Robert Chambers, Loan Officer at Benchmark Mortgage NMLS #2781504

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Robert Chambers, Loan Officer at Benchmark Mortgage NMLS #2781504

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Veteran | Mortgage Loan Originator | Former Employing Broker
Helping Realtors protect contracts and helping families get to the closing table.

VA • Purchase • Refinance After more than 11 years as a producing Realtor and Employing Broker, I transitioned into mortgage lending with one goal: protect contracts and get families to the closing table without surprises. I understand the transaction from all sides — the listing agent, the buyer’s agent, and now the lender. That perspective matters. My focus:
• Clear communication
• Proactive underwriting
• Strategic pre-approvals
• VA, Purchase, and Refinance lending

If you’re a homebuyer, you deserve clarity and confidence. If you’re a Realtor, you deserve a lending partner who strengthens your offer — not one who creates risk. Let’s structure your financing the right way from day one.

11/03/2026

That rate quote you got last Tuesday? It's already old.

Rates have fallen three days straight going into Election Day, and 30-year fixed is around 7.07% today. Last week it was mostly 7.15% to 7.33%. That's two different markets inside one week.

Now here's my honest take, because you'll hear the opposite advice everywhere: I don't really like asking people to shop multiple lenders in the same day, in the same hour.

Here's why. The rate doesn't count until you have a house under contract.

A quote before a contract is a weather forecast. It tells you roughly what the market is doing. The number that matters is the one you lock when there's an address, a timeline, and a closing date attached. That's when comparing lenders actually pays, because now every quote is for the same real loan, not a hypothetical.

So the smarter order is: get pre-approved so you can move fast, find the house, get under contract, then lock numbers that actually mean something.

That quote in your drawer from October? Pull fresh ones when it counts. Today's numbers are a different story than the ones you filed.

Want numbers that mean something when it's time? DM me or visit ApplyWithRC.com.

Robert Chambers
Loan Officer | Veteran
Benchmark Mortgage
NMLS 2781504
7680 Goddard St, Suite 103, Colorado Springs, CO 80920
719-213-8310
[email protected]

Rates change daily and vary by credit, down payment, loan program, and property. Figures shown are national averages for general education only, not a quote or commitment to lend.

11/02/2026

Most first responders have no idea this exists.

Colorado just launched a program built specifically for them, and it went live this month.

It's called CHFA Colorado Champions. It's down payment help for the people who run toward the trouble: firefighters, EMTs, P.O.S.T.-certified peace officers, deputies, emergency communications specialists, and corrections officers.

The headline number is up to $25,000, or 4% of the first mortgage, whichever is less. And it's deferred, meaning no payment while you live in the home. It's typically repaid later, when the home is sold, refinanced, or no longer your primary residence.

A few honest details, because this program deserves the fine print up front:

It's a second mortgage, not a grant. The statewide income limit is $196,810, higher than most people expect. Minimum mid-credit score is 620. There's a $1,000 minimum borrower contribution, and CHFA homebuyer education is part of the deal.

My favorite part: that income limit means this isn't just for brand-new hires. Plenty of established first responders in the Springs could qualify and have never heard the program's name.

The people who spend their careers serving everyone else shouldn't be the last to learn about a program written for them.

If you're a first responder, send this to the person on your shift who's been renting and quietly assuming a down payment is out of reach. If you're not, you almost certainly know one.

I'll walk you through whether it fits your situation. If it doesn't, I'll tell you straight, because there are other doors.

Ready to make your move? DM me or visit ApplyWithRC.com.

Robert Chambers
Loan Officer | Veteran
Benchmark Mortgage
NMLS #2781504
7680 Goddard St, Suite 103, Colorado Springs, CO 80920
719-213-8310
[email protected]

General education only. Program details are set by CHFA and subject to their eligibility requirements, lender qualification, and property eligibility, and can change. Not a commitment to lend. Source: CHFA Colorado Champions program, launched November 2026.

10/30/2026

The Fed held this week. Mortgage rates fell anyway. If that sounds backwards to you, good. That confusion is the whole lesson.

Two headlines landed within 24 hours. Wednesday: the Fed left its benchmark rate unchanged at 3.75% to 4.00%. Thursday: Freddie Mac reported the 30-year fixed average dropped to 7.24%, down from 7.32%.

Both are true. And neither one means what most people think.

Here's the part almost nobody explains. The Fed sets an overnight rate for banks. Your mortgage is priced in a completely different market, one that trades for years and decades instead of overnight. Mortgage rates follow expectations for inflation and future growth, priced through bonds and mortgage-backed securities. The 10-year Treasury is the closer relative, not the Fed.

So markets had already moved before the Fed even spoke. The rate decline wasn't a reward for the Fed's decision. It was priced in ahead of it.

Now the honest math, because I'd rather you hear it from me than a headline.

On a $400,000 loan over 30 years, that drop from 7.32% to 7.24% works out to about $2,726 a month versus $2,748. Roughly $22 a month. Real money, but not life-changing money.

