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.

09/04/2026

What's stopping you from buying a home?

For a lot of people, it may simply be information they haven't had yet.

My book lays out the homebuying process so you can understand where you are, what comes next, and how to start planning your purchase.

When you know the blueprint, the process becomes a lot easier to navigate.

If nobody has laid out the roadmap for you yet, that's what this book is for.

Home appraisals are changing in 2026 and most buyers, sellers, and agents have not heard about it yet.Here is what is co...
09/04/2026

Home appraisals are changing in 2026 and most buyers, sellers, and agents have not heard about it yet.

Here is what is coming.

Starting November 2, 2026, every conventional appraisal sold to Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac must follow a new format called UAD 3.6. It replaces forms appraisers have used for decades with a single dynamic report containing over 150 new data fields.

What that means in plain terms:

→ Appraisers will spend more time in your home collecting room-by-room detail
→ Sellers should have receipts, permits, and upgrade documentation ready before the appraiser shows up
→ Appraisal fees are likely going up, early estimates from appraisers point to a 10 to 20 percent increase on standard conventional appraisals
→ FHA is already opting in. VA and USDA have not announced a timeline yet.
→ If you are buying, build a little extra cushion into your closing timeline this fall

This is not a reason to rush a decision that big. It is just something worth understanding before you list or make an offer.

A lot of agents have not heard about UAD 3.6 yet because it has mostly been discussed inside the appraisal and lending world. Now you have real answers instead of guesses.

I've dropped a link to the full guide in the first comment below!

09/02/2026

**4. FACEBOOK REELS**

Do you know what your escrow money actually pays for?

A lot of homeowners don't.

Your mortgage payment can include principal and interest, plus money that goes into escrow to cover your property taxes and homeowners insurance.

Your lender uses that escrow account to pay those bills when they're due.

But keep an eye on it. If your taxes or insurance go up, your monthly mortgage payment can change because your escrow amount changes too.

Understanding escrow is an important part of understanding the true cost of owning a home.

Want to learn more about the homebuying process? Get a copy of my book here:

https://go.kengraczak.com/book%2E

𝗔𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘀: 𝗙𝗿𝗲𝗲 𝗧𝗼𝗼𝗹Buyer Affordability Calculator. No login, no cost, no catch.• For the buyer who says ...
09/02/2026

𝗔𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘀: 𝗙𝗿𝗲𝗲 𝗧𝗼𝗼𝗹

Buyer Affordability Calculator. No login, no cost, no catch.
• For the buyer who says "I have no idea what I can afford"
• Income, debts, down payment in. Ballpark price range out.
• Takes about 60 seconds
• Use it before they're ready for a full application
• Shows houses in the right range from day one, not showing three and finding out later

𝗡𝗼𝗯𝗼𝗱𝘆 𝘄𝗮𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗳𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗶𝗻 𝗹𝗼𝘃𝗲 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗮 𝗵𝗼𝘂𝘀𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝘄𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗻𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗴𝗼𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗼 𝗴𝗲𝘁.

It's in my Realtor Portal. Free, and it stays free.
𝗵𝘁𝘁𝗽𝘀://𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗮𝗹.𝗮𝗶/𝗸𝗲𝗻𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘇𝗮𝗸

Helping families achieve their homeownership dreams is what we do best!
09/01/2026

Helping families achieve their homeownership dreams is what we do best!

08/31/2026

When's the last time you ran the numbers on refinancing?

Don't just watch the rates on the news.

Your credit may have improved. You may have built equity. And if you're planning to stay in your home long enough, refinancing costs could make sense.

Sometimes it's not even about lowering your rate. Switching from a 30-year loan to a 15-year loan could help you pay your home off much faster.

Instead of waiting for the headlines to tell you when to refinance, run the numbers based on your situation.

Reach out to me today and let's see if refinancing makes sense for you.

https://go.kengraczak.com/book%2E

08/28/2026

How many ways can your home potentially make you money while you live in it?

There are several benefits of ownership that renters may not think about.

Mortgage interest and property taxes may provide tax benefits. Your mortgage payments can build equity instead of paying your landlord. Your home may appreciate over time, and a fixed-rate mortgage can provide more predictable housing costs while rents continue to rise.

That's what ownership can do while you're simply living in your home.

I break it all down in my book.

Click the link in my bio and get your copy today.

08/26/2026

Think affordability is just about your income?

There's more to it.

Two people with similar incomes can end up with very different comfortable price ranges because debt, taxes, insurance, down payment, and lifestyle all affect the numbers.

An online calculator can give you a starting point, but a real affordability conversation can help you understand whether you're actually shopping in the right range.

I put together an Affordability Guide that explains what lenders look at versus what you should look at for yourself.

Shoot me a message and I'll send it over.

08/24/2026

Would you hire someone without asking a single question first?

Don't do that with your loan officer.

Before choosing a lender, ask what your real monthly payment looks like, how they'll communicate once you're under contract, and what they do when delays or problems come up.

You're trusting this person with one of the biggest financial decisions of your life. The answers to those questions matter.

I put together a Lender Comparison Checklist with these questions already laid out.

DM me and ask for the checklist, and I'll send it your way.

08/21/2026

Can you make a stronger offer without offering more money?

Absolutely.

A strong offer isn't always about price. Preparation matters too.

A clean approval, clear expectations, and removing unnecessary friction can help make your offer more attractive to a seller.

And when you're prepared, you're less likely to panic and jump to your top number just because you're afraid of losing the house.

DM me and I'll send you my Offer Prep Guide with what can strengthen an offer and what can slow one down.

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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