Shachi Bhardwaj - NMLS #200704 - BankSouth Mortgage

Shachi Bhardwaj - NMLS #200704 - BankSouth Mortgage VP, Sr. Loan Officer at BankSouth Mortgage
NMLS #200704 During this period, Shachi has built a vast network of delighted homebuyers, realtors, and builders.

Shachi Bhardwaj has been in the mortgage industry since 2005 following a successful stint as an entrepreneur. She has consistently received the Mortgage Bankers Association of Georgia’s (MBAG’s) Gold Award since 2009 – an honor that is awarded to the top 1 percentile of loan officers.

“We can put 20% down.” My next question is often: “But should you?”Putting more money down can lower your payment and, o...
09/04/2026

“We can put 20% down.” My next question is often: “But should you?”

Putting more money down can lower your payment and, on a conventional loan, 20% down generally means avoiding private mortgage insurance.

But there’s another number I think is just as important: How much money will you have left after closing?

After all, there are moving expenses, furniture, repairs, family obligations—and inevitably something you didn’t plan for.

Sometimes the better financial decision isn’t making the biggest possible down payment. Sometimes it’s keeping a little more breathing room.

Your down payment gets you into the house. Your savings help you sleep at night once you’re there.

When I talk with buyers about how much they want to put down on a home, I sometimes hear: “We can put 20% down.” My next question is often: “But should you?” There are certainly advantages to putting more money down. You borrow less, your monthly payment is lower, and on a conventional loan,...

“There are cash offers on the table.”For the past several years, those words have made many financed buyers feel like th...
08/28/2026

“There are cash offers on the table.”

For the past several years, those words have made many financed buyers feel like they didn’t stand a chance. But today’s market is changing.

Cash still has advantages, but sellers are also looking for something else: certainty that the transaction will actually close.

That’s where pre-contract underwriting can help—having much of your income, assets, credit and qualifying documentation reviewed by an underwriter before you find the home.

It doesn’t turn your mortgage into cash. But it can give the seller greater confidence in your ability to close the deal.

So if you hear there’s a cash offer on the table, don’t count yourself out.

For the past several years, many homebuyers have heard the same discouraging words: “There are cash offers on the table.” And if you needed a mortgage, it was easy to assume you didn’t stand a chance. But something interesting is happening in the housing market. According to new data reported ...

“What’s your rate?”It’s usually one of the first questions homebuyers ask me—and it’s a perfectly reasonable one.But the...
08/21/2026

“What’s your rate?”

It’s usually one of the first questions homebuyers ask me—and it’s a perfectly reasonable one.

But there isn’t just one mortgage rate.

Your credit score, down payment, loan program, property type, and whether you’re paying points can all affect the rate and the overall cost.

And that 2.75% rate your friend got in 2021? 😊 Great for them—but not a useful comparison for someone buying a home today.

When shopping for a mortgage, absolutely compare rates. Just make sure you’re comparing the entire loan—not just one number.

Almost every conversation I have with a prospective homebuyer usually starts with the same question: “What’s your rate?” And it’s a perfectly reasonable question. If you’re borrowing hundreds of thousands of dollars, of course you want to know what it’s going to cost you. But before I an...

Now that the kids are back in school, here's a little homework for the parents. 😊After a summer of taking care of everyo...
08/14/2026

Now that the kids are back in school, here's a little homework for the parents. 😊

After a summer of taking care of everyone else, maybe it's time to put yourself back on the list.

And self-care doesn't always mean a massage or a day off. Sometimes it's finally scheduling that appointment you've been putting off, getting back into an exercise routine, looking at your finances, or having a conversation about a goal that's been sitting in the back of your mind.

Maybe you've been thinking about buying a home but haven't asked what you actually qualify for because you're worried about the answer.

Sometimes knowing where you stand is far less stressful than wondering.

You don't have to solve everything today. Sometimes asking the question or taking that first step is enough.

So... what's one thing you've been putting off?

Over the past couple of weeks, we’ve watched kids head back to school. And after a summer of vacations, camps, changing schedules, and trying to keep everyone entertained, many parents may finally have a little breathing room. 😊 So here’s my back-to-school reminder for the parents: Don’t Fo...

Back-to-school season has a way of making us realize just how quickly our children (and grandchildren) grow up.One day t...
08/07/2026

Back-to-school season has a way of making us realize just how quickly our children (and grandchildren) grow up.

One day they're walking into kindergarten with a backpack that's almost bigger than they are...

Before we know it, they're heading off to college and beginning life on their own.

As parents and grandparents, we spend years teaching them how to read, ride a bike, drive a car, and become kind, responsible adults.

One lesson that's often overlooked? How to build good credit.

Not because a credit score is the most important thing in life—but because good credit quietly opens doors throughout adulthood.

Sometimes, one of the greatest financial gifts we can give our children isn't money.

It's knowledge.

