A Gilbert mortgage broker for your next move

Which Gilbert are you buying in?

"Gilbert" on a listing can mean a brick bungalow in the Heritage District, a cottage in Agritopia, a home in Morrison Ranch, or a brand-new house in south Gilbert. Those are four different appraisals and sometimes four different loans.

Tell me which Gilbert you mean, and I'll plan the loan around that home.

Buy a home · New construction

I work with Gilbert buyers from my office on Shea Blvd in Phoenix, by phone, text, and video. You don't need to come in to get started.

First-time buyers still find homes in Gilbert, but the call I get more often is from a homeowner leaving a smaller home in Mesa or Tempe. Compare programs on Loan Options, then estimate your payment on the calculator with the HOA included. Most Gilbert communities have one. loan types

Down payment help in Gilbert. Phoenix's Open Doors program doesn't cover Gilbert. Maricopa County's Home in Five and the statewide HOME Plus program may still be options. Buying your first Gilbert home? I'll check what's open and run your loan with and without it. Arizona down payment assistance

Agritopia and other one-of-a-kind Gilbert homes

Agritopia is a Gilbert neighborhood built around a working urban farm, with cottages, shared spaces, and an HOA with its own design rules. People love touring it. It also has a few loan details worth knowing early.

• The appraisal. The appraiser compares your home to similar recent sales, called comparables or "comps." A unique cottage may not have many close matches, so I plan extra time.
• The HOA documents. I ask for the CC&Rs (the community's rules) and the HOA budget early.

Other parts of Gilbert have larger lots, horse properties, and old farm parcels nearby. If there's a barn, a casita, or another building on the lot, tell me. Buildings without permits can slow an appraisal.

None of this means a unique home is hard to finance. Many close on a standard conventional loan. Send me the listing and I'll tell you which path we're on.

Selling one home and buying the next

The Gilbert move-up usually comes down to more space, a bigger yard, and timing two closings so you only move once. The loan question is your current home.

You have a few ways to do it:

• Sell first, then buy. The simplest for the loan, but you may need a place to stay in between.
• Make an offer that depends on your sale. This is called a contingent offer. It's still possible in Gilbert, but sellers often prefer offers without one.
• Buy before you sell. This can work when your income and savings cover both payments for a while. I'll run that version too, even when it's uncomfortable, so you don't end up with two payments you didn't plan for.

I'll help you pick the one that fits your plans and your numbers. move-up buyers

Before you tap your 401(k), text me. A new 401(k) loan after pre-approval shows up as new debt and can change your numbers. Gifts from parents or grandparents are common and fine with the right paperwork. I'd rather restructure your down payment than unwind a surprise later.

Building new in Gilbert? Compare the builder's offer.

South Gilbert and the areas around Cooley Station and toward Queen Creek and San Tan Valley still have new phases opening. When you visit a model home, the builder will often introduce their preferred lender and an incentive.

Sometimes that incentive is the better deal. Sometimes a loan I shop for you costs less once you compare the rate, fees, and closing costs with the same down payment. You can love the floor plan and still compare the loan. You're never required to use the builder's lender out of courtesy.

What I need to compare fairly:

• The incentive in writing, not a verbal offer from a busy Saturday
• Your options and upgrades, since they change the loan amount
• Any solar contract, and whether the solar is leased or owned
• HOA start-up fees and landscaping packages, which change your cash to close

New builds also mean timing. Closing dates move when materials run late. I plan your rate lock around the builder's real schedule, not the hoped-for one. new construction

Downtown Gilbert or a south Gilbert tract?

The Heritage District has older homes with smaller lots, alleys, additions, and less parking. Appraisals there need comps from downtown, not from a newer home three miles away.

South Gilbert tract homes have similar floor plans and plenty of recent sales to compare. There, the challenge is usually a competitive offer: earnest money, timing, and what happens if the appraisal comes in lower than the price. Conventional loans are common here. FHA still fits when cash to close is tight and the home is in good shape. FHA loans

When you text me about a listing, landmarks help: Val Vista, Power Road, the Riparian Preserve. Some listings that say Gilbert actually sit just outside town limits, which can change taxes and program options. I check the address.

The tax on the listing is the seller's bill. I'll estimate yours before you write.

Good to know for Gilbert: If you're also selling, tell me on the first call. Two closings need one plan.