Brent Willis at NEO Home Loans

09/07/2026

Should I Buy a Home Now or Wait Until 2027? Here is the data that should drive that decision.

Buy now if the home fits your needs, the full payment is comfortable and you can keep healthy reserves. Wait if the extra time will materially improve your credit, income, debt or savings.

09/07/2026

Labor Day is supposed to celebrate work… but what is all that work building for you?

Meaning, how could we better leverage every earned dollar where if used strategically… could actually replace the earned income required today?

For some, buying a primary residence is where roots are settled and equity is grown.

For our clients, we teach them how to leverage their appreciating asset for additional cashflow, tax advantages, and as a hedge against rising inflation.

Your paycheck is more than income. It’s one of the resources you have to build the life and financial future you want.

And sometimes the opportunity isn’t earning more.

It’s making a better decision with what you’ve already built by choosing the right advisor to help guide the way.

09/04/2026

When buyers compare mortgage options, the conversation usually starts with the rate. It shouldn’t end there.

Even a seemingly small difference can affect monthly principal and interest and the total interest paid over time. That’s why I like to look at the full home loan strategy, not just one number on a quote.

The right question is not simply, “What rate can I get?” It’s also, “How does this option fit my cash flow, timeline, and plans for the home?”

Every situation is different. If you’re trying to make sense of your options, I’m happy to help you look at the numbers and understand the trade-offs before you decide.

09/02/2026

September is a good time for a debt strategy conversation because holiday spending has not fully arrived yet.

I see this come up with homeowners who have built equity but are also carrying credit card debt, home repair expenses, medical bills, or back-to-school costs.

Their current lender may suggest a cash-out refinance.

That can be a valid option in the right situation… But if that lender doesn’t offer a HELOC or home equity loan, the recommendation may be limited to the products they have available.

That’s why the comparison matters.

Here’s the key difference: A cash-out refinance will replace the entire first mortgage (and that rate). A HELOC or home equity loan on the other hand… allow an access to equity while keeping the current first mortgage in place (save the low rate).

Neither option is automatically better.

The right strategy depends on your current mortgage, debt amount, monthly cash flow, loan costs, repayment plan, and long-term goals.

So, before you are lead to believe your only option is the one your current lender offers, it may be worth having a strategy conversation.

📲 DMs are always open.

09/01/2026

Your business can be doing extremely well and your mortgage application can still say you don’t make enough money.

For self-employed borrowers, taxable income and actual business cash flow can look very different.

That is why certain mortgage and HELOC programs allow qualified business owners to use bank statements as an alternative way to document income.

I explain how it works in Part 3 of my Business Owner Mortgage Strategy Series:

Your Tax Return Is Not Your Cash Flow

If you have ever been confused by what a lender said you “make,” this one is worth reading.

08/31/2026

Medical professionals can have unique financial circumstances, from student loan debt to employment contracts that begin after closing.

Depending on the situation, certain mortgage options may offer features such as high financing limits, no monthly mortgage insurance, larger loan amounts, and flexibility around future employment.

The right fit depends on your full financial picture, not just your profession.

If you’re a physician, dentist, or other qualified medical professional and want a clearer picture of what may be available, I’m happy to walk through the options with you.

08/28/2026

A clean-looking kitchen is not always a clean kitchen.

Sponges, cutting boards, phones, towels, and reusable bottles can collect more bacteria than most of us realize.

A few simple habits, like replacing sponges regularly, washing bottles thoroughly, and wiping down high-touch surfaces, can make a meaningful difference.

Homeownership comes with a lot of little responsibilities that no one talks about at closing. This is one of them.

A Mortgage Advisor also means helping families become more successful homeowners long after the paperwork is signed. Sometimes that means talking about financing.

Sometimes it means sharing a reminder that helps you take better care of the place you worked hard to call home.

08/26/2026

A homeowner recently came to me with a question that sounded simple.

“We have built quite a bit of equity. Should we use it?”

At first, we talked about what may be available.

Then the conversation changed.

Because access to equity is only one part of the decision.

The more important question was what they wanted that equity to help them accomplish.

They were considering a few different ideas. Home improvements. Paying down other debt. Keeping more cash available. Possibly investing some of it.

Same equity.

Very different decisions.

So instead of starting with how much they could borrow, we started looking at what each option might change.

Their monthly cash flow.

The cost of borrowing.

How much equity they would still have available later.

How comfortable they were taking on additional debt.

And, if borrowed money were being invested, whether they understood the added risk that comes with combining debt and investment performance.

That is the part of home equity planning people do not always see.

The question is rarely just, “How much can I access?”

A more strategic question is, “What role should this equity play in the bigger picture?”

Sometimes accessing equity may make sense.
Sometimes leaving it alone may be the stronger move.

My role as a Mortgage Advisor is to help homeowners understand the financing side of that decision before they make it.

If you have built equity and are wondering what options it may create, I am happy to help you look at the numbers and the trade-offs.

⚠️ For investment, tax, or legal considerations, it is also important to speak with the appropriate qualified professional.

08/26/2026

High mortgage rates haven’t disappeared, but something else has changed.

According to this recent Redfin article I read over the weekend, there were approximately 51% more home sellers than buyers (nationally), which means that although homes may not be cheaper, they are certainly more negotiable.

That can mean fewer bidding wars, more homes to compare and, depending on the property and local market, more opportunity to negotiate price, repairs, closing costs or other terms. (AKA - now is the time to get a “deal”.

Here’s a more strategic question to start your home buying journey with:

“What combination of price, financing and negotiation can we create right now?”

Waiting for a lower rate could eventually reduce your borrowing cost.

Buying while competition is lower could create opportunities somewhere else in the transaction.

Neither strategy is automatically right.

The important part is running both scenarios before assuming today’s market has nothing to offer.

DM’s are always open if you’d like to discuss your unique situation offline.

08/21/2026

4.66 star review received on Experience.com for Brent Willis by Grace S - I really appreciate the NEO Home Loans unique approach of helping customers make smart decisions and providing financial coaching along the way. It definitely helped to know the team cared about our financial situation and goals, then worked with us through the application and closing process to achieve them. Even though there were some issues to work through in the loan application & underwriting process, the outcome was even better than we expected! We appreciate the relational, long-term wealth building approach instead of simply transactional lending, and we look forward to continuing to work with the NEO team going forward.

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