More than one lender’s options.
Compare programs and requirements across our wholesale network before committing to a lender.
Independent mortgage guidance / Gallagher Team
Mortgage broker guidance. For the way you earn.
Your mortgage should make sense for how you earn, the property you want and the life you’re planning. We compare options across our wholesale lender network, explain the tradeoffs, and help you choose a path before you apply.
Explore interactive calculators
Have a question first? Contact our team
Home is the destination.Let’s find your way there.
Gallagher TeamMortgage guidance, made clearer.
01 Compare lenders before applying.02 Understand the full cost.03 One team to guide the process.
Start where you are
What does your next chapter look like?
You don’t need to know the name of a loan. Start with your situation, and we’ll help make the options clearer.
Your income has a different story
Your tax return may not tell the whole story.
Business owners often have strong cash flow that looks different on a tax return. Explore the documents that may help a lender understand your income.
Explore self-employed optionsStart with how you earn. Then compare ways to document it.
Start with the property
Understand the numbers behind your next investment.
A rental, a renovation and a long-term investment can need different financing. Explore how the property’s income, condition and your plans shape the options.
Explore investor financingA useful starting point: compare expected rent with monthly costs.
Look at the whole picture
A larger purchase deserves a considered plan.
Income, available assets and funds you keep after closing all matter. Explore jumbo financing with a clearer view of the documents and decisions involved.
Explore jumbo loansConsider the mortgage alongside your other financial commitments.
Make the unfamiliar manageable
Your first mortgage can start with better questions.
Understand down payments, monthly costs and the difference between loan options. You don’t need to know every mortgage term to take a useful first step.
Explore homebuyer optionsThink about the full monthly cost, not just the loan payment.
Understand your VA options
Know what your VA benefit could make possible.
Explore how VA financing works, the role of eligibility documentation and the costs to understand before moving forward.
Explore VA financingEligibility and approval are separate steps. We explain both.
Make the home you own part of the plan
Keep your mortgage—or consider a different structure.
Compare refinancing with a second mortgage or equity line. Start with the existing loan, the amount you need and the costs over the time you expect to keep it.
Explore refinance & home equityA lower payment can come from a longer term. Compare the balance and costs too.
Put some numbers behind your next move
Interactive mortgage calculators
Choose a calculator, enter your numbers, and compare scenarios before your next mortgage conversation. Each tool explains its assumptions and what the results mean.
01
Self-employed
02Bank statement income calculator
What income could my deposits support?
Open calculator →Investors
03DSCR calculator
How does the rent compare to the costs?
Open calculator →Asset-based
04Asset qualification calculator
Could my assets help me qualify?
Open calculator →Asset-based
05Asset depletion calculator
What income might my assets represent?
Open calculator →New York
06New York CEMA calculator
Could a CEMA reduce my closing costs?
Open calculator →Home equity
07Blended mortgage payment calculator
Keep your first loan or replace it?
Open calculator →Self-employed
08Self-employed income comparison calculator
How do the income approaches compare?
Open calculator →Investors
09Rental property stress test
Would the rental work in a harder year?
Open calculator →Refinancing
10Refinance break-even calculator
When could refinancing pay off?
Open calculator →Homebuyers
Monthly housing cost calculator
What will the home really cost each month?
Open calculator →Planning tools, not loan approvals. Results depend on the assumptions you enter.
View all calculatorsWhy work with an independent broker?
The difference is
in the comparison.
Two lenders can look at the same borrower differently. We help you understand which differences matter for your income, your property and your costs.
How the broker approach worksThe right way to document your income.
Salary, self-employment, rental income and assets can call for different approaches. Start with your actual situation.
A closer look at the complete cost.
Consider the rate alongside lender fees, mortgage insurance, cash needed at closing and the terms that affect your plans.
Lender fit, pricing and eligibility depend on your circumstances. Ask about starting with a soft credit review.
How working with us goes
Compare first. Apply with a clearer plan.
We bring your income, property and goals into one conversation, then compare the lenders and documentation approaches that may fit. You should understand the recommendation before moving forward.
Get to know the processTell us what you’re planning.
Tell us about the property, how you earn and what you want to accomplish.