And here's the context everyone leaves out: a year ago, that same average was 6.17%. This week brought relief, not a restoration.

What this actually means for you:

If you're shopping, ask for updated numbers on the actual homes you're considering. A national average is a market reference, not a quote.

Compare offers the same way every time. Same loan amount, same type, same lock period, and watch what points or lender credits are hiding behind a lower advertised rate.

And if you're waiting for the Fed to cut rates so mortgage rates will follow, that's not how the machine works. A Fed cut wouldn't guarantee a matching drop. The bond market is the driver, and it's been moving all week with or without anyone's press conference.

The takeaway: watch the direction, not the day. And before this weekend's showings, get a real quote on a real house. That's where a headline becomes useful.

Questions about what your actual quote would look like at today's numbers? That's a five-minute conversation. DM me.

Ready to make your move? DM me or visit ApplyWithRC.com

Robert Chambers
Loan Officer | Veteran
Benchmark Mortgage
NMLS #2781504
7680 Goddard St, Suite 103, Colorado Springs, CO 80920
719-213-8310
[email protected]

Illustrative example only. $400,000 loan, 30-year fixed, principal and interest only. Excludes taxes, insurance, HOA, and closing costs. Not a loan offer or commitment to lend. Actual rates and payments vary by borrower, property, and program. Sources: Federal Reserve FOMC statement, Oct 28, 2026; Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey, Oct 29, 2026.

10/28/2026

Colorado Springs isn't one market right now. It's a dozen different ones, and the difference between them is the story nobody's telling.

Last week Axios laid out the split plainly: some areas are trending toward buyers, and others are still tilting toward sellers. Luxury homes above $750,000 saw double-digit sales growth, while the affordable segments are moving slower.

So when someone tells you "the market is down" or "the market is up," the honest answer is: which street are you standing on?

Buyers: this split is working in your favor. Widespread price reductions, seller credits showing up in a majority of closings, and days-on-market stretching longer than they've been in years. You have leverage you didn't have a year ago. The catch is you have to know where to use it.

Sellers: you can still win in this market. The homes that move are priced right, presented right, and marketed to the right buyer. A seller credit toward the buyer's closing costs or rate is often worth more to a buyer than another price cut, because it changes their monthly payment, not just their down payment.

The people getting hurt right now aren't the ones in the hot neighborhoods or the slow ones. They're the ones operating on assumptions from a market that doesn't exist anymore.

Where do you think your neighborhood falls in the split? Tell me the area and I'll give you my honest read.

Ready to make your move? DM me or visit ApplyWithRC.com

Robert Chambers | Loan Officer
Benchmark Mortgage
NMLS #2781504
7680 Goddard St, Suite 103, Colorado Springs, CO 80920
719-213-8310
[email protected]

General education only. Not a commitment to lend. Market conditions vary by location and price point. Data points referenced from Axios Colorado Springs, October 2026.

10/22/2026

The median household in El Paso County earns about $91,000 a year, per Census Bureau's 2024 estimate.

Buying a median-priced home here at today's prices and rates takes far more income to stay inside conventional affordability guidelines. One published local analysis put that near $128,000, assuming 20% down, a rate around 7%, and housing capped at 30% of gross income.

Call it a $37,000 gap, give or take. It's real either way. And it doesn't mean the county is full of people who can't buy. It means the old playbook stopped working for a lot of them.

The old playbook: wait for 20% down, buy at the top of your approval, hope nothing moves.

There are more options than most people realize.

You may be able to buy with less down and keep cash in reserve. Mortgage insurance may apply, and it's a real cost. So is draining your savings to hit a round number.

Down payment assistance exists locally. El Paso County's Pikes Peak program helps qualified buyers with a 0% second mortgage, and it does not require you to be a first-time buyer. Income limits apply, and plenty assume they earn too much without checking.

Seller credits can cover eligible closing costs, lowering the cash you need at closing.

Temporary buydowns lower your payment early on. Be clear on what you're signing: you still qualify at the full payment, and it rises when the subsidy ends. Cash-flow tool, not a fix for a payment you can't carry.

None of this is magic. It's knowing the difference between the price of the house, the cash to close, and the payment you can sustain.

If you decided this wasn't your year, let's run the real numbers. Sometimes you're closer than you thought. Sometimes six more months of saving gets you there. Both are worth knowing.

Ready to make your move? DM me or ApplyWithRC.com.

Robert Chambers | Benchmark Mortgage
NMLS #2781504 | 719-213-8310
[email protected]
7680 Goddard St, Suite 103, Colorado Springs, CO 80920

Sources: Census Bureau 2024 ACS; The Gazette, Sept 2026. General education, not an offer to lend. Estimates vary.

10/21/2026

Five weeks from now, the help available to a struggling Veteran with a VA-backed home loan is set to expand. Many people may not know this change is coming.

