Kristy Morrissey at Guaranteed Rate NMLS ID: 51625

Kristy Morrissey at Guaranteed Rate NMLS ID: 51625 Guaranteed Rate, Inc. NMLS 2611
1517 N. Ankeny Blvd. Ste.

A
Ankeny, IA 50023
(515) 971-5606
Equal Housing Lender
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Save this before you apply for a mortgage. These three things can make or break your pre-approval.After 22 years of doin...
05/29/2026

Save this before you apply for a mortgage. These three things can make or break your pre-approval.

After 22 years of doing this, here's what I wish every buyer knew before we even had our first conversation:

1. Pull your credit report and look for anything you don't recognize. Errors are more common than you'd think, and they take time to fix.

2. Avoid opening new credit cards or making large purchases. New debt changes your debt-to-income ratio, and that changes what you qualify for.

3. Gather two years of tax returns and your last two pay stubs. If you're self-employed, gather 12 to 24 months of bank statements instead.

Walking in prepared makes the whole process faster, smoother, and a lot less stressful. I see the difference every single week.

Questions about your specific situation? Drop them in the comments or send me a DM.

05/29/2026

Buyers who waited in 2020 are now looking at the same home for $75,000 to $100,000 more. Waiting did not make it easier. It made it harder. I am not saying buy before you are ready. I am saying do not let the idea of perfect timing talk you out of building something real.

If you are on the fence, let's look at your actual numbers together. Send me a DM.

Most buyers think the scariest part of buying a home is finding the right house. In my experience, it's actually what ha...
05/27/2026

Most buyers think the scariest part of buying a home is finding the right house. In my experience, it's actually what happens before that.

Your credit score does a lot of the heavy lifting when it comes to what you qualify for and what rate you get. And the good news is that it is something you can actually work on before you ever talk to a lender.

Here are three things that move the needle fast:

Pay down any credit card balances that are above 30 percent of the limit. That ratio is one of the biggest factors in your score.

Do not close old accounts, even ones you do not use. Age of credit history counts in your favor.

Set every bill to autopay. Even one missed payment can drop your score significantly and stay on your report for years.

Most people who work on these three things see a real difference in 60 to 90 days. That difference can mean a better rate, a lower payment, and more buying power.

Save this and come back to it. And if you want to know where your score stands right now and what it means for your buying power, send me a DM.

05/25/2026

To the brave men and women who have stood up and fought for our country!

THANK YOU! And God Bless!🇺🇲

There is a bill moving through the Iowa legislature right now that could make homeownership more accessible for first-ti...
05/22/2026

There is a bill moving through the Iowa legislature right now that could make homeownership more accessible for first-time buyers in this state, and I do not think enough people are talking about it.

Iowa has consistently been one of the more affordable housing markets in the country. Still, affordability is relative when you are a young buyer trying to scrape together a down payment while rent is eating up most of your paycheck. That is the reality for many people right now.

The Iowa Finance Authority already has programs in place that can cover a portion of your down payment and closing costs if you qualify. What most people do not realize is that these programs have income limits and funding caps, and when the money runs out, it runs out. Every year, I watch buyers miss the window simply because they did not know it existed until it was too late.

If you are thinking about buying in Central Iowa in 2026, the smartest thing you can do right now is find out whether you qualify for any of these programs before you need them, not after.

I work with these programs every single week. I know exactly who qualifies, how to apply, and how to stack them with other loan products to get you to closing with as little out-of-pocket as possible.

Send me a DM, and I will tell you whether any of these programs apply to your situation.

05/22/2026

I have nothing against AI. But I have 22 years of experience asking the 20 to 30 questions that actually determine what you qualify for. ChatGPT does not know your full financial picture. I do. A real pre-approval is not just a number. It is a strategy built around your specific situation.

Before you trust an algorithm with one of the biggest financial decisions of your life, come talk to a real person first. Send me a DM and let's figure out exactly where you stand.

Think you don't qualify for a mortgage because your finances don't fit the standard mold? There's a loan program for tha...
05/19/2026

Think you don't qualify for a mortgage because your finances don't fit the standard mold? There's a loan program for that.

Most people know about conventional loans, FHA, and VA. Those are what we call "agency" products; they fit into a tidy box.

But some borrowers don't fit that box. And that's exactly where non-QM loans come in.

Non-QM stands for Non-Qualified Mortgage. These are programs designed for people whose situation is real and solid, just not traditional.

Here's who non-QM is often built for:

Self-employed borrowers whose tax returns don't reflect their actual income. With a bank statement loan, we use 12 to 24 months of deposits instead of tax returns.

Retirees or investors with significant assets but no traditional income. An asset depletion program lets us convert those assets into qualifying income.

Buyers with a recent credit event who don't yet meet conventional guidelines.

Non-QM loans typically require more down, usually 10 to 20 percent, and the rates reflect the additional flexibility. But for the right person, they're the difference between owning and renting.

If you've ever been told you don't qualify, send me a DM before you give up. You might be a non-QM candidate and not even know it.

What would you do with an extra $1,000 a month?I had a client recently, a family carrying multiple credit cards, an auto...
05/15/2026

What would you do with an extra $1,000 a month?

I had a client recently, a family carrying multiple credit cards, an auto loan, and a home equity loan. Their monthly payments were scattered across all of it, and the interest rates on those credit cards? Much higher than their mortgage rate.

By doing a debt consolidation refinance, rolling all of that into one restructured mortgage, we put nearly $1,000 back into their monthly budget.

For a family with three kids, that's not a small thing. That's groceries. That's a car payment. That's breathing room.

Here's what most people don't realize: refinancing isn't always about getting a lower rate. Sometimes it's about getting your debt structured so it's working for you instead of against you.

If you own a home and you're feeling squeezed by multiple monthly payments, this is a conversation worth having.

DM me, and I'll take a look at your situation and tell you if this kind of restructure makes sense for you.

If you're a first-time buyer in Ankeny, things have changed in the last few weeks. Here's what you need to know.For the ...
05/13/2026

If you're a first-time buyer in Ankeny, things have changed in the last few weeks. Here's what you need to know.

For the past couple of years, buyers have had a lot of leverage. Sellers were offering concessions. Homes were sitting. You could take your time.

That's not what I'm seeing right now in the under-$300K range.

Buyers have come back, and they've come back fast. Homes in good shape are getting multiple offers again. Some are selling over list price. If you're used to asking for closing cost help or a home warranty thrown in, that may not be on the table anymore in this price range.

This isn't me being dramatic. This is what I'm watching happen in real time from inside the loan files. The buyers who are winning right now are the ones who are pre-approved, move quickly, and have a team around them who knows the market.

Share this with anyone you know who's been thinking about buying under $300K in Central Iowa. The window is different now.

05/11/2026

Your realtor and your lender should be on the same page before you ever walk into a showing. Stacia Weber-REALTOR REMAX Concepts- Brickstone Real Estate Team and I put together the four things we wish every first-time buyer in Central Iowa knew before they started. These are the things we see people learn the hard way every single week.

Save this one and share it with anyone you know who is thinking about buying their first home.

Address

1517 N. Ankeny Boulevard Suite A Ankeny
Ankeny, IA
50023

Telephone

+15159715606

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