Ken Graczak - Mortgage Broker - NMLS 184394

Ken Graczak - Mortgage Broker - NMLS 184394 Ken Graczak is a mortgage broker with CFR Mortgage, serving the Bloomington area. NMLS 184394 | CFR Mortgage NMLS 2474471
https://linktr.ee/kengraczak

With 20+ years of experience, he helps buyers understand their options and move forward with confidence.

06/12/2026

Browsing homes before you know your real payment ceiling?

You're already behind.

Here's what happens without one:

You fall in love with a home $50k over what you're comfortable with.

Now every other home looks worse.

The house you can actually afford feels like settling.

Here's the fix:

→ Figure out the payment you're genuinely comfortable with. Not the max a lender gives you
→ Work backwards to the purchase price
→ At current rates, $50k difference in price = about $300/month

That's real money. Worth knowing before you tour.

Comment BUDGET and I'll send you the one-page worksheet.

06/10/2026

Waiting for the perfect time to buy didn't work this spring.

Preparation did.

Rates stayed up. Prices held. The right homes moved fast.

Here's what buyers who won had ready before they ever toured:

1. Real preapproval letter. Not a pre-qual
2. Payment ceiling they set themselves. Not the bank's max
3. Honest non-negotiables. Not a wish list

That's the difference between a smart decision and an emotional one.

Comment PREP and I'll walk you through all three.

06/08/2026

Everyone asks about the rate.

But the rate isn't what you live with every month.

The payment is.

Two buyers with the same rate can have completely different monthly payments:

→ Loan amount
→ Down payment
→ Property taxes
→ Insurance

Figure out the payment you're genuinely comfortable with. Not the max you qualify for.

Then we work backwards to the purchase price.

That conversation takes 20 minutes. And it changes everything.

Comment PAYMENT and I'll walk you through the math.

06/05/2026

Most first-time buyers think they need 20% down. They don't.

That number has been floating around for decades. And it's stopping people from even starting.

Here's the reality in Minnesota:

→ 3% down programs exist for first-time buyers
→ Down payment assistance is available
→ Qualifying guidelines are more flexible than most people think

We sit down, look at your real situation, and find what you actually qualify for.

Some buyers are closer than they ever expected.

Comment FIRST and I'll send you the full program breakdown for Minnesota.

06/03/2026

More homes hit the market this spring. Buyers still got beat out.

Here's what actually made the difference.

The right homes still moved fast. Bloomington? About 22 days on market.

Three things the winning buyers had ready:

1. Preapproval letter. Before they toured
2. Real payment ceiling. Before they fell in love
3. Honest non-negotiables. Not a wish list

That's what preparation looks like.

Comment READY and I'll send you the checklist.

06/01/2026

If you've only talked to your bank, you haven't actually shopped for a mortgage.

Here's the honest difference:

Your bank has one set of products. One rate. One set of guidelines.

A mortgage broker works with dozens of lenders. We work with around 100.

So when one lender's rules don't fit your situation, we've got options.

What one declines, another approves.

That's not a pitch. That's just how it works.

Have you talked to a broker yet? Link's in the bio.

05/29/2026

PMI is one of the biggest reasons buyers talk themselves out of purchasing a home before they ever speak to a lender.
But most people don’t fully understand what PMI actually is.

In this video I explain:
• What private mortgage insurance (PMI) really means
• Why PMI applies when putting less than 20% down
• How PMI can eventually be removed
• Alternative ways some buyers structure loans to avoid monthly PMI
PMI isn’t a punishment for buying a home. It’s simply one part of the financing conversation.

📌 Reach out if you'd like help figuring out what mortgage setup makes the most sense for your situation.

The Blueprint to Homeownership: https://a.co/d/fcFYX6i

05/27/2026

Renting absolutely makes sense in certain seasons of life.
But a lot of renters never see the financial side of buying until someone actually walks them through the numbers.

In this video I explain:
• The difference between paying rent and building equity
• How homeowners build long-term financial value over time
• Why equity can create future financial flexibility
• Why buying only makes sense when the numbers work for your situation
The question isn’t whether buying is always better. It’s whether buying makes sense for you right now.

📌 Reach out if you'd like to compare the numbers for your own situation.

The Blueprint to Homeownership: https://a.co/d/fcFYX6i

05/25/2026

Three days before closing is the worst time to find out what closing costs actually are.
They’re real, they add up, and buyers should understand them before making an offer.

In this video I explain:
• What closing costs typically include
• Why buyers should expect around 2% to 4% of the purchase price
• How seller concessions can help reduce upfront cash
• Why negotiating closing costs happens before the offer is accepted
The goal isn’t just getting you into the house, it’s helping you keep as much cash in your pocket as possible.

📌 Reach out if you'd like help understanding your estimated closing costs before you shop.

The Blueprint to Homeownership: https://a.co/d/fcFYX6i

05/22/2026

There’s one number that plays a huge role in your mortgage approval, and most buyers have never heard of it.
It’s called your debt-to-income ratio, or DTI.

In this video I explain:
• What debt-to-income ratio actually means
• How lenders calculate your DTI
• Why this number affects how much home you can qualify for
• What can be done if your DTI is too high
Knowing your DTI before house shopping helps you understand what realistically fits your budget.

📌 Reach out if you'd like help figuring out your numbers before you start the process.

The Blueprint to Homeownership: https://a.co/d/fcFYX6i

Address

8120 Penn Avenue S, Suite 100C
Bloomington, MN
55431

Opening Hours

Monday 8:30am - 6pm
Tuesday 8:30am - 6pm
Wednesday 8:30am - 6pm
Thursday 8:30am - 6pm
Friday 8:30am - 4pm

Telephone

+16123248454

Website

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