Frequently Asked Questions

Homebuyers and homeowners usually have many questions when they come to us for help with their home loans.

Below are answers to some of the questions we are asked most often. Don’t see the answer you are looking for here? Please call (816) 631-9687 to schedule a consult.

Q: What are your mortgage rates?

There is no blanket answer to this question, since mortgage rates change over time. Not only that, but your qualifications will affect the rates you receive.

If you contact us for a consultation, we will have a chance to provide you with some estimates based on your information.

Q: What is the maximum amount I can borrow?

Certain types of mortgages have a universal cap, while others depend on the qualifications of individual borrowers. In either case, what type of loan you apply for and your borrower profile will determine the maximum amount.

Q: Is my credit score high enough for me to buy a home?

That depends on the type of mortgage you are applying for. We also will assess your income, debt-to-income ratio, and employment status when making lending decisions.

Many borrowers are surprised to learn that there are mortgage products aimed specifically at customers without perfect credit.

Some examples include USDA loans, VA loans, and FHA loans. During your consultation, we can discuss these and other options with you.

Something else to consider is your down payment. By making a larger down payment, you can compensate for some issues in your credit score.

Plus, you may be able to raise your credit score before submitting your application. We will advise you as to how you can go about that process during your consultation.

Q: Can I buy a home without a 20% down payment?

Yes, it is possible to move into a home without making a 20% down payment. Low down payments are available for conventional loans, FHA loans, VA loans, and USDA loans. Actually, with a VA or USDA mortgage, you can buy a house with zero down.

You do not need a perfect credit score to qualify for a low down payment or no down payment.

Q: What is the maximum loan amount I can get?

Factors that impact the maximum amount of money you can borrow when purchasing a home include the type of mortgage, your borrower qualifications, and the loan limits when you apply.

We can give you an idea of the maximum loan amount for different mortgage products during your consultation.

Q: Do you work with borrowers where I live?

We are an Equal Housing Lender based in Kansas City and working with borrowers throughout Missouri.

Get Answers to All Your Mortgage Questions

If you have more questions about buying a home or refinancing, you can contact us at (816) 631-9687 to schedule a consult. We look forward to helping you apply for the ideal home loan.

See What Our Clients Are Saying About Us!

