Michael Baker, CEO at The Rate Shop

Michael Baker, CEO at The Rate Shop I am passionate about creating opportunities for families to achieve their dreams.

💰Financing dream homes since 2009.
💵Helped 1,000's of families generate millions in wealth.
💬DM 'HOME' -> Get my BUYERS guide for FREE!
📲Call/Text 913-213-3335 - Indvidual NMLS: 259076 Company NMLS: 2554765 I work closely with a small number of clients each month to provide a personalized, high-touch experience that prioritizes clear communication, genuine connection, and seamless collaboration. P

artnering with like-minded referral partners who share these values allows me to focus on what matters most: empowering my clients to succeed financially and building strong, lasting relationship.

Slow down to speed things up.Anyone that has worked alongside me in the mortgage industry for the last 16 years has hear...
08/13/2025

Slow down to speed things up.

Anyone that has worked alongside me in the mortgage industry for the last 16 years has heard me say this over and over again until they are sick of hearing it.

This morning I took some of my own advice.

My 3 boys have really gotten into golf this summer, our whole house has really (even is enjoying it a bit too). ⛳️

Yesterday one of my 13 year olds kept asking me to take him out golfing.

He even looked up all the tee times and showed me what was available.

Off we went at 8:10am this morning to play some golf.

Golf is a great sport for the “slow down to speed things up” theory.

I’ve learned the FASTER I swing - the worse things get - my ball goes slicing way to the right.

The worse things get, the slower the round of golf takes.

On the other hand; the slower I swing, the straighter the ball goes.

The straighter the ball goes, the less strokes I take.

The less strokes I take, the quicker the game goes.

Therefore, the slower I swing - the faster we play golf (and the more fun we have).

Slow down to speed things up.

Same goes in life.

I slowed down a bit this morning and took a few hours “off” on a “work day” to spend time with one of my sons.

We slowed down life, and my relationship with my son sped up a bit today.

What do you need to slow down in your life to speed things up a bit?

“Can a veteran receive their earnest money deposit back on a purchase when they are putting 0% down?”This is a question ...
08/11/2025

“Can a veteran receive their earnest money deposit back on a purchase when they are putting 0% down?”

This is a question I got on Saturday night from a Realtor friend of mine.

The answer to the question is “yes they can” but that isn’t the part that really matters.

What matters?

The fact that this was NOT my mortgage client.

The Realtor had been trying to reach their clients mortgage lender all day, and that lender wasn’t returning any calls.

Was I mad that the Realtor was calling me for a question when the client wasn’t even mine?

Nope.

In fact I was honored.

Honored to know that someone would trust me so much that they felt comfortable reaching out to me on a Saturday night when I had nothing to gain.

Please know I will ALWAYS be available for you when you call. Whether it benefits me financially or not. ❤

I did ZERO exercising last week. None.Well, I did play 3 rounds of golf, but that was in a cart - so I’m not really coun...
08/05/2025

I did ZERO exercising last week. None.

Well, I did play 3 rounds of golf, but that was in a cart - so I’m not really counting it, even though I still average around 7,000 steps per round of golf.

Yesterday I got my 4.30 mile walk in. Today we did our usual Tuesday/Thursday workout in the park.

What changed this week?

Accountability.

Last week two or three of us were out of town or just unavailable to work out, so we cancelled our usual Tuesday/Thursday work outs.

I didn’t need to cancel any of my other usual running/walking/rucking that I do, but I did.

Why?

Accountability.

You see when these guys are holding me accountable to my Tuesday and Thursday workouts, I hold myself accountable to my 2-3 other workouts I do on my own throughout the week.

Funny how that works, huh?

The truth is life is just better and more fun when you do it with others. It’s an added bonus when you all hold each other accountable to something.

If you need motivation this week to start something you have been putting off for too long, my suggestion is finding someone to do it with you.

Maybe it’s...

✅ Eating healthier.
✅ Losing 10 lbs.
✅ Working out.
✅ Saving money.

Whatever it is I encourage you to find a tribe to do it with. I’ve got mine!

Did you know there are shorter terms than a 30 mortgage?They have advantages like: 1️⃣ Obviously paying your mortgage of...
07/30/2025

Did you know there are shorter terms than a 30 mortgage?

They have advantages like:

1️⃣ Obviously paying your mortgage off sooner.
2️⃣ Saving thousands in interest.
3️⃣ Lower interest rates than a 30 year mortgage.

They also have disadvantages like:

1️⃣ Locking you into a higher monthly payment.
2️⃣ Increasing your debt to income ratio (which could make it harder to get approved for other loans down the road).
3️⃣ Paying less interest could affect your tax burden.

What’s important is knowing you have options and understanding them completely.

Questions on shorter terms? 📲 Reach out and we can discuss. Knowledge is power.

“Before you give up, call my guy Mike.”That’s what a Realtor friend told a client recently when things started going sid...
07/28/2025

“Before you give up, call my guy Mike.”

That’s what a Realtor friend told a client recently when things started going sideways with another lender.

