What are the opening hours?

Monday 9am - 6:30pm Tuesday 9am - 6:30pm Wednesday 9am - 6:30pm Thursday 9am - 6:30pm Friday 9am - 6:30pm Saturday 9am - 7pm Sunday 9am - 7pm

Team Ella: Ella Gurfinkel, Mortgage Lender

Home
United States
Phoenix, AZ
Team Ella: Ella Gurfinkel, Mortgage Lender

Call Directions Website Contact the business

She takes the time to find solutions for the most complex situations, even if the “home loan puzzle” consists of 1,000 pieces.

Ella Gurfinkel is an experienced Senior Loan Officer at Fairway Home Mortgage in Phoenix, AZ
NMLS #188161, Equal Housing Opportunity
https://nmlsconsumeraccess.org/EntityDetails.aspx/company/2289
bit.ly/FIMCdisclosures Since Valentine’s Day 1996, Ella Gurfinkel has been helping clients, whom she refers to as her extended family, achieve the cornerstone of the American dream – homeownership. Ella, Senior Loan Officer at Fairway Independent Mortgage in Portland, OR, has assisted thousands of families in the last 26 years, always ensuring their best interests along the way. She is dedicated to honest client education and providing speedy pre-approvals. Ella’s decades of experience, personalized approach, and ability to think outside the box, make her a one-of-a-kind mortgage professional you won’t find every day. Ella has a Bachelor’s in Business Economics and is a Certified Mortgage Advisor. She was in the Top 1% of Mortgage Originators in the country and a member of Fairway’s President’s Club in 2021. She services clients in Oregon, Washington, Arizona, and California. When Ella was 16, she and her family immigrated to the United States from the former Soviet Union. She is a Jewish mother to two daughters, and her protective, motherly instinct often overflows into her work at Fairway. Ella is also a proud wife, daughter, and “fur mom” to her Mini-Aussie, Bentley. Traveling is her favorite pastime, but she also enjoys reading adventure, sci-fi, and spy novels; watching Netflix; and spending time with her family. Fun fact: Ella is a German w**e collector! Ella loves her community and often gives back to Jewish causes like NCSY and Chabad of Hillsboro. Through Fairway, she also contributes to the American Warrior Initiative. Her caring, sympathetic life approach usually leaves people feeling relieved and inspired everywhere she goes.

10/26/2026

I can’t call this just another event because every Forward event is special.

As always, I’m leaving with a head full of ideas and a notebook filled from cover to cover.

Thanks, guys!❤️

Arjun Dhingra - Mortgage Guru Ben Nemtin Todd Reynolds Rick Loveall | Mortgages for Self Employed Farrell Hogenauer Kara Steel | Sales & Mortgage Leader

10/21/2026

Scorpions Aren’t the Biggest Threat to Arizona Homes

Scorpions might scare you, but termites can damage your home! 🦂🏡

When buying a home in Arizona, don’t overlook pest inspections.

Ask about the property’s pest control history, previous termite treatments, and how well the home is sealed against unwanted visitors.

Scorpions can affect your comfort, but termites can cause serious structural damage and expensive repairs if left untreated.

Before buying a home in Phoenix or anywhere in Arizona, make sure pest and termite inspections are part of your homebuying checklist.

A little preparation today can help you avoid costly surprises later!

10/19/2026

Stop Asking “How Much House Can I Buy?”

Most buyers start with: “How much house can I buy?” I recommend starting somewhere else: what complete monthly housing payment can you comfortably live with?
Purchase price alone doesn’t tell you that. Two Phoenix homes listed at the same price can have very different monthly costs depending on the loan structure, interest rate, down payment, property taxes, homeowners insurance, mortgage insurance, and HOA fees.

Getting approved for a certain purchase price is one thing. Feeling comfortable with the payment every month after closing is what really matters.

10/16/2026

Your Home’s Direction Could Cost You Money

In Arizona, the direction your house faces can affect your electric bill! ☀️🏡
West-facing windows without proper shade can bring intense afternoon heat into your home, making your AC work harder during Phoenix summers.
Before buying, pay attention to the home’s orientation, window placement, shade, and cooling efficiency.
A beautiful home can come with expensive summer electricity bills if you overlook these details.
Would you consider a home’s orientation before making an offer?

10/15/2026

You Own Your Home. Why Are You Still Paying So Much?

If you already own a home, don’t overlook property taxes when planning your long-term housing costs. Rising property values and reassessments can increase tax bills in some markets, meaning a home that looks more valuable on paper may also become more expensive to carry.

And even after the mortgage is completely paid off, property taxes, insurance, maintenance, and other ownership costs remain. The important lesson for homeowners is simple: track your property assessment and tax bill, understand the rules where you live, and budget for changes instead of assuming your housing costs will stay the same.