Janet McGowan
Janet McGowan
22:20 02 Jun 23
Great team to work with!
Emily Fox
Emily Fox
13:24 28 May 23
Derek and his team were tremendously helpful in buying our first home. They were prompt at answering questions and explained the house-buying processes in a way that made sense, and even cleared up confusion that other people involved told us about how buying a house works. They walked with us step by step through the process and did everything they could to help us along the way. If we buy in the future, we'd gladly work with McGowan Mortgages again!
Derick Bradford
Derick Bradford
19:28 11 Mar 23
Very hard working team that won’t give up until they get you into a home! I went thru three lenders in bankruptcy and Derek made it happen! Bad mf lol
Janet warden
Janet warden
18:32 11 Mar 23
Everyone at McGowan Mortgage was great! They made the whole process easy and stress free.
Adam Stafford
Adam Stafford
16:36 02 Mar 23
It was an up and down journey to purchase my first home but through their knowledge and hard work they made it happen and I couldn't be happier, thanks gents
Abdel Toukourou
Abdel Toukourou
00:13 02 Mar 23
Working with McGowan and his team was the best decision we made to start our home buying process, they did a fantastic job getting us in a our new home on time and on budget, the entire process was stress free, we were kept informed throughout the entire process, I would definitely recommend them to anyone trying to buy a house.
Fidelia Acevedo
Fidelia Acevedo
17:04 23 Jan 23
Hello, trust and believe the McGowen Team is the BEST ever. I am ony second home purchase, and couldn't have done it without these truly professionals who work to make your dream of home ownership come true.
Amy J Markstahler
Amy J Markstahler
22:34 18 Jan 23
A fantastic, brilliant team! McGowan mortgages works for you and goes above and beyond to fulfill all your mortgage needs. Prompt return on calls and questions. Absolutely grateful for all their hard work to help our family relocate.
Derek and his team will go to war for you! They really care about their clients and consistently prove through communication and their actions, that they always have their clients best interests. If you want excellence in customer service, A1 communication, and a stress free environment for you mortgage lending needs, McGowan mortgages is the way to go!
Dylan & Amanda Wagoner
Dylan & Amanda Wagoner
00:28 16 Dec 22
We loved working with McGowan Mortgages!!They really made things smooth for us and we love our new home!
Joshua Reeves
Joshua Reeves
00:04 26 Nov 22
One of the best! Stand up 5 Star guy outside of the mortgage world too!
Mike O'Brien
Mike O'Brien
00:02 19 Nov 22
Great service. Great to work with
Megan Thompson
Megan Thompson
23:27 02 Oct 22
Derek and the entire McGowan Mortgages Team are amazing! This Team is filled with extremely friendly and very knowledgeable people who are there for you every step of the way! Derek has incredible videos for each milestone and every potential question you can think of for anyone looking for a mortgage. These amazing resources combined with his drive to help every client are just a few assets that make McGowan Mortgages one of a kind! I am honored to be able to work them and am continually inspired by this Team who makes you feel like family. Working with McGowan Mortgages has been a dream and I encourage everyone to reach out to them if you are in the market for a mortgage =)
Ryan Finney
Ryan Finney
01:24 01 Oct 22
Super easy! Whenever I had question, they had answers!! Which was a lot! Great team!
Kristi B
Kristi B
01:23 01 Oct 22
Excellent service! My favorite thing about McGowan Mortgage is they will call the sellers agent to let them know about the pre-approval to help you win the bid on the house. They go above and beyond to get you into your new home AND they keep in touch with your realtor. Excellent communication and they truly do work for you. You can't go wrong with McGowan!
Trena
Trena
18:09 31 Aug 22
Derek is amazing! I've worked with him on a refinance at his previous company, I recommended him to multiple friends who also chose to work with him, and then I reached out to him again for my recent home purchase with his new company. He and his team did an outstanding job dealing with my unique situation, found a way to make it work, and then kept in constant contact with the agents (both buyer's and seller's) to ensure that things stayed on schedule and moved smoothly. They're awesome, and I highly recommend them to anybody in the market for a purchase or refinance!
Kimaada Ellison
Kimaada Ellison
18:35 22 Aug 22
As a first time home buyer with very limited knowledge about this entire process, this company and all of its staff have really made me feel comfortable about asking questions and learning about how everything works. Elijah has fielded many questions from me and each time was able to rationally explain everything to me in layman's terms that helped me understand. I am so pleased to have come across this organization and would recommend them to any potential home buyer without hesitation. Keep up the great work guys.- KE
Sam Kolthay
Sam Kolthay
16:48 15 Aug 22
This is the second time I've worked with Derek on buying a house, and I know I'd use him for a third!Derek and his team work tirelessly to get the loan across the line as quickly as possible and at the best rate.I highly recommend trusting Derek with your loan needs!
nathan denham
nathan denham
20:17 07 Aug 22
Being involved with Real Estate for many years my clients have used many different lenders. There have been good ones and bad ones but McGowan Mortgage is different than the rest and always delivers. I highly recommend you use McGowan Mortgage for your financial lending needs.
Rachel Diebold
Rachel Diebold
00:18 29 Jul 22
Tarek Jebali
Tarek Jebali
02:08 22 Jul 22
Derek is a true professional; knowledgeable, hard worker and he is here when you need him.Thank you again for everything and for hanging in there with me. I highly recommend him for your mortgage needs
Steve Lopez
Steve Lopez
02:06 13 Jul 22
First time buying a home couldn’t have choose anyone better. Super helpful and have a wonderful team that will make sure all your questions get answers. Definitely recommend
Jared Pfeiffer
Jared Pfeiffer
13:39 18 May 22
I have worked with Derek and his team on multiple purchases. His attention to detail, the speed in which he works and his collaboration makes him at the top of his industry in my opinion.Looking forward to continuing to work with him in the future.
Annie
Annie
00:44 02 May 22
artbycins
artbycins
03:04 01 May 22
Eric L
Eric L
14:41 29 Apr 22
Derek is awesome!! His knowledge of the mortgage industry is incredible. Every question I’ve had for him he gives me an easy-to-understand yet in-depth answer. We’re working on a refi for our current home and I’ll definitely reach back out once we’re ready to purchase our next home! Thanks Derek!!
Steve Zebley
Steve Zebley
13:56 29 Apr 22
Derek McGowan is the best!
Elijah Dixon
Elijah Dixon
00:10 29 Apr 22
Derek and his team are extremely knowledgeable. The level of communication and use of technology is second to none ....
Sam Tracy
Sam Tracy
20:02 28 Apr 22
Derek helped my wife and I buy our first house and was so great at walking us through the entire process, making sure we understood everything. He was always available to answer all of our questions and was impressively quick on getting paperwork signed and submitted. Put simply, he made everything easy. So glad we worked with Derek and he will be our first call when we look at moving again!
Collin Joiner
Collin Joiner
18:23 28 Apr 22
Derek is absolutely fantastic! Not only did he make financing my new home completely seemless, but he made himself available practically 24/7. Not like your usual broker that claims they can always be reached and has your best interest at heart, but he is genuine, up front, and when you pick up the phone to call or text him... he actually answers or gets right back with you! I did my initial loan with him, when rates dropped I did my refi with him, I also got my ex to finance through him for her first home. And through each interaction he stayed consistent in his approach and true to the values he promises. If it's Derek or associated with Derek, I promise you can't beat it!! He's the best!
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