Over the next couple of weeks, many of us will be sending our kids—or grandkids—back to school. Some will be walking a nervous kindergartener into school for the very first time. Some will be watching their middle or high schoolers become a little more independent. And some will be helping a chi...

A couple of weeks ago, I drove past a gas station where gas was $3.48 a gallon.I thought, "I'll fill up tomorrow."Well.....
07/31/2026

A couple of weeks ago, I drove past a gas station where gas was $3.48 a gallon.

I thought, "I'll fill up tomorrow."

Well... tomorrow turned into next week.

When I finally stopped, gas was $4.00 a gallon. 😬

It reminded me of a conversation I have with homebuyers all the time.

"Can I still get the rate you quoted me a couple of weeks ago?"

The reality is that mortgage rate quotes are a snapshot in time. Just like many market-driven prices, they can change from day to day.

The goal isn't to perfectly predict tomorrow's market. It's to make the best decision with the information you have today.

A couple of weeks ago, I passed a gas station on my way home. Gas was $3.48 a gallon. I looked at the price and thought, “I’ll fill up tomorrow.” Well… tomorrow turned into next week. When I finally stopped to fill up, gas had climbed to $4.00 a gallon. As I stood there watching the numbers ...

One email from a past client inspired this week's update.Someone claiming to be the underwriter on his mortgage was call...
07/24/2026

One email from a past client inspired this week's update.

Someone claiming to be the underwriter on his mortgage was calling about "document issues" after his loan had already closed.

The good news? There wasn't an issue with his loan.

But it was an important reminder that once you purchase a home, you may receive phone calls, emails, and letters from companies you've never heard of. Some are legitimate. Some are misleading. And unfortunately, some are scams.

If you ever receive an unexpected call about your mortgage, don't feel pressured to respond on the spot or share personal information.

Instead, contact your loan officer or loan servicer using a trusted phone number—not the one provided by the caller.

Sometimes the best protection isn't knowing every scam. It's knowing who you can trust.
If something doesn't feel right, I'd much rather you ask than wonder.

Last week, I received this email from a past client: “I’m getting calls from someone claiming to be the underwriter on my loan. They say there are document issues with my loan, even though it closed months ago. Should I be worried?” I knew the answer immediately. But I also realized this is so...

Mortgage rates can be confusing.One day you hear inflation is improving, the next day mortgage rates barely move. Then t...
07/20/2026

Mortgage rates can be confusing.

One day you hear inflation is improving, the next day mortgage rates barely move. Then the Fed makes an announcement, and everyone assumes rates will immediately follow.

The truth is, it's not that simple.

Mortgage rates are influenced by many factors, and the markets are always looking ahead—not just reacting to one headline or one economic report.

That's why I always encourage my clients to focus less on trying to predict the market and more on making a decision that's right for their family and their long-term goals.

Over the past few months, I’ve had versions of the same conversation with several clients. “If the Fed lowers rates, mortgage rates should drop too… right?” It’s one of the biggest misconceptions I see, and honestly, it’s understandable. The reality is that mortgage rates don’t follow ...

Many of us eventually find ourselves helping two generations at the same time.Finding housing options for a child headin...
07/10/2026

Many of us eventually find ourselves helping two generations at the same time.

Finding housing options for a child heading off to college.

Helping parents continue living independently as they get older—even if they may no longer qualify for a mortgage on their own.

What many families don't realize is that there may be a little-known mortgage option that can help in both situations.

Sometimes, knowing your options changes the entire conversation.

Many of us eventually find ourselves helping two generations at the same time. One child is getting ready to leave for college, and our parents are getting older and may need a little more help than they used to. If you’ve ever found yourself wondering… “Would it make more sense to buy a home ...

As we celebrate the Fourth of July, I've been reflecting on the many freedoms we often take for granted.The freedom to d...
07/03/2026

As we celebrate the Fourth of July, I've been reflecting on the many freedoms we often take for granted.

The freedom to dream, to build a life of our own choosing, to raise a family where we want, to gather with friends and neighbors, and to create traditions that become cherished memories.

For many of us, those freedoms unfold in the place we call home.

Not because a home defines our freedom—but because it's often where we experience it most fully.

It's where we celebrate birthdays and holidays, welcome new family members, share meals around the table, and watch our children and grandchildren grow.

Whatever "home" looks like for you, I hope this Independence Day gives you a chance to pause, reflect, and appreciate the people and the freedoms that enrich our lives every day.

Wishing you and your family a safe, joyful, and Happy Fourth of July!

Over the next few days, many of us will gather with family and friends to celebrate the Fourth of July. There will be backyard barbecues, neighborhood parades (we’ll be cheering on our older daughter, Shuchita, in one of them 😊), kids running through sprinklers, fireworks lighting up the sky, a...

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3290 Northside Parkway NW Suite 600
Gainesville, FL
30327

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+16785957904

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