Joey Hansen, Mortgage Loan Officer, NMLS 96996

03/25/2026

Should you pause your preapproval process when rates jump up? Should you stop gathering your documents together for a refinance? In short - no. Keep the momentum going, as interest rate volatility can go both ways and you want to be ready for the dip.

03/17/2026

🇮🇪 Fun Fact: I am an Irish citizen. My grandfather was raised there, and I took the steps and became a citizen in 2009.

On this St. Patrick’s Day, I looked up a few interesting differences between American mortgages and Irish mortgages:

☘️ Mortgage types: The 30-year fixed rate doesn’t exist in Ireland. Irish borrowers fix their rate for 3–10 years, then have to renegotiate. The product we treat as standard appears to be uniquely American.

☘️ Down payment options: Ireland requires a minimum 10% down. No FHA. No VA. No USDA. No 3.5% down for first-time buyers. No zero-down for veterans. The safety nets we’ve built into the American mortgage system don’t exist there.

☘️ Income-to-Loan, not Debt-to-Income: Ireland’s Central Bank legally caps borrowing at 4x your income. Full stop. In the U.S., we look at the full picture - credit, debt load, compensating factors. There’s room to work with.

Ireland learned hard lessons from their 2008 property crash and built a conservative system in response… very respectable. BUT - the American mortgage system (when used ethically and explained well) gives more people a real path to homeownership than almost anywhere else in the world.

Céad Míle Fáilte

03/02/2026

Believe it or not, the lowest interest rate isn’t always your best option. The total costs, your timeline for keeping that loan, and a variety of other factors all come into play. Chasing the lowest rate may not be your best strategy!

01/16/2026

What if paying off debt before getting a mortgage loan is not the best idea? There could be scenarios where it may not make sense, and could actually be hurtful.

In general, paying off debt is an excellent thing, but when getting preapproved for a mortgage, the smart choice is partnering with a knowledgeable loan officer who can help you look at your situation holistically, to ensure you’re optimizing your qualification.

01/09/2026

True story.

I recently helped a long-time self-employed S-corp owner who was told by another lender that he couldn’t qualify for the price range he wanted.

The reason?

That lender didn’t count his “compensation of officers” as income, cutting his qualifying income by more than 50%.

For S-corp owners, W-2 wages paid to the officer (and often K-1 income) can be used to qualify when they’re stable and supported by the business returns. (Line 7 of the 1120-S if you’re curious.)

This isn’t creative lending.
It’s simply knowing the guidelines.

And the other lender would not use that W2 income. Baffling to me.

Same borrower. Same tax returns. Very different result.

Not all pre-approvals are equal.
Who you work with can change everything.

11/27/2025

This season reminds us how much we have to be thankful for — especially the people and partnerships that make our work so meaningful.

Wishing you a happy Thanksgiving!

Joey Hansen, NMLS 96996. Group Mortgage Company NMLS #1170166 | Equal Housing Opportunity

11/26/2025

Are you a homeowner who wants to access your home's equity without changing your mortgage rate?

📞 Give us a call to explore your financing options that work for your unique situation. We're here to help and show you how you can tap into your equity all while keeping your original mortgage rate intact!

Joey Hansen, NMLS 96996. Group Mortgage Company NMLS #1170166 | Equal Housing Opportunity

11/21/2025

Fannie Mae made headlines this past week by removing the minimum credit score requirement from its Desktop Underwriter (DU) system.

Previously, a conventional loan needed a 620 score. Now… no minimum score required. But before we celebrate, here’s the real story.

DU is Fannie Mae’s automated underwriting engine - the tool lenders use to evaluate credit, income, assets, liabilities, and overall risk. And while the score requirement disappeared, the underwriting standards did not.

So what does that actually mean?

👉 It might help a few “near-miss” borrowers who were sitting just under 620.
👉 But for most, approvals won’t suddenly spike.
👉 Credit score is only one piece of the risk puzzle: DTI, payment history, assets, and down payment still carry major weight.

I love seeing steps toward wider accessibility in homeownership… but the smartest move is still to talk to a lender who can review your entire financial picture - not just a number on a report.

If you’re unsure where you stand or want to game-plan your best path to approval, I’m here to help.

11/15/2025

11/12/2025

Ever wonder why your credit score looks different when your lender pulls it? 👀
Here’s the deal: consumer sites often use VantageScore, while lenders use FICO — and even those have multiple versions. 🤯
If you’re just checking for accuracy or identity theft, consumer models work fine. ✅
But if you’re getting ready for a loan? Always trust the lender’s score — that’s the one that counts for approval. 💪

11/07/2025

What if you already have the credit score you need to buy a house and just don’t know it? 🤯

✅ Many homebuyers *overestimate* the credit score they think they need to qualify for a mortgage. Minimum credit scores may start as low as 500.

✅ A higher score could help you snag a more competitive interest rate—but there’s no need to put homeownership on hold to wait for “perfect credit.”

The fix: Message us to see where you stand. One conversation could change everything!

For educational purposes only. Cornerstone Home Lending does not provide credit repair services. Please contact a qualified professional for specific guidance.

Joey Hansen, NMLS 96996. Group Mortgage Company NMLS #1170166 | Equal Housing Opportunity