortgages, home buying, and the Texas real estate market. Written by Kris Syevens, Houston mortgage broker, NMLS #566937.
If you served, you earned one of the most powerful financial benefits available to any American: the VA home loan guarantee. Zero down payment. No private mortgage insurance. No loan limit with full entitlement. Competitive wholesale rates. And you can use it more than once.
Read Article →Texas has no state income tax — one of the biggest financial advantages of living here. But there is a trade-off, and it shows up directly in your mortgage payment: property taxes. Texas property tax rates are among the highest in the nation, and failing to account for them correctly is one of the most common budgeting mistakes first-time buyers make.
Read Article →For decades, 620 was the magic number. The minimum credit score to qualify for a conventional mortgage. In 2025, Fannie Mae removed that floor entirely — and Freddie Mac had already done the same years earlier. This is a meaningful shift for Texas buyers who have been told they do not qualify.
Read Article →If you live in Texas, pay your taxes, and have been building a life here — you deserve the opportunity to own the home you live in. The absence of a Social Security number is not a barrier to homeownership. ITIN mortgage loans exist specifically for this situation, and they are completely legal.
Read Article →If you are buying a home in Houston and worried about the down payment, you may be sitting closer to homeownership than you think. The Texas State Affordable Housing Corporation (TSAHC) offers down payment assistance programs that provide real money, up to 5% of your loan amount, as either a grant you never repay or a forgivable loan that disappears after three years.
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Independent mortgage broker serving Texas. Every article is written from real experience helping buyers, investors, and homeowners.
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