The Chaney Mortgage Group

10/14/2026

What if you could temporarily lower your mortgage interest rate?

For some, this strategy may make sense.

10/13/2026

Great connecting with two of my Mutual of Omaha Mortgage teammates, Carie Holzl and Todd Gosden, at the Greater Heartland Summit!

I’ve always believed that if you want to grow, surround yourself with people who are already where you want to be.

That’s exactly what this event was all about. I had the opportunity to learn alongside real estate investors who own 100+ doors, agents who are crushing it in their markets, and Todd and Carie, who each bring 25+ years of experience and a wealth of knowledge on the mortgage side of the business.

Being in rooms like this challenges you to think bigger, learn from others, and find ways to get better at what you do.

I’m walking away with new ideas, valuable insights, and plenty of takeaways that I’m excited to put into action for my clients and referral partners.

Never stop learning. Never stop growing. And never underestimate the value of surrounding yourself with people who push you to be better.

10/09/2026

One of the most underrated things about living in Southwest Missouri is the cost of living. And the housing market is a perfect example. Take a look at these three homes. All are around $300,000, but what you get for your money is VERY different.

Pic #1: Springfield, MO: A newer, larger home with better overall quality, located on the outskirts of town.

Pic #2: Chicago, IL: A remodeled home that's roughly 40 years older than its Springfield counterpart.

Pic #3: Dallas, TX: A home in the inner city, with an annual property tax bill about $4,000 higher than the Springfield home.

Now, to be fair, these homes aren't in identical locations, and every city has its own advantages. But that's exactly the point: where you choose to live can make a huge difference in what your housing budget gets you. In Springfield, your $300,000 can go a lot further and that can mean more space, a newer home, and potentially more room in your monthly budget.

Same budget. Three cities. Three very different homes. Which one would YOU choose?

10/08/2026

I never planned on being a mortgage lender.

True story.

When I went to college, my plan was to become a physician. I majored in Chemistry and Biology, took the MCAT, and was applying to medical schools.

Then somewhere along the way, I had a realization; I was done with school. I wanted to get out into the real world, start earning an income, and do something where I could make a difference.

So, after graduating from Drury University, I jumped into financial planning. I enjoyed the financial side of it, but I quickly realized that the industry felt a little too salesy for me. So I started looking for other opportunities.

That’s when a mortgage lending opportunity came along. At the time, I had zero banking experience and zero lending experience. But instead of seeing that as a reason not to do it, I saw it as a challenge. So I jumped in with both feet.

The first couple of years were tough. I was learning on the fly, figuring things out as I went, and trying to build a client base from scratch. But somewhere around year three, something changed. I started to see the impact a good mortgage lender can have on a family. I also started getting repeat clients and referrals from people I had helped before. That meant a lot to me. Fast forward more than 10 years, and I’m still doing something I never planned on doing and I genuinely love it. I get to help first-time buyers navigate one of the biggest purchases of their lives. I get to help growing families move into their next home. I get to help parents downsize. And sometimes, I get to help parents help their own kids buy their first home. That’s a lot more rewarding than the 20-something version of me ever could have imagined.

So no, I never planned on becoming a mortgage lender. But I’m pretty thankful I stumbled into it.

Sometimes the career you never planned for ends up being the one you were meant to find.

10/07/2026

10/07/2026

I’m building a homebuyer guide, to help clients throughout the home process and after they close on their home.

However, I need help finding these business partners I can send my clients to. I’m thinking painters, plumbers, electricians, estate planners and anyone else you think would be important for a home owner to know. Who do you know?

10/06/2026

What are your thoughts on the name change??

I was really shooting for the Cashew Chickens!

10/06/2026

If you’re preapproved already, stay that way and don’t do these three things!

09/30/2026

The biggest house you can afford may be the wrong house for you.

What’s your goal?