Kimi Does Mortgages NMLS #495946

08/04/2026

08.04.2016 — Ten years ago today, Lily Ortega became my first teammate. ❤️

She joined me with no knowledge or experience in the mortgage industry, and I had no real leadership experience. But I saw her integrity, her character, and her calm demeanor and knew there could be a great career for her in this business that I loved.

She was a brand-new mom. We didn't have a solid plan for how this would work. We just came in every day and figured it out as we went. Pretty sure this is when was invented.

Lily started out helping me with data entry, marketing efforts, gifting, and all the things that didn't require mortgage industry knowledge. Over time, she started working directly with clients to request and obtain the items needed by underwriting. She became the bridge between our processor and underwriting, and she had a way of explaining things to clients that made them feel safe and taken care of. She helped take as much off their plate as possible.

Honestly.. It was a huge lift off of mine, too.

Having Lily take ownership of those details freed me up to cultivate relationships with referral partners, do events, and grow the business. What started as a few tasks quickly became a role that was incredibly valuable to both our clients and to me.

Over these ten years, we've been through SO many transitions - the companies we've worked for, roles and responsibilities, the evolution of the market, our internal processes, and the way we do just about everything. We've weathered storms, celebrated big wins, grown a team, right-sized a team, and figured out a whole lot of things along the way.

And together, we've been a part of more than 1,000 stories of homeownership. 🏡

Today, Lily is one of the top processors at our company, and she is loved by our clients and referral partners. She is amazing at what she does, and I genuinely cannot imagine being in this business without her.

The amount of relief and mental freedom I get from knowing Lily is on my team, taking care of our clients and making sure the details are handled, is an incredible gift. I don't take that for granted for one second.

Lily, thank you for ten years of showing up, figuring it out with me, caring so deeply about our clients, and helping build this thing alongside me. I am so incredibly grateful for you, and I cannot wait to see what our next chapter holds. ❤️

And now I need YOUR help celebrating her!

If you know Lily or have worked with her on a loan, please show her some love in the comments. Tell her what she has meant to you, share a favorite memory, or just let her know you're cheering her on.

And for extra credit - and what would REALLY make her feel celebrated - send her an email TODAY at [email protected] and tell her how awesome and loved she is.

Let's fill her inbox. ❤️

Happy 10 years, Lily! Here's to the next chapter! 🥂🏡

08/03/2026

Is buying a home in the Dallas Fort Worth area a good idea?

08/01/2026

07/19/2026

One of the biggest misconceptions I hear is:

“The only way to get cash out of my home is to refinance my whole mortgage.”

Not necessarily!

A lot of homeowners need access to money for things like:

Home improvements
Repairs
Debt consolidation
Buying another property
Business needs
Tuition or another major expense

But they also really do not want to give up the first-mortgage rate they already have. Completely understandable.

Depending on the situation, a HELOC or home equity loan may allow them to access part of their equity without replacing that existing mortgage.

It is not automatically the right solution. We still want to compare the payment, costs, terms, and what the money is being used for.

But there are more possibilities than many people realize, including options that may be available for:

🏡 Primary homes
🏖️ Second homes
🔑 Investment properties
📊 Credit scores as low as 640
💰 Lines or loans starting around $25,000
🧾 Self-employed borrowers who may need alternatives to traditional tax-return documentation
🇺🇸 Homeowners throughout the majority of the United States—not just Texas

We can usually provide recommendations within 24 hours, often the same day, and some eligible transactions may close in as little as two weeks.

Who do you know who has said:

“I need the money, but I do not want to give up my mortgage rate”?

Please introduce us. They do not have to know what product to ask for—that is our job to help figure out.

All financing is subject to eligibility, credit approval, documentation, property requirements, program availability, and applicable terms.

07/09/2026

07/06/2026

Happy birthday, Garrett! We had a tee-rific time celebrating your birthday today at Chuy's. Another year older, but still under par. May this year be filled with lots of tee times when you are away from your mortgage desk!

02/13/2026

Manufactured homes aren’t scary.
Inexperienced lenders are. 👑

If it’s funky, call your Moho Queen. Link in bio!

12/03/2025

Happy birthday to our Team Captain, Sabrina!

11/26/2025

It Takes a Village… and I’m So Thankful for Mine

Thanksgiving week always feels a bit quieter in the mortgage world as people shift their focus from buying homes to being with family. And honestly? I welcome the pause. It gives me a moment to reflect.. and wow, do I have a lot to reflect on this year.

This has been one of the most whirlwind seasons of my life. Having a baby at 38 has brought so much change and challenge, but also a new purpose. Motherhood has required more pivots than I ever imagined, and it has stretched me in ways that have surprised me.

What has stood out the most is discovering who my village truly is. People I never expected have shown up - helping with meals, listening through some terrifying newborn moments, donating milk when I struggled with supply, and so much more. The generosity and support have been overwhelming in the best way.

To my village: thank you. I can never repay the kindness you’ve shown over these last eight months.

To my partners and clients: thank you for trusting me with your mortgage needs. By allowing me to serve your family’s financial goals, you’ve helped support and feed my family. It has truly been an honor, and I’m especially grateful for those who stood by me during these post-partum months.

My hope for you this Thanksgiving is that you have a moment of reflection... and that you’ll take the time to tell someone who impacted you this year how grateful you are for them.

Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours. 🧡

10/01/2025

My amazing team was spotlighted in this month’s company newsletter and it was so cute I just had to share with the rest of the world! These are the amazing humans behind the scenes at the Kimi Does Mortgages Team. I hope you enjoy reading this as much I did. ❤️