No later than November 28, 2026, servicers must use the VA’s new Loss Mitigation Waterfall: a step-by-step review of options to help avoid foreclosure. Options include repayment plans and loan modifications. At Step 7, eligible loans at least three months past due may be considered for the VA Partial Claim Program.

Here’s the plain-English version: the Veteran completes a three-month trial payment plan. Then the VA pays the servicer the overdue amount to bring the loan current, and the Veteran repays the VA later. Program details, eligibility and servicer requirements vary, and approval or a particular outcome isn’t guaranteed.

Falling behind does not automatically mean losing your home. If you’re a Veteran having trouble making payments, don’t wait to ask your servicer what options may be available. I’m happy to help you understand the mortgage questions to ask. This is general education, not legal or foreclosure advice.

Robert Chambers | Benchmark Mortgage
719-213-8310 | 7680 Goddard St, Suite 103, Colorado Springs, CO 80920
[email protected] | NMLS #2781504

Ready to make your move? DM me or visit ApplyWithRC.com.

10/20/2026

Could your credit score be costing you more than you think?

A FICO 2026 survey found that about 22% of consumers underestimate how much their credit score costs them.

Here’s the plain version: for the same loan amount, a lower credit score can mean a higher interest rate. A higher rate usually means a higher monthly payment, and more interest paid over the life of the loan.

That’s why I encourage you to check where you stand before applying. It gives you a clearer picture of your options and time to ask questions. Have you ever been surprised by how much a small rate difference can change a payment?

Scores, rates, and terms vary. This is general education, not an offer to lend.

Robert Chambers | NMLS #2781504
7680 Goddard St, Suite 103, Colorado Springs, CO 80920
719-213-8310 | [email protected]

Ready to make your move? DM me or visit my website at ApplyWithRC.com.

10/19/2026

Colorado buyers, a price cut isn’t the only tool to look at.

August market data showed about 32% of Colorado listings had a price reduction. The highest share in the nation. But a lower asking price is only part of the conversation. Depending on the home, loan, and program guidelines, asking for a seller credit toward closing costs or a temporary rate buydown may help your monthly budget more than a modest price cut alone.

That doesn’t mean every seller will agree, or that every option fits every loan. But you may have room to explore your options NOW instead of waiting for rates to fall. I can help you compare the numbers for your situation.

What would help you most: a lower price, less cash due at closing, or a lower payment for a period of time?

Market data is not a promise of loan terms. Rates and pricing vary.

Robert Chambers | NMLS #2781504
7680 Goddard St, Suite 103, Colorado Springs, CO 80920
719-213-8310 | [email protected]

Ready to make your move? DM me or visit my website at ApplyWithRC.com.

10/15/2026

The numbers say buyers are gaining ground. But does it feel that way when rates are still above 7%?

In Colorado Springs, September home sales fell 9.7%, and the average home price fell 3.5% to $545,660. The Colorado Association of REALTORS® says a smaller, more cautious pool of buyers is gaining leverage.

My honest take: if you’re prepared and ready to move, a slower market may give you more room to ask for a seller credit or have a repair conversation. But lower prices don’t erase the monthly payment math. Rates are still high, and payments still bite.

Does it feel like a buyer’s market to you, or does it still feel like a fight?

Ready to make your move? DM me or visit my website at ApplyWithRC.com.

Robert Chambers | Benchmark Mortgage
719-213-8310 | [email protected]
7680 Goddard St, Suite 103, Colorado Springs, CO 80920
NMLS #2781504

General education only. Market conditions vary by neighborhood. Data points are not promises.

10/14/2026

Colorado Springs prices eased. Inventory rose. What does that actually buy you?

The median list price is $484,950, down 2.8% year over year, compared with a 1.4% national decline. Active listings reached 4,266, up 8.7% locally and 5.4% nationally. Homes are spending a median 67 days on market, up 3.9%. And 30.6% of local listings have a price cut, versus 20.8% nationwide.

In August, the median sale price for a single-family home was $470,000, down 2% from $480,000 a year earlier. Area sales also fell 12.3% from July to August.

More inventory can create room to ask for seller credits, buydown funding, inspections, and repairs. It doesn’t guarantee a yes. The most showing traffic is in the $300,000–$400,000 range, so entry-level homes are still moving.

For context, Veros’ Q3 2026 VeroFORECAST projects about a 0.5% price decline over the next 12 months. That’s a data point, not a promise. Market conditions vary by neighborhood.

My honest take: timing a half-point of price against a 7% rate isn’t a plan. Waiting has its own cost. I’d rather help you look at the full picture and decide what fits you.

General education only; not a promise of value. Benchmark Mortgage | NMLS #2781504 | 7680 Goddard St, Suite 103, Colorado Springs, CO 80920 | 719-213-8310 | [email protected]

Ready to make your move? DM me or visit ApplyWithRC.com.

Address

7680 Goddard Street, Suite 103
Colorado Springs, CO
80920

Website

https://robertchambers.benchmark.us/

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