10/14/2026

Approved for $600K? That Doesn’t Mean You Should Spend It

Just because a lender approves you for a certain amount doesn’t mean that’s what you should spend.

When I work with homebuyers, I focus on three numbers:
1. Qualification Ceiling: The maximum amount your financial profile and loan guidelines may allow.
2. Comfortable Target: The monthly payment that fits your lifestyle while leaving room for savings and financial flexibility.
3. Stress-Tested Payment: What you could still manage if insurance costs rise, HOA fees increase, or unexpected expenses come up.

The most important number isn’t necessarily your maximum approval. It’s the payment that lets you enjoy your home without feeling financially stretched.
Buy for your life, not just your loan approval.

10/12/2026

Your Pre-Approval Is NOT Your Budget

Just because you’re approved for a certain home price doesn’t mean you should spend that much. 🏡

One of the biggest mistakes I see homebuyers make is treating their maximum mortgage pre-approval as their shopping budget.

They find a home they love, then discover the full monthly payment is higher than expected once property taxes, homeowners insurance, HOA fees, and other expenses are included.

Here’s the smarter approach:

1. Set your comfortable monthly budget first.
2. Ask your loan officer to compare different home prices and down payment options.
3. Review the total monthly payment and estimated cash needed at closing.

Only then should you decide which homes fit your search.

Your mortgage approval tells you what you may qualify for. Your budget tells you what you can comfortably afford.

Don’t fall in love with a home before you understand the numbers.

10/09/2026

Mortgage rates are back above 7%, but that doesn’t automatically mean buying a home right now is a bad financial decision.

I’m Ella Gurfinkel, Senior Loan Officer with Fairway, NMLS #188161. I’ve spent more than 30 years in the mortgage industry and helped over 2,000 families navigate different housing markets, interest-rate environments, and lending scenarios.

In this video, I break down what mortgage rates above 7% actually mean for your monthly payment and why looking at the rate alone can give you an incomplete picture.
A higher mortgage rate can absolutely increase your monthly payment. In the example I walk through, the difference between today’s rate and a rate roughly 70 basis points lower comes to about $155 per month, or close to $2,000 per year.

But there’s another side to this market. As we move into the fall, buyer competition typically slows. Homes can sit longer, and sellers may become more open to negotiating. That can create opportunities to negotiate the purchase price, ask for seller concessions, or potentially use seller credits toward a rate buydown.

In this video, I explain:
• What a 7%+ mortgage rate can mean for your monthly payment
• Why mortgage rates don’t simply follow the Federal Reserve
• How the 10-year Treasury relates to mortgage rates
• Why lower buyer competition can give you more negotiating leverage
• How seller concessions and rate buydowns may change the numbers
• Why getting pre-approved before rates move again matters
• Why trying to perfectly time mortgage rates can backfire
• How I’m helping buyers model different financing scenarios before making an offer

10/08/2026

Moving to Arizona? 🌵 These 5 mistakes could cost you thousands.

After 30+ years in mortgage lending and helping over 2,000 families buy homes, I’ve seen buyers get caught off guard by things they never expected.

Here are the first 5 mistakes to avoid:

1. Getting pre-approved AFTER moving. A new job or change in income can complicate your mortgage approval.

2. Underestimating property taxes on new construction. Your initial tax bill may reflect the land, not the finished home.

3. Assuming home insurance will be cheap. Get a quote for the specific property before buying.

4. Ignoring HOA reserves. Unexpected special assessments can become expensive.

5. Overlooking which direction your home faces. West-facing windows can mean higher cooling bills in Arizona.

And we’re only halfway through.

Part 2 covers 5 more surprises Arizona buyers need to know about.

💬 Which one surprised you the most?

10/06/2026

This Could Be the Best Buyer Opportunity in Years

If you’re buying a home right now, the opportunity depends on what’s happening in your specific market. In areas where inventory is rising and prices are softening, buyers may have negotiating power they haven’t had in years. That can mean asking for seller concessions, negotiating closing cost credits, or making a lower offer on a home that’s been sitting on the market. But in markets where inventory remains tight and prices are still rising, the strategy can look completely different. Don’t buy based on national headlines. Know your local market and negotiate accordingly.

Address

11811 N. Tatum Boulevard, Suite 2700
Phoenix, AZ
85028

Opening Hours

Monday	9am - 6:30pm
Tuesday	9am - 6:30pm
Wednesday	9am - 6:30pm
Thursday	9am - 6:30pm
Friday	9am - 6:30pm
Saturday	9am - 7pm
Sunday	9am - 7pm

Telephone

+15033587769

Website

https://www.fairwayloansbyella.com/

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Team Ella: Ella Gurfinkel, Mortgage Lender posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.