I Am Andrew Russell

I Am Andrew Russell Andrew Russell MLO
🏡 Make homeownership a reality for all!
#1 Self Employed Loan Expert
NAMB Mortgage Broker of the Year🏆
NMLS #217975

Founder of RCG Mortgage l Here to share info on all things Mortgages and Real Estate! Scotsman Guide's 2023 Top Mortgage Broker Loan Originator #1 Long Island | #1 New York | #10 Country

This site is not authorized by the New York State Department of Financial Services. No mortgage loan applications for properties located in the state of New York will be accepted through this site

06/08/2026

This video follows a self-employed first-time buyer who was rejected by two conventional lenders before getting approved through a bank statement loan program. The story breaks down exactly why W-2-based underwriting fails business owners and freelancers, and how measuring deposits instead of taxable income changed the entire outcome. If you're self-employed and you've been told your income doesn't qualify, this is the case study that shows a real path forward.

Drop KEYS if you want to know if a bank statement loan works for your situation.

06/08/2026

Your rental income is not what the lender uses. They take 25% off the top before it ever touches your DTI calculation, and most people find out after the deal already fell apart. If you're buying with rental income in play, you need to know this number before you apply.

Comment DSCR for the rental income breakdown.

06/07/2026

Most investors don't realize their tax returns are quietly disqualifying them from loans they should easily get. DSCR flips the equation — the property covers itself, and your personal income never enters the conversation. If you're self-employed or filing aggressively to reduce your tax burden, this loan was built for your situation.

Drop DSCR if you want me to run the numbers on a property you're looking at.

06/05/2026

A first-time buyer was paying $1,800 a month in rent and kept waiting to save a full 20% down payment before buying. She got pre-approved with a 3.5% FHA loan instead, stopped writing rent checks, and started building equity with a monthly payment that was almost identical to what she was already paying. This is for anyone who has been told to wait until they have more saved and is starting to wonder if that advice is actually costing them.

Comment BREAKDOWN for the rent vs. buy analysis.

06/01/2026

This video breaks down why a primary residence mortgage is one of the most strategic financial moves a self-employed business owner can make. It covers how equity built in a home can be converted into working capital through a HELOC or cash-out refinance at a fraction of the cost of a traditional business loan. Self-employed renters who feel locked out of homeownership or unsure whether it's worth the documentation hassle will find a clear, actionable case for why now is the time to think differently.

Drop KEYS if you want the breakdown.

05/31/2026

This video breaks down the three internal stages every mortgage goes through, from pre-approval to underwriting to clear-to-close, and why first-time buyers keep getting blindsided when no one explains the sequence upfront. The key insight is that pre-approval is just a surface-level snapshot, and the real scrutiny happens in underwriting, where undocumented deposits, employment gaps, and new debts can stall or kill a deal. This is for buyers who are re-entering the market as rates stabilize and want to know exactly how to protect their loan file from the start.

Drop APPROVED if you want the full breakdown.

05/29/2026

This video breaks down the escrow adjustment cycle, the mechanism that causes a fixed-rate mortgage payment to quietly increase by $100 to $300 or more after closing due to property tax reassessments and insurance premium hikes. Most lenders never explain this at the closing table, but first-time buyers can get ahead of it by filing a homestead exemption, shopping insurance annually, and reviewing their escrow analysis before the first adjustment hits. This is for anyone who just closed or is about to, and wants to stop a payment surprise before it shows up in the mail.

Drop KEYS if you want the full checklist.

05/28/2026

This video answers one of the most common questions first-time buyers are asking right now: should I wait for rates to drop, or buy now. The creator breaks down the actual monthly payment math showing how home price appreciation over 12 months can wipe out the savings from a lower rate, making waiting a more expensive strategy than most buyers realize. If you're sitting on the sidelines convinced that rates are the only variable that matters, this video reframes the whole decision around equity timing instead.

Drop KEYS if you want us to run your numbers.

05/27/2026

Most first-time buyers close on a home thinking their monthly payment is locked in forever, and find out within 12 months that it quietly went up. This video breaks down exactly why that happens, covering escrow adjustments, property tax reassessments after purchase, and insurance premium hikes at renewal. If you bought recently or are about to close, this is the part your lender glossed over and it directly affects what you'll owe every month.

Drop ESCROW if you want help reviewing your numbers before they change.

05/22/2026

This video breaks down what this week's mortgage rate movement means in real dollars for first-time buyers who are trying to decide whether to lock in now or keep waiting. The key lesson is what a single quarter-point rate shift does to a monthly payment on a typical starter home loan, and why hesitation has a real cost that most buyers underestimate. If you are renting right now and watching rates, this is the conversation you need to have before the week is over.

Drop LOCK if you want to know your number.

Address

490 Wheeler Road Ste 252
Hauppauge, NY
11788

Opening Hours

8am - 8pm

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