BRown - A LEGACY OF HOME LENDING
Home Lending
Built Around You.
Buying a home is one of life's biggest decisions. The Brown Team combines experienced mortgage guidance, personalized service, and lending solutions designed around where you are — and where you want to go.
Local guidance. Personal service. From pre-approval to closing.
Our Legacy
More Than a Mortgage.
A Relationship.
For over three decades, the Brown Team has built its business around something simple: relationships. As a family-owned lending team, we understand that buying a home isn't just another transaction. It's one of the biggest decisions you'll make.
That's why we believe in clear communication, personal guidance and being there when our clients need us—from the first conversation through closing day and beyond. It's how we've done business for generations, and it's a legacy we're proud to continue.
Financing for Wherever
Life Takes You
Conventional
Standard fixed and adjustable-rate solutions tailored for solid financial profiles.
FHA
Accessible financing with lower down payments, backed by the federal government.
VA
Exclusive, zero-down options designed to honor and serve eligible military veterans.
First-Time Buyer
Guided programs and grants to make your inaugural home purchase smooth.
Jumbo
High-balance lending for luxury properties that exceed standard conventional limits.
Refinance
Strategic rate adjustments or cash-out programs to optimize your current equity.
Investment
Capital solutions for expanding your real estate portfolio and rental properties.
Specialized
Custom structures for unique scenarios, self-employed borrowers, and complex needs.
A Clearer Path to Closing
A straightforward, transparent mortgage journey designed to keep you informed and confident at every stage.
01
Let's
Talk
A zero-pressure conversation to understand your financial goals, timeline, and what home means to you.
02
Understand Options
We present clear, tailored mortgage scenarios, translating complex industry terminology into plain language.
03
Get
Pre-Approved
Solidify your purchasing power with an authoritative, verified pre-approval that sellers and agents trust.
04
Move Toward Closing
Our dedicated team manages the heavy lifting behind the scenes, ensuring a smooth, on-time closing day.
Run the numbers
What would this house actually cost me?
Move the sliders. The full monthly payment updates as you go — not just principal and interest, but taxes, insurance, and mortgage insurance too.
Taxes, insurance & HOA adjust
Illinois and Wisconsin property taxes run high. The defaults above are rough regional averages — replace them with the real numbers from the listing for an accurate figure.
Estimated monthly payment
$0
- Principal & interest$0
- Property tax$0
- Home insurance$0
- Mortgage insurance$0
- HOA dues$0
Estimate only. Not a commitment to lend, a quote, or an offer of credit. Actual payment depends on your credit, loan program, property, and current rates. All loans subject to approval.
For Real Estate Professionals
A Lending Partner You Can
Put Your Name Behind.
Your clients trust your recommendation. We protect that trust by delivering transparent communication, on-time closings, and a frictionless financial experience that reflects beautifully on your reputation.
From dedicated pre-approval tracking to exclusive market insights, the Brown Team operates as an active extension of your own business—ensuring no detail is missed and no deal is left to chance.
Mortgage Tools
Plan Your Next Move
Interactive lead-gen calculators are your first step to a tailored lending strategy. Explore scenarios, estimate payments, and uncover exactly what you can afford—with zero guesswork and complete transparency.
Payment Estimator
Project your monthly mortgage payments including projected taxes and insurance.
Affordability
Discover your maximum purchasing power based on current income and debts.
Rent vs. Buy
Compare long-term wealth building metrics against continuing to rent.
Refinance Savings
Analyze if a rate drop or loan term change actively saves you money over time.
Common questions
Straight answers, before you call.
Most people have the same seven questions when they start looking at a mortgage. Here they are, answered plainly.
What's the first step?
Get pre-approved. It takes about 12 minutes, it costs nothing, and it tells you exactly what you can spend before you tour a single house. You'll come away with a letter you can attach to an offer, so when you find the right place you're ready to move the same day instead of scrambling for financing.
Where is Brown licensed to lend?
Illinois, Wisconsin, and Missouri. We have offices in Edwardsville IL, Lake Geneva WI, and Oakbrook Terrace IL, and we serve the surrounding markets including the Metro East, the greater St. Louis area, Walworth County, and Chicago's western suburbs. If you're buying outside those states, tell us and we'll point you somewhere reputable.
What makes Brown different from a big bank or an online lender?
You get a person, not a portal. Chris Brown started this company and three of his children work in it, so the people handling your file are the people who own the business. Nobody passes you to another department. And listing agents in these markets know our letters mean the work is already done, which matters when your offer is one of several.
Do you charge a fee to get started?
No. Getting pre-approved is free and carries no obligation. Loan costs like appraisal, title, and origination come later in the process, and we'll give you a written Loan Estimate breaking every one of them down before you commit to anything. If a lender won't show you that itemized sheet up front, ask why.
How long does it take to close?
Most purchase loans close in 30 to 45 days from accepted contract, and we can move faster when a seller needs it. The single biggest factor is how quickly documents come back to us. Buyers who send everything in the first week almost always close on time.
Do I really need 20% down?
No, and this myth costs people years of waiting. VA and USDA loans can require nothing down for buyers who qualify. FHA starts at 3.5%. Conventional loans can start at 3% for first-time buyers. Twenty percent isn't a requirement, it just lets you skip mortgage insurance. We'll run the real math on your situation.
Can you help if my credit isn't perfect?
Often, yes. Conventional loans generally start around a 620 score, FHA can go as low as 580 with 3.5% down, and VA loans have no set minimum though most lenders look for 580 or better. If you're below those numbers, we'll tell you which specific item is holding you back and roughly how long it takes to fix. Plenty of our clients get approved on the second try.