Chris Reineke Mortgage Branch Manager NMLS 383647• AZ BK #0932828

01/22/2026

Jackson LaCombe has been named to the 2026 U.S. Olympic Men's Ice Hockey Team, replacing Seth Jones.


Details: usah.info/yc5my277

11/27/2025

Everyone the stories or posts about me passing away are FALSE. Please help by reporting it as fake if you see them. I appreciate everyone reaching out and their support.

I’m enjoying Thanksgiving with my family today and hope you all are too.

10/30/2025

Congratulations to these people on purchasing their dream homes in October !
Jeff and Tabitha
Leroy and Kellie
Ryan and Hallie
Ben and Kathleen

And to these people by lowering their mortgage rate by one percent or more!
Jim Wojcik
Malida and Van

Been a busy month with rates the lowest they’ve been since 2022. If you’re looking to buy a home or refinance, Please give me a call. We’re closing loans in less than 20 days with a streamline process.
 give me a call or shoot me a text for more information!
507-210-6495

09/27/2025

FHA loans and conventional loans remain the most popular financing types for today's mortgage borrowers. But which program makes the most financial sense for you? Here's how to decide.

The Nuts & Bolts of FHA Loans

FHA loans are insured by the Federal Housing Administration. The program contains two forms of mortgage insurance; an upfront mortgage insurance premium calculated at 1.75% of the loan amount, and a monthly premium based on 0.8% of the loan amount.

New mortgage post-short sale or foreclosure is a three-year wait time
New mortgage post Chapter 7 bankruptcy is a three-year wait time
Payment-to-income ratios can be as high as 55%
Co-signers are permitted
Borrowers can finance up to 97% loan-to-value paying off a first and a second loan under rate and term avoiding "cash out" (a lender term that refers to the structure of a mortgage where you're receiving funds to pay off debt beyond what you owe. It is usually subject to more restrictive guidelines, but that's not the case with FHA loans.)
Very attractive interest rates.

When FHA Makes Sense

The FHA program makes sense when you have little equity to work with or a unique financial situation. You'll need at least a 3.5% down payment to purchase a home using an FHA Loan. Your credit score must be at least 600. The program will go as high as the maximum county loan limit in the area in which you are looking. If your credit score is anything under 680, an FHA loan generally is optimal.

The Nuts & Bolts of Conventional Loans

Conventional loans are loans bought and sold by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, and represent the lion's share of the mortgage market. These loans, while the most popular, also contain tighter qualifying guidelines than FHA:
F
The wait for a new mortgage post-foreclosure is seven years; there's a four-year wait post short-sale; and four-year wait post Chapter 7 bankruptcy
Offers the lowest possible payments
When a Conventional Loan Makes Sense

If you have a credit score over 660and a 3% down payment, you have the bare minimum required to explore working with a conventional loan. Conventional loans also are stricter on employment history, requiring two years in the same field, as well as payment-to-income ratio, which is a max of 45%.

Which Loan Program Is Most Suitable for Me?

Conventional

Your credit score is 660 or higher
You have 5 % or more down payment.
If you have a big down payment and a so-so credit score under 680, then conventional could be a good vehicle, but your interest rate will be higher due to credit score.
FHA

Your credit score is below 660
Divorced? Have a previous derogatory credit event such as a foreclosure? Then FHA would be the route to take.
Small down payment but great credit score? The FHA primarily would be your vehicle, although a 5% conventional loan would be a solid choice as well.
The key is to understand the characteristics of both programs and how they relate to your financial picture. Right out of the gate you might be a good candidate for either program. Selecting the right loan is a function of choosing the one that is best in alignment with your payment and cash flow expectations.
CALL ME TO DISCUSS 507-210-6495

08/06/2025

Mortgage rates are plunging as the financial markets try to make sense of the poor July jobs report.⁠
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The average rate on a 30-year mortgage fell to a 10-month low of 6.57% on Monday, down from 6.74% on July 28, according to Mortgage News Daily.⁠
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Home buyers and homeowners looking to refinance may be wondering if it’s a good time to jump in, or if they should wait to see if rates drop even further.⁠
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That’s a tough decision at a time when the U.S. economy’s future looks uncertain and finding a new job has gotten harder for people in search of work. People have been putting off buying homes due to uncertainty about the economy, according to a recent survey by Bright MLS.⁠
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But at the same time, many buyers and homeowners have been waiting for mortgage rates to drop. At present, “there’s a lot of opportunity out there for both home buyers and homeowners,” Alex Elezaj, chief strategy officer at United Wholesale Mortgage.

07/24/2025

You might be surprised by who qualifies as a first-time home buyer. Even previous homeowners may qualify for first-time home buyer loans.

07/24/2025

USDA or down payment assistant programs allow you to purchase a home with no money down. Contact me today for more information. There is also $7500 towards closing costs available to you for those who qualify.

07/16/2025

Japan’s bond market is spiraling into chaos.

Yields are exploding. Liquidity is vanishing. Trust is evaporating.

Let me break down what’s happening in Japan and how this affects the US.

Let’s start with the basics: A bond is a loan.

When you buy a government bond, you're lending money to the government in exchange for regular interest payments and full repayment at a future date (called maturity).
That can spark turmoil in global currency markets, especially in emerging economies that rely on dollar-denominated debt.

Sound familiar?

→ U.S. debt is soaring
→ Interest costs are exploding
→ Inflation remains sticky
→ Politicians keep promising more spending
→ The Fed is walking a tightrope between tightening and panic

Japan may just be five years ahead of where the U.S. is heading.

This is no longer about policy, it’s about credibility.

When markets stop believing a government can control its debt or inflation, they revolt.

And that revolt starts with bonds.

05/01/2025

Congrats on your refinance David and Susan !  I enjoyed working with you. Let me know if you need any more assistance on your improvements you make to your home.!

05/01/2025

Click to see all 14 reviews of Chris Reineke, Branch Sales Manager

02/04/2025

Long over due Thank you and congats to this great couple on their purchase of their new home. Bob and Sheryl it was fun to work with you two.
Bob thanks for entrusting our friendshhip for 40 years in helping you reach your homeowner dreams.

Federally chartered bank I can lend in all 50 states.all government loans bridge,land,lot loans,USDA

12/31/2024

Uh oh