Make the options understandable.
Our team helps you understand the documents, costs and tradeoffs relevant to your situation.
Choose an informed next step.
Move forward with a clearer understanding of your options and what the application process involves.
Read a little. Understand a lot more.
Good questions.
Useful answers.
What Is a Purchase CEMA — And How Much Can It Save You at a New York Closing?
Learn how a Purchase CEMA reduces NY mortgage recording tax, see real savings examples, and estimate your closing-cost savings with our free CEMA calculator.
Fannie Mae Condo Rule Changes 2026: What Buyers, Sellers & Owners Need to Know
Fannie Mae condo rules affect financing, reserves and warrantability in Florida, New York and nationwide in 2026. For buyers, sellers and owners.
Qualifying for a Mortgage Without Tax Returns: A Guide for Self-Employed Borrowers
Qualify for a mortgage without tax returns using bank statements, 1099s, a P&L or assets. Compare paths for self-employed borrowers.
DSCR Loans for Short-Term Rentals: Does Airbnb and VRBO Income Count?
Does Airbnb or VRBO income count for a DSCR loan? Learn how lenders review platform history, STR market data, projected rent and qualification.
Cash-Out Refinance vs. Second Mortgage: The Blended-Rate Math
Refinance everything or add a second? See how the blended rate works, when each wins, the real costs — and run your own numbers in our calculator.
How to Finance an ADU in 2026
Learn how to finance an ADU in 2026 with HELOC, cash-out refinance, renovation loans, rental income and Non-QM loan options.
A few practical questions
Know what happens
before you apply.
01
Before you get started
A conversation can begin with your goal.
Where should I start with a mortgage question?
Start with the property state, your goal, how you earn and your timeline.
Use our on-site contact form for a general question. Choose “Submit a scenario” when you want to share your plans through the secure inquiry form.
Ask a question hereDo I need to choose a loan program before contacting you?
No. Start with your situation rather than a program name.
Tell us whether you are buying, refinancing or using equity. We can discuss the documents and comparisons relevant to your next step.
Explore your situationWill an initial conversation affect my credit?
A conversation itself does not require a hard credit inquiry.
A soft credit review may be available to start. We won’t run a hard credit inquiry without your explicit permission. Ask which review is needed at each stage.
Ask about the first step02
Compare the approaches
Understand the documents and tradeoffs.
Why compare mortgage options through a broker?
Different lenders can evaluate the same income and property differently.
We compare programs across our wholesale network, then explain the relevant rate, fees, documentation and requirements. Availability and pricing depend on the lender and your situation.
See how the broker approach worksWhat if I am self-employed or have several income sources?
The starting point is understanding how you earn and how that income can be documented.
Tax returns and bank statements can produce different qualifying-income figures because they document and adjust income differently. Rental income, 1099 work and assets may also be relevant.
Explore self-employed mortgage optionsCan I explore home equity without replacing my first mortgage?
A second mortgage or equity line may be an option, depending on your situation.
Compare the additional payment, fees and repayment terms with replacing the first loan. A smaller monthly payment does not automatically mean lower total borrowing costs.
Compare refinance and equity options03
Working together
Know what happens beyond the comparison.
Does the property’s location affect my mortgage options?
Yes. State, local costs and property requirements can affect the comparison.
Tell us where the property is so we can review the relevant options. For example, a New York purchase can raise mortgage recording-tax questions that are separate from the interest rate.
Explore the New York CEMA guideWhat happens after I choose a lender?
We help prepare the application and coordinate the next steps through closing.
That includes responding to requests for supporting documents and working with the lender and title team. The selected lender makes the credit decision and funds the loan.
Talk through the processCan I request language assistance?
Tell us your preferred language so we can discuss what assistance is available.
Mortgage transactions are conducted in English. We will accommodate language preferences where possible. Legal, tax and immigration questions belong with qualified professionals.
Contact our teamYour next step
Let’s make sense
of your situation.
You don’t need every answer before you reach out. Tell us what you’re planning, and our team can help you explore the next step.
Submit a scenario (opens ARIVE in a new tab)Opens our secure inquiry form in ARIVE in a new tab.