First Choice Mortgage NMLS# 148371

09/30/2026

Episode 4 of "Ask Gus" is here! 🏡🐶

Today's question: "Is there really such a thing as a first-time buyer program?" Spoiler from Gus: yes, and there's more than one.

Drop a 🐾 if this is news to you!

Submit your question to Gus. 😃

09/25/2026

Episode 3 of "Ask Gus" is here! 📄🐶

Today's question: "What documents do I need to get started?" Gus breaks it down — spoiler, it's way less paperwork than you're picturing.

Drop a 🐾 if you thought it'd be way more complicated than it actually is.

09/09/2026

Veterans: What if your VA benefit could help you become a homeowner AND a landlord?

A VA loan may allow an eligible Veteran to purchase a 2-, 3-, or 4-unit property with 0% down, as long as the Veteran occupies one of the units as their primary residence.

🏠 Live in one unit
🔑 Rent out the others
💰 Use eligible rental income to help offset the mortgage payment
🇺🇸 Take advantage of the VA home loan benefit you earned

For the right Veteran, this can be a powerful way to turn homeownership into the beginning of a real estate investment strategy.

Want to see if this could work for you? Let’s run the numbers.

First Choice Mortgage
VA Mortgage Specialist
📞 706-855-1599
FirstChoiceMortgage.net

VA eligibility, occupancy, underwriting, appraisal, residual-income and rental-income requirements apply. Not all borrowers or properties will qualify.

08/12/2026

Episode 2 of "Ask Gus" is here! 🐶🏡

Today's question: "How much house can I actually afford?" Gus breaks it down — because your budget doesn't care how nice the kitchen island is. 😂

Drop a 🐾 if Gus just talked you out of impulse house-shopping.

07/23/2026

🎉 This is HUGE!

First Choice Mortgage can now finance One-Time Close Construction Loans!

That means home buyers that want to build can finance the land, construction, and permanent mortgage with ONE loan and ONE closing.

✔ VA - 100% Financing
✔ USDA - 100% Financing
✔ FHA - 96.5% LTV
✔ Conventional - 90% LTV

We finance:

🏠 Site-Built Homes
🏠 Modular Homes
🏠 Manufactured Homes

Whether you're dreaming of building your forever home or you're a Realtor or Builder helping clients make that dream happen, we're ready to help.

Less paperwork.
Less stress.
More dream homes.

Give us a call today!

📞 706-855-1599
🌐 FirstChoiceMortgage.net

07/21/2026

Local Lending Still Matters

Technology is fast. Local expertise is priceless.

Technology has changed the mortgage industry forever. Today, you can apply online, upload documents from your phone, and even receive an approval in minutes.
That's progress.
But when it comes to one of the biggest financial decisions you'll ever make, something still matters more than speed:
Local expertise. Local relationships. Local accountability.
A national call center may know loan guidelines.
A local lender knows the neighborhoods, the market, the closing attorneys, the appraisers, and the real estate professionals who help make transactions successful.
When questions come up, you deserve someone who answers the phone. Someone who knows your name. Someone who is invested in your community long after closing day.
At First Choice Mortgage, we've proudly served families throughout Georgia and South Carolina since 1992 because we believe mortgages are about people, not just numbers.
Technology should make the process easier.
A local mortgage expert helps make the outcome better.
If you're considering buying a home, refinancing, or simply want honest advice about your options, I'd be honored to help.
📞 706-855-1599
📧 [email protected]
🌐 www.FirstChoiceMortgage.net
J. Dirk Merritt
President | First Choice Mortgage
NMLS #226717 | Company NMLS #148371

07/16/2026