Mortgage Group

08/27/2026

If you’re looking in Marshall County, here’s something a lot of buyers don’t realize: the entire county qualifies for USDA Rural Development financing. That means zero down payment for eligible buyers.

30+ years in this business and it never gets old watching someone get the keys to a place they didn’t think they could afford.

Thinking about buying in our area? Send me a message — let’s see if USDA financing could work for you.

📍 Marshall County, AL
💬 DM “USDA” and I’ll walk you through it

08/27/2026

Just started a new USDA loan today, and I still love this program as much as I did when I closed my very first one — back when it was still called Farmers Home Administration. 🏡

If you're looking in Marshall County, here's something a lot of buyers don't realize: the entire county qualifies for USDA Rural Development financing. That means zero down payment for eligible buyers.

30+ years in this business and it never gets old watching someone get the keys to a place they didn't think they could afford.

Thinking about buying in our area? Send me a message — let's see if USDA financing could work for you.nmls #204917

📍 Marshall County, AL
💬 DM "USDA" and I'll walk you through it

08/17/2026

Once you start the mortgage process, your credit goes on lockdown. 🚫

No new credit inquiries. No new accounts. Not a car loan, not a store card, not ‘just checking’ a rate somewhere else.

Every inquiry and every new account can move your debt-to-income ratio right when your lender is watching it closest — and that can cost you your approval.

Protect your credit the same way you protect your down payment. Don’t touch it until after closing.

Questions about what to avoid during the mortgage process? Drop them below.

08/16/2026

If you’re planning to buy a home in the next few months, there’s something you need to hear right now — before you touch your bank account.
Here’s something I’m noticing more and more — people are taking longer to prepare before they buy a home. And if you’re in that planning window, right now, this is the time to start watching your banking activity.
Don’t make cash deposits. I mean it. Every single cash deposit has to be sourced. It has to be explained. Underwriters will ask.
And don’t change jobs. Not right now. Not during this window.
Because here’s the truth — stability is one of the biggest things a lender looks at. It’s how they determine your creditworthiness. It’s how they decide whether you can actually repay that mortgage, month after month.
So if you’re serious about buying — start acting like it now. Your bank statements are already telling a story. Make sure it’s the right one.NMLS 204917

06/30/2026

If you served this country, you may be able to buy a home with $0 down — and skip mortgage insurance entirely.

A VA loan is one of the best benefits out there, and too many veterans never use it.

What it means: no down payment for eligible service members and veterans. No monthly mortgage insurance — that’s real money saved every month, for the life of the loan. Plus competitive rates.

We have a lot of veterans across North Alabama, and helping them use the benefit they earned is one of the most rewarding parts of my job.

If you served — or someone in your family did — let’s make sure that benefit doesn’t go to waste. Message me “VA” and I’ll walk you through it personally.

Apply online @
www.mortgagegroupllc.com

Sherry Spurlin | NMLS #204917 | Mortgage Group LLC NMLS #1979389 | Equal Housing Opportunity

Full service mortgage company closing Conventional, FHA, VA and USDA loans

06/12/2026

You do not need 20% down to buy a home in Marshall County. You need about 3.5%.
That's the FHA loan, and it's one of the most common ways families around here become homeowners. On a $200,000 home, 3.5% down is about $7,000 — not $40,000.
And here's the part that stops people before they even start: your credit doesn't have to be perfect. FHA was built for everyday borrowers, not just spotless scores. I've helped people buy with credit they were embarrassed to even show me. Your score is a starting point, not a verdict.
It also pairs beautifully with Alabama's low property taxes, which keep your monthly payment lower than buyers in most other states ever see.
If "my credit isn't good enough" has been the story in your head, let's check the facts instead. Send me a message and we'll see where you really stand — free, and no pressure.
www.mortgagegroupllc.com
Sherry Spurlin | NMLS #204917 | Mortgage Group LLC NMLS #1979389 | Equal Housing Opportunity

06/10/2026

I closed the very first USDA loan in Marshall County — back when it was still called Farmers Home. That was before the program was even renamed Rural Development. I've been helping families here use it longer than just about anyone, and it's still one of the best-kept secrets in our area. Here's why I love it for us:
$0 down. Not low down — zero. If you can handle a monthly payment but could never save up a big pile of cash, this is your door in. And ALL of Marshall County qualifies. Every town, every back road — Guntersville, Albertville, Boaz, Arab, Grant. There are no geographic restrictions here. If it's in Marshall County, it's eligible. Even better: USDA has income limits, and because incomes here run lower than the big cities, a lot of our families qualify easily where city buyers can't. The very thing that makes buying feel hard around here is often the thing that opens the door.
If you've been telling yourself homeownership just isn't possible, let's check the facts instead. Send me a message with your town or street and I'll pull up the USDA map with you — no cost, no pressure, just an honest answer.
www.mortgagegroupllc.com

05/04/2026

Give me a call today or go online to apply at www.mortgagegroupllc.com.

04/14/2026

04/13/2026

I've spent over 30 years in mortgage lending. I've watched regulations come and go. But what's happening right now with the CFPB deserves every lender's full attention — not just as a compliance issue, but as a consumer protection crisis.

Here's what has happened since February 2025:

🔴 67 guidance documents rescinded in a single day — rules that shaped fair lending compliance for over a decade
🔴 Disparate impact liability proposed for elimination under ECOA and Regulation B — directly affecting how we document and defend lending decisions
🔴 Mortgage-related consent orders terminated early against multiple lenders
🔴 CFPB enforcement dropped sharply — shifting oversight responsibility to state attorneys general
🔴 Special Purpose Credit Programs (SPCPs) significantly restricted — programs that helped underserved borrowers access homeownership
🔴 The agency's budget cut from $823M to roughly half — limiting its capacity to function at all

For lenders, this creates a dangerous illusion of freedom.

Fewer federal rules does not mean fewer risks. It means your exposure has shifted — from federal enforcement to state-level action, private litigation, and reputational damage. States like California, New York, Illinois, and Massachusetts are already stepping into the gap with their own enforcement.

For borrowers — especially first-time buyers, seniors, and underserved communities — this rollback removes the primary watchdog that stood between them and predatory practices. The CFPB has returned $21 billion to consumers since 2011. That pipeline is being dismantled in real time.

As someone who has also spent time as a consumer fraud investigator and advocate, I can tell you: when the regulatory floor disappears, the fraud floor rises.

What this means for your lending practice right now:
✅ Review your fair lending program against both federal AND state standards
✅ Don't assume rollback = permission — consumer protection laws remain enforceable through courts
✅ Document everything. Private litigation is accelerating where federal enforcement has retreated
✅ Watch your state AG's office — they are the new enforcement front line

The rules may be changing. The responsibility isn't.

I'd love to hear how other lenders are navigating this shift. Drop a comment below.