The Santos Team, Total Mortgage NMLS #49570

06/08/2026

A heartfelt thank you to CHFA for once again giving The Santos Team at Total Mortgage the opportunity to serve as a Preferred Lender and present at Saturday's First Time Homebuyer Seminar.

It was an honor to speak with future homeowners and help educate them on the programs, resources, and opportunities available right here in Connecticut. Homeownership can feel overwhelming, but events like these provide valuable information and guidance to help make the process more achievable.

Thank you to CHFA, the Urban League of Southern Connecticut, and everyone who attended and participated. We are proud to partner with organizations that are committed to helping more individuals and families achieve the dream of homeownership.

Congratulations to everyone taking the first steps toward purchasing a home. We are excited to be part of your journey!

06/08/2026

A heartfelt thank you to CHFA for once again giving The Santos Team at Total Mortgage the opportunity to serve as a Preferred Lender and present at Saturday's First Time Homebuyer Seminar.

It was an honor to speak with future homeowners and help educate them on the programs, resources, and opportunities available right here in Connecticut. Homeownership can feel overwhelming, but events like these provide valuable information and guidance to help make the process more achievable.

Thank you to CHFA, the Urban League of Southern Connecticut, and everyone who attended and participated. We are proud to partner with organizations that are committed to helping more individuals and families achieve the dream of homeownership.

Congratulations to everyone taking the first steps toward purchasing a home. We are excited to be part of your journey!

06/05/2026

CHFA and The Santos Team will be presenting tomorrow at our FREE First-Time Homebuyer Seminar!

If you do not have any plans and have been thinking about buying a home, this is a great opportunity to learn about the homebuying process in a relaxed, no-pressure environment.

We will cover everything from getting pre-approved and understanding credit to available loan programs, down payment assistance, closing costs, and what to expect throughout the homebuying journey.

Whether you are ready to buy now or just starting to explore your options, we would love to have you join us.

Register using the link below and feel free to share this with anyone who may be interested in becoming a homeowner.

Hope to see you tomorrow! 🏡🔑

Join us for our next FREE First-time Homeownership Seminar on Saturday, June 6th from 12:00pm-1:30pm at the Stamford Government Center (4th Floor).

We will be joined by Urban League of Southern Connecticut and Total Mortgage - Connecticut The Santos Team, Total Mortgage NMLS #49570, and they'll be sharing valuable knowledge, offering guidance, and presenting on programs and resources to help make homeownership possible in Connecticut!

Register here: http://info.chfa.org/stamford2026

06/03/2026

I was honored to be part of this year's Masuk Senior Capstone presentations and what an incredible experience it was.

Meeting with these students and listening to them talk about their projects was such a rewarding experience. I was truly impressed by the amount of time, effort and dedication they put into their work. It was amazing to see their confidence, hear their ideas and learn about the goals they have for their future. We have some incredibly talented young people in our community and I left feeling inspired and excited for what is ahead for them.

Thank you to Masuk High School for inviting me to serve as a judge. It was a privilege to be part of such a meaningful program and to help support these students as they shared the results of months of hard work.

Congratulations to all of the seniors on a job well done. Wishing you all the best in your next chapter!

MONROE, Conn. --- Capstone Projects expose Masuk High School students to professions in a variety of fields, allowing them real world experience under the guidance of a mentor. The graduation requirement includes 20 hours of fieldwork, culminating in a presentation before panels of community judges....

06/02/2026

Buy Now, Pay Later Could Impact Your Mortgage Approval

Many people use Buy Now, Pay Later programs such as Affirm, Klarna, Afterpay, Sezzle and Zip because they offer a convenient way to spread out payments.

What many homebuyers do not realize is that these accounts can impact a future mortgage approval.

Unlike traditional loans and credit cards, Buy Now, Pay Later accounts do not always appear on a credit report. However, lenders may identify them during the review of bank statements and financial documents.

If you are planning to purchase a home, it is important to understand that these payments may need to be included in your debt to income ratio, which could affect how much home you qualify for.

My advice? If you are thinking about buying a home in the near future, be sure to discuss all recurring payment obligations with your mortgage professional, even if they do not show up on your credit report.

The more we know upfront, the smoother the mortgage process will be and the fewer surprises you will encounter during underwriting.

Thinking about buying a home and wondering where you stand? I am always happy to help.

📞 203-526-9345
📧 [email protected]

06/01/2026

In Loving Memory of Kathy Chartier
President & CEO, Members Credit Union

The Santos Team would like to take a moment to honor the memory of Kathy Chartier, President and CEO of Members Credit Union.

Kathy was a respected leader, mentor and advocate for the credit union philosophy of people helping people. Her compassion, integrity and commitment to serving others left a lasting impact on countless members, colleagues and business partners throughout our community.

For 18 years, Audra and her team had the privilege of working alongside Kathy. What began as a business relationship grew into a friendship built on trust, mutual respect and a shared commitment to helping others.

Kathy's leadership extended far beyond the walls of Members Credit Union. She inspired those around her, supported her community and made everyone she met feel valued.

On behalf of The Santos Team at Total Mortgage, we extend our deepest condolences to Kathy's family, friends and the entire Members Credit Union family. We are grateful for the opportunity to have known and worked with such an extraordinary person.

Her legacy of leadership, service and kindness will never be forgotten.

05/15/2026

Excited to be part of this FREE First Time Homeownership Seminar on 6/6 in Stamford with Connecticut Housing Finance Authority, Urban League of Southern Connecticut and The Santos Team at Total Mortgage!

We will be sharing information on the homebuying process, down payment assistance programs and resources available to help make homeownership possible in Connecticut.

Would love to see you there!

Register here:
http://info.chfa.org/stamford2026

Join us for our next FREE First-time Homeownership Seminar on Saturday, June 6th from 12:00pm-1:30pm at the Stamford Government Center (4th Floor).

We will be joined by Urban League of Southern Connecticut and Total Mortgage - Connecticut The Santos Team, Total Mortgage NMLS #49570, and they'll be sharing valuable knowledge, offering guidance, and presenting on programs and resources to help make homeownership possible in Connecticut!

Register here: http://info.chfa.org/stamford2026

05/10/2026

05/07/2026

Had such a great experience volunteering at the Financial Reality Fair at Stamford High School with Tatiana 😊

Students were able to go through a real life financial simulation where they learned about budgeting, monthly expenses, credit, housing costs and the importance of making smart financial decisions for their future.

We love being part of events like this that help educate and prepare the next generation. A huge thank you to Members Credit Union for organizing such an amazing and meaningful event for the students and community!

05/04/2026

The Fed just met and here is what it means for the market and your options.

The Federal Reserve met on April 30 and May 1 and as expected, held interest rates steady.

There was no rate cut this time, but the message is clear. They are watching inflation closely and taking a patient approach before making any changes.

So what does that mean for mortgage rates?

Mortgage rates are not directly set by the Fed, but they are influenced by the market.

Right now:
• Rates are expected to stay relatively stable in the short term
• Day to day movement will continue based on economic data
• There is still potential for rate cuts later this year

What I am seeing this create:
• Buyers moving forward now with a plan to refinance later
• Homeowners tapping into equity instead of touching their low first mortgage
• More people exploring flexible loan options

There is still opportunity in this market, it just looks a little different.

If you are thinking about buying, refinancing or just want to understand your options, The Santos Team is always here to help you 203-526-9345 or [email protected].