Homeownership Made Clear, Confident, and Empowering

You don't need 20%. Conventional loans start at 3% down for many first-time buyers and 5% otherwise, FHA requires 3.5%, and VA and USDA loans require nothing down. Quad Cities prices sit below the national median, so on a $215,000 home a 3% down payment is about $6,450. See the full breakdown →

It genuinely changes the math. Property tax rates, transfer taxes, closing customs and first-time buyer programs are all different across the river — Iowa buyers use Iowa Title Guaranty and may qualify for Iowa Finance Authority programs, while Illinois buyers work with private title insurance and IHDA programs. Comparing two similar houses on opposite banks means comparing two different monthly payments, not just two prices.

On the Iowa side, the Iowa Finance Authority offers a $2,500 grant or a second loan of up to 5% of the purchase price when paired with a FirstHome or Homes for Iowans mortgage, plus a $5,000 Military Homeownership grant for eligible veterans and service members. Illinois buyers have separate IHDA options. Several Quad Cities municipalities run their own programs on top. Ask before you assume you don't qualify.

Send me two recent pay stubs, two years of W-2s or tax returns, and two months of bank statements. I'll verify credit, income and assets and get you a real pre-approval letter, usually within one to three business days — and I'll explain what the number means rather than just handing you one.

Constantly, and it's the part of the job I like most. First-time buyers get the most value out of a lender who explains rather than rushes — what the payment actually consists of, which loan fits, and what happens at each step.

I'm licensed in Iowa and Illinois, which covers both sides of the Quad Cities, working from Key Mortgage Group's Davenport office at 5189 Utica Ridge Road.

Property taxes and insurance, usually collected monthly through escrow. Then maintenance — a common rule of thumb is 1% to 2% of the home's value annually — utilities that typically run higher than an apartment's, and HOA dues if applicable. The mortgage payment is not the cost of owning the home, and I'd rather you hear that from me now than learn it in year one.

For most standard loans, no. For many down payment assistance programs, yes — at least one borrower usually has to complete an approved course. They're typically free, online and a few hours long. Do it early so it isn't the thing holding up your closing.

Often 1% to 2% of the purchase price. It's held in escrow and credited back to you at closing toward your down payment or costs, so it isn't an extra expense — just earlier. You generally get it back if you exit under a contingency in your contract, and generally don't if you simply change your mind.

Yes. Student loans count toward your debt-to-income ratio, but how the payment is calculated differs across loan programs — especially for deferred or income-driven repayment plans. The same borrower can qualify for meaningfully different amounts depending on the program, so it's worth running more than one scenario.

Escrow is the account where your lender holds monthly collections for property taxes and insurance and pays those bills for you. Your rate is fixed but those bills aren't — when they rise, the escrow portion of your payment rises too, and any shortage gets repaid over the following year. It's the most common payment surprise there is.

Two most recent pay stubs, two years of W-2s (or two years of tax returns if you're self-employed), two months of bank statements with all pages included, and a photo ID. If you're using a VA loan, add your DD-214 or Certificate of Eligibility. Gathering it before you apply is the easiest way to keep things moving.