First Choice Lending Services

10/17/2026

Did you know a temporary buydown can lower your payment in the early years of your loan? 🏡

Our new Buydown Calculator helps you see what that could look like for you. Plug in your home price, down payment, and rate to compare four buydown options year by year, along with what each one costs to fund.

Try it free 👉 https://fcls.com/mortgage-calculators/buydown/

Want a second set of eyes on your numbers? Our local loan officers are happy to help.

10/15/2026

Own a rental in the Smokies, or thinking about it? Read this before tax season.

👉 Blog: Why Depreciation Is a Real Estate Investor’s Best Friend

Here's the short version: a Pigeon Forge cabin can put $20,000 in your pocket and only show about $8,720 of it on your taxes.

That's depreciation. You get a deduction every year for wear and tear on the cabin, even though you didn't spend a dime on it that year.

We broke down how it works, what changed with bonus depreciation in 2026, and the one catch to plan for when you sell.

Not tax advice, just the stuff worth asking your CPA about.

Depreciation can cut taxes on real rental income from your Smoky Mountain cabin. How it works, what 100% bonus depreciation means in 2026, and the catch.

10/12/2026

Buying a cabin in the Smokies? Read this blog before you make an offer, then take it to your CPA.

A lot of the tax stuff gets locked in at closing: whose name is on the deed, when you close, how much of the price counts as land vs. the cabin itself. Hard to fix later.

🤔 These are the 12 questions we'd ask first.

💬 Not tax advice, just a good starting list for that conversation.

👉 Blog: 12 Questions to Ask Your CPA Before Buying a Rental Property

First Choice Lending Services | NMLS #473797 | Equal Housing Lender

Buying a Smoky Mountain cabin or short-term rental? Ask your CPA these 12 questions first, from the STR tax loophole to depreciation and DSCR loans.

10/09/2026

Whether you’re buying your first home, moving up, downsizing, relocating, or investing, we’re here to help finance your next chapter and get you home. 🏡

10/09/2026

Big congrats to Gibbs High School’s Reid Daniel, the SCH Real Estate Team’s Week 7 High School Football Player of the Week! 🏈 A pick-six, a receiving TD, 4 tackles, a sack, a pass breakup, and a forced fumble in the win over Anderson County. Talk about doing it all!

Glad to partner with Steven Hensley SCH Real Estate Team and Atlas Title Group to celebrate the student athletes in our community!

WE HAVE A WINNER! 🏈

Congratulations to Gibbs Eagles Football's Reid Daniel (Gibbs High School Eagles) for receiving the most votes and winning the Week 7 SCH Real Estate Team High School Football Player of the Week award. Daniel had a huge game for the Eagles as he totaled 1 INT for TD, 1 receiving TD, 4 tackles, 1 sack, 1 PBU, 1 FF in win over Anderson County.

As a reminder, each school football regular season, SCH Real Estate, Atlas Title Group & First Choice Lending Services will donate a combined $1,000 to the school's athletic department for that week's award-winning student athlete.

Help us spread the word, too, and 'LIKE', 'FOLLOW' and 'SHARE' THIS page so your team doesn't miss out this high school football season!

Be on the lookout for our Week 8 poll that will go live at schrealestate.net/polls at 10:00 AM EST on Monday morning.

10/06/2026

⛳🇺🇸 The FCLS Golf Classic is just under a month away

Join us Thursday, November 5th at Avalon Country Club for Salute to Veterans, our 2026 Golf Classic benefiting Folds of Honor.

Folds of Honor provides educational scholarships to the spouses and children of military members and first responders who were killed or disabled in service. Every foursome, sponsor, and donation helps a family who's already given so much.

Here's the rundown:
🏌️ [Format — 4-Person Scramble]
⏰ [Registration 10AM / Sh***un Start 11AM]
🍔 [Lunch, snacks, and prizes included]
🤝 [Sponsorship levels available]

Grab your crew, round up a foursome, and come spend a fall day on the course for a great cause. Spots are limited, so don't wait.

Link to register is in the comments 👇⛳️

10/06/2026

Here are 5 things you can start doing now to put yourself in a strong spot to getting your home loan approved:

1️⃣ Know your credit score. Check your report for free at annualcreditreport.com and fix anything that looks off.

2️⃣ Save your cash. Closing costs, inspections, and moving expenses add up fast.

3️⃣ Keep your job. Steady income matters to lenders, and there are options for self-employed borrowers too.

4️⃣ Pay down your debt. A lower debt-to-income ratio can open up more options.

5️⃣ Talk to a loan officer. They'll help you build a plan and get you pre-approved.

Swipe through for the details 👉 and connect with a loan officer when you're ready to start your home search! We're are here to help.

10/05/2026

Thinking about buying a short-term rental cabin in the Smokies?

With a DSCR loan, qualifying is based on what the property can earn, not your W-2 or tax returns. That makes it a strong fit for self-employed buyers and investors looking to purchase their first short-term rental or add to their portfolio.

Short-term rentals in Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge, and Sevierville can be a real path to building long-term wealth.

Want to see if a DSCR loan fits your plans? Give our team a call to find out what you qualify for.

10/03/2026

Steve and Lyndsey Logan are one of our finest tenured loan officer teams at First Choice Lending Services! 👋

If you've worked with Steve and Lyndsey, you already know they're some of the nicest people you'll ever meet. Pair that with years of experience and a deep knowledge of the mortgage process, and you've got a team that knows how to get things done the right way.

They always do what's right, and they go out of their way to help every single person they come in contact with. Whether you're buying your first home, moving up, or exploring a refinance, they'll walk you through every step with honesty, care, and confidence. 🏡

If a move is on your list this fall, the Logan team is ready to help. 🍂