Mortgage Guides
Straight answers from the family-run Brown team about buying, moving up, refinancing, and comparing mortgage offers. Each guide is written by a licensed loan advisor at Brown – A Legacy of Home Lending and reviewed by our founder, Chris Brown, so you can make your next move with real information instead of guesswork.
Start Here
Start with the guide that matches your next move. First-time buyers in Edwardsville and the Metro East should begin with the First-Time Home Buyer Guide and the Application Checklist. Homeowners buying their next home should read the Move-Up Buyer Guide. Homeowners near retirement should read Refinancing Near or In Retirement, and anyone comparing offers should read How Mortgage Rates, Fees & Quotes Work.
Every guide from Brown – A Legacy of Home Lending is free, written in plain English, and focused on the questions our loan advisors hear every week in our Edwardsville, Oakbrook Terrace, and Lake Geneva offices. None of them quote rates, because rates change daily and depend on your full financial picture. When you're ready for real numbers, a free pre-approval gives you a personalized answer.
The Guides
Brown – A Legacy of Home Lending publishes five core mortgage guides for homebuyers and homeowners in Illinois, Indiana, Missouri, Wisconsin, and Florida. Each one answers a specific question, from how much you need to buy your first home to how to tell which Loan Estimate is actually the better deal.
First-Time Buyers
Everything a first-time buyer in Edwardsville, Glen Carbon, Collinsville, and the rest of the Metro East needs to know before house hunting: down payment options, credit basics, state housing agency help, and each step from pre-approval to closing day.
Read the guide →Application Checklist
The documents, numbers, and decisions you'll need when you apply. Gather pay stubs, tax returns, bank statements, and down payment records before you start, so your application moves faster.
Read the guide →Move-Up Buyers
How growing families can buy their next home without losing their footing on the one they own: timing, contingent offers, how bridge financing generally works, and how to plan your cash to close.
Read the guide →Refinance in Retirement
For homeowners approaching or in retirement who want to lower a payment, tap equity, or understand their options: the questions to weigh, how retirement income is generally reviewed, and when a refinance may not be worth it.
Read the guide →Rates & Fees
What drives a mortgage rate, what fees can appear on a Loan Estimate, and how to compare offers fairly, including how to line up two Loan Estimates side by side to see which one truly costs less.
Read the guide →Tools & Resources
Beyond the guides, Brown – A Legacy of Home Lending offers a full loan program library, a free pre-approval, mortgage calculators, and the team you'll actually work with. Together they take you from reading about a mortgage to knowing your real budget.
Compare Conventional, FHA, VA, USDA, Jumbo, down payment assistance, renovation, construction, HELOC, and other programs in one place.
Explore loan options →Free, no obligation, and about 12 minutes to start. Know your budget and shop with a letter in hand.
Get pre-approved →See how much home you can afford, compare renting versus buying, and check whether a refinance pays for itself. No credit check.
Use the calculators →Meet the family-run team behind the guides, with each advisor's direct line and NMLS license number.
Meet the Brown team →Quick Answers
It depends on the loan. Generally, FHA loans start at 3.5% down with a 580+ credit score, conventional loans can start at 3% down for eligible first-time buyers, and VA and USDA loans can be 0% down for eligible borrowers. Down payment assistance may also help. All loans are subject to approval.
Conventional loans typically require a 620+ credit score, and FHA loans with 3.5% down generally require 580+. Brown – A Legacy of Home Lending also offers Expanded Credit programs for some borrowers. A free pre-approval shows where you stand, and all loans are subject to credit approval.
Most purchase loans close in 30–45 days from accepted contract. You receive a Loan Estimate within 3 business days of application and the Closing Disclosure at least 3 business days before closing. Plan 45–60 minutes for the signing.
Often, yes. Options such as Bridge Loans can help you use equity in your current home toward the next one, subject to approval. The Move-Up Buyer Guide explains how buying and selling at the same time generally works.
Yes, many homeowners refinance near or in retirement. Lenders generally review documented income, assets, credit, and home equity. Depending on your goals, options may include a refinance, a HELOC, or a reverse mortgage, all subject to approval.
Request Loan Estimates on the same day for the same loan amount, loan type, term, and lock period. Then compare the interest rate, points, lender fees, APR, and cash to close together, not just the rate.
A point is an upfront fee paid at closing to lower your interest rate. One point equals 1% of the loan amount, so one point on a $300,000 loan is $3,000. Points make the most sense if you plan to keep the loan long enough to recover the cost through lower payments.
Yes. Cinthia Martinez Arellano, Loan Assistant at Brown – A Legacy of Home Lending, is bilingual and supports Spanish-speaking homebuyers throughout the loan process. Sí, hablamos español. Call 618-323-3508 and ask for Cinthia.
Guides explain how mortgages work. A conversation with a Brown loan advisor tells you how they work for you. Start a free pre-approval or call the team.
Office hours: Monday–Friday 8:30 AM–5:30 PM; Saturday & Sunday closed.
Extended Lending Support: 7 days a week, 8:00 AM–9:00 PM.
Brown – A Legacy of Home Lending is a team of Preferred Rate, a Division of American Pacific Mortgage Corporation, NMLS #1850. Licensed in IL, IN, MO, WI, and FL. Equal Housing Opportunity. This information is for educational purposes only and is not a commitment to lend. All loans are subject to credit approval, underwriting, and property eligibility. Rates, terms, and programs are subject to change without notice. Licensing details.
