Travis Erickson Mortgage Broker - Bonelli Financial Group NMLS 1193479

08/28/2026

Get asked this a lot, so figured I'd share it here too:

If you know you're going to sell or refinance in the next 5-7 years, a 30-year fixed rate might be costing you money for "security" you're never going to use.

Not saying ARMs are always the answer. Fixed-rate is still the right call for a lot of people. But it should be a decision based on your timeline, not just the safest-sounding option.

Talked through some of this for a USA TODAY article on how ARMs actually work: https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/money-management/real-estate/what-is-an-adjustable-rate-mortgage/91474458007/

If you're weighing your options on a purchase or refinance, always happy to walk through the numbers with you.

An adjustable-rate mortgage offers lower initial payments, but is that better? Learn how ARM loans work and whether one fits your homebuying plans.

08/21/2026

Excited to share something I've been building outside of the office: Our Tour, a new golf networking league for professionals across the East Valley, is officially open for registration.

This isn't just golf. It's real estate agents, lenders, title and insurance folks, and business owners all getting paired up to actually build relationships, not just hand out business cards.

Membership is $150 for the season, event entry is $150 per player with cash prizes on the line, and our first event is Wednesday, September 9th at Las Colinas Golf Club in Queen Creek. Only 72 spots for the opener, so don't wait too long.

If you're a realtor, lender, or business owner in the Valley looking for a better way to network, come play a round with us.

👉 playourtour.com/join

Tag someone who needs to be out there with us!

08/07/2026

07/24/2026

Great turnout at yesterday's BNI Scottsdale chapter kickoff! Excited to be part of building this group from the ground up. Networking only works when the people in the room actually show up for each other, and I saw a lot of that energy yesterday.

If you're a business owner in Scottsdale looking for a referral network that actually delivers, keep an eye on this chapter. Glad to help make introductions if you want to check it out.

07/20/2026

Big week ahead. This Thursday I'm helping launch Desert Dealmakers, a brand new BNI chapter in Scottsdale, and I'd love to have some of you there.

For those who haven't done BNI before, here's the short version: it's a weekly networking group where each profession gets one seat, and the whole point is sending each other real, qualified referrals. Not just handing out business cards and hoping.

Since we're a brand new chapter, we're still filling out the group, which means right now is genuinely the best time to get in. If you're a realtor, contractor, insurance agent, attorney, HVAC company, pest control, or any business that runs on word of mouth, this could be a great fit.

☕ Coffee and breakfast on us
📅 Thursday, July 23 | 9:30–11:00 AM
📍 9221 E Via de Ventura, Scottsdale, AZ 85258

Come check it out as a guest, no commitment needed.

🔗 Grab a free spot here:

Be a founding member of Desert Dealmakers, a new BNI networking chapter launching in Scottsdale. Coffee & connections included.

07/01/2026

Big news: we're launching a brand new networking group in Scottsdale called Desert Dealmakers (part of BNI).

If you're a local business owner or professional and you're tired of networking that doesn't actually lead anywhere, come check this out. We're building this chapter from the ground up, and founding members get first pick of their industry category.

📅 Kickoff Event: July 23rd, 9:30-11:00 AM
📍 9221 E Via de Ventura, Scottsdale, AZ 85258
☕ Coffee and breakfast provided

RSVP here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/bni-desert-dealmakers-launch-party-tickets-1992945073363

Would love to see some familiar faces there. Feel free to share with anyone who might be a good fit.

Be a founding member of Desert Dealmakers, a new BNI networking chapter launching in Scottsdale. Coffee & connections included.

06/18/2026

Something I'm proud of. Clever Real Estate asked me to weigh in on their national guide about working with a mortgage broker, and they used my take.

Here's the thing I wish more buyers understood. When you walk into a bank, you're seeing one lender's options. That's it. If your situation fits their rules, you're fine. If it doesn't, there's nowhere else to go.

My job is different. I work with dozens of lenders, so I get to shop your loan around instead of forcing it into one box. More options usually means a better fit, and often a better deal, because the wholesale side carries less overhead than a retail branch.