❌ The client said something didn’t feel right with the other lender.
❌ The other lender was trying to use a loan that wouldn’t be allowed for their situation.
❌ The client felt pressured and was ready to walk away from it all.

That’s when the Realtor stepped in and said, “Talk to Mike before you walk away from this process.”

We got on a call.

I listened.

Then I showed them exactly why that loan wasn’t going to work and how we could structure it another way, 100% within guidelines.

Not only did my loan actually work, but it also required less money down than they were originally told.

Fast forward: they closed last week. Happy client. Grateful agent.

I’m just thankful that when something doesn’t feel right, I’ve got real estate agents who say, “Call Mike.”

It hits all the feels and reminds me why 16 years later I still love the mortgage business.

To all those that continue to trust me all these years later, THANK YOU! 🙏🏻

Tempted to refinance your mortgage just to pay off credit cards?Stop. That move could cost you tens of thousands in the ...
07/25/2025

Tempted to refinance your mortgage just to pay off credit cards?

Stop. That move could cost you tens of thousands in the long run.

Credit card interest is through the roof; north of 21% in most cases. So yeah, it’s tempting to roll it into your mortgage. But here’s the truth nobody tells you:

Refinancing isn’t always the answer.

If your current mortgage rate is under 5%, here’s a smarter option:

Use a Home Equity Loan instead.

It’s a second mortgage that leaves your low first mortgage rate alone and gives you the cash you need without resetting your entire loan.

People use Home Equity Loans to:

✔️ Pay off high-interest debt
✔️ Remodel the kitchen
✔️ Cover tuition
✔️ Invest in property

Borrowing money isn’t bad if you know the financially smart ways to borrow money.

A well-structured Home Equity Loan can actually save you thousands, clean up your high interest rate debt, free up cash flow, get you the cash you need, and have you sleeping better at night.

📲 DM me to find out if a Home Equity Loan is right for you. It might not be, and I’ll tell you that. But hoping things get better isn’t a financial strategy I recommend. 💪🏻

I’m not usually one to say this or that is the best of anything…However, Buffalo Wing Cheez-Its are THE BEST There I sa...
07/24/2025

I’m not usually one to say this or that is the best of anything…

However, Buffalo Wing Cheez-Its are THE BEST

There I said it.

3 things I learned this morning:1. You can’t out run mosquitos. 2. I sweat a lot. 3. Doing life with others that push yo...
07/24/2025

3 things I learned this morning:

1. You can’t out run mosquitos.
2. I sweat a lot.
3. Doing life with others that push you and hold you accountable is always better.

Get after this day y’all!

When I was a kid, we would play “Crazy Train” over and over again from the jukebox at the local pool hall where I grew u...
07/23/2025

When I was a kid, we would play “Crazy Train” over and over again from the jukebox at the local pool hall where I grew up in Iola, KS.

Finally, one of the drunks at the bar would yell “Play it again and I’ll come over there and kick your ass!”

So, we’d play it one more time and run out the door and hop on our bikes.

RIP Ozzy.

You’re not selling houses; you’re changing lives.You’re not unlocking doors; you’re giving someone the keys to their fut...
07/23/2025

You’re not selling houses; you’re changing lives.

You’re not unlocking doors; you’re giving someone the keys to their future.

You’re not writing contracts; you’re writing love stories.

You’re not driving buyers around looking at houses, you’re their personal guide on their very own adventure.

You’re not a Realtor; you’re a Real-Lifer. Making real life happen over and over again, month in and month out.

So don’t give up, lean in.

There’s a couple out there waiting to buy their first home and they need you.

Please know that I see you and I’m always here if you need me.

Most people think Scottie Scheffler is winning because of how he plays golf.They’re wrong.He’s winning because of how he...
07/22/2025

Most people think Scottie Scheffler is winning because of how he plays golf.

They’re wrong.

He’s winning because of how he sees life.

The guy is dominating one of the hardest sports on earth. And still says he’d walk away the moment golf became his life instead of simply supporting it.

That hit me.

Because for years, I let my job define me.
The stress.
The hours.
The grind.

And for what?

It wasn’t until I built a business that supported my life, instead of consuming it, that everything changed.
I built that business by selling a house that gave me the capital to pursue that dream

I don’t think everyone needs to quit their job or become an entrepreneur...

But I do believe that where you live, and how you live, plays a massive role in the kind of life you’re building.

I’m 100% proof of that.

Your house isn’t just your biggest investment.
It’s the backdrop for your kids’ childhoods.
Your Sunday mornings.
Your peace.

It’s the freedom to walk away from the noise and into something quieter. Something that actually fits you.

If you’re thinking about buying a home; but not just any home, one that fits the life you’re trying to build - Reach out and I’ll share a few ideas that might surprise you.

You don’t have to live like everyone else.
You just need a strategy that works for you.

“We” are currently hiding in the basement because “we” are scared of thunderstorms.
07/21/2025

“We” are currently hiding in the basement because “we” are scared of thunderstorms.

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