14 years in and that's still what I love about this work. Read the full guide here: https://listwithclever.com/real-estate-blog/mortgage-broker/ -is-a-mortgage-broker

Travis Erickson | NMLS # 1193479 | Bonelli Financial Group NMLS # 1211572 | Equal Housing Opportunity

Mortgage broker or a lender? Learn how brokers shop multiple lenders for you, how that differs from banks, and which option saves you more.

06/09/2026

⚠️ SCOTTSDALE INVESTORS: I'm about to save you from making a $200K mistake.

That beautiful McCormick Ranch house you've been watching? The one listed at $825K that "would make a great rental"?

I ran the actual numbers. DSCR ratio: 0.79.

Translation: No qualifying for a DSCR loan. Your down payment sits there earning 0% while you scramble for alternative financing that costs you thousands more.

I see this every week now. Investors falling in love with properties that look good but don't pencil.

So I decided to solve this problem. I analyzed 5 REAL Scottsdale deals across every price range and rental strategy.

The results will change how you evaluate investment properties:

🏠 $625K Old Town: FAILS as rental, WINS as Airbnb (same house!)
🏠 $825K McCormick Ranch: Needs creative financing structure
🏠 $1.4M North Scottsdale: Challenging even with luxury STR income
🏠 $550K South Scottsdale: Works with the right strategy
🏠 $695K Airpark: Gets to 1.0 DSCR with 30% down

Here's what nobody tells you: Scottsdale prices have outrun rental income. The "rules" from 2022 don't work anymore.

But the deals ARE still there. You just need to know where to look and how to structure them.

I laid out everything - purchase prices, rental comps, DSCR calculations, and exactly which neighborhoods still work.

Because if you're going to invest six figures, shouldn't you know the real numbers first?

Get the full breakdown: https://www.bestmortgageloansfast.com/scottsdale-dscr-loan-deal-analysis-2026-neighborhood-breakdown

Drop a 🏠 if you've experienced this financing struggle yourself.

Real DSCR loan scenarios across 5 Scottsdale neighborhoods using June 2026 rates. See which areas qualify at 1.0+ DSCR and which need alternative structures. Honest analysis with actual numbers.

05/20/2026

Had a client come in last month after two bank rejections.

Owns a remodeling company. Been in business 14 years. Makes great money. The kind of guy who never misses a payment on anything.

The bank looked at his tax return, saw $54K, and said no.

We looked at 24 months of bank statements. Saw $31,400 a month coming in. Ran the real numbers. Got him approved on a $485,000 home in Gilbert.

Closed in 16 days.

This happens more than people realize. If you're self-employed (contractor, business owner, real estate agent, 1099, runs your own practice), your tax return is probably not the best way to show what you earn. Your CPA made sure of that.

Bank statement loans exist specifically for this situation. No tax returns. No W-2s. Just your actual deposits.

I put together a full guide explaining exactly how these work in Mesa and Gilbert right now — current rates, who qualifies, how income gets calculated, and what you can do before you apply to qualify for more.

If you or someone you know has been told they don't qualify share this or have them message me. Takes 20 minutes to know for sure.

Travis Erickson | NMLS 1193479
Bonelli Financial Group | NMLS 2621584
Equal Housing Lender

🔗 Link to the full guide in the comments.

05/06/2026

🏡 Thinking about buying a rental property in Mesa or Gilbert?
Before you make an offer — run your DSCR numbers first.

We just published a full breakdown of where investment property financing actually works in the East Valley right now, with real deal math at May 2026 rates.

Here's the honest version:

✅ East Mesa at $445K with $2,750 rent → DSCR 1.01 → qualifies
⚠️ South Mesa at $390K with $2,200 rent → DSCR 0.92 → needs below-1.0 program
⚠️ West Gilbert at $475K with $2,350 rent → DSCR 0.81 → needs larger down or no-ratio structure
🏊 Gilbert Heritage District STR → LTR equivalent 0.80 → but actual Airbnb gross clears $3,500/month → deal works with the right lender

No tax returns. No W-2s. No income verification.

We're based right here in Mesa and we've closed DSCR loans in as few as 7 days.

Have a deal you're looking at? Drop the address in the comments or send us a message — we'll run the numbers for free.

👇 Full deal analysis linked below