Frequently Asked Questions

Today's rates depend on your credit, down payment, loan type, property and the market. Our rates page shows live wholesale quotes for your scenario; your Loan Estimate confirms your actual terms.

Broker compensation is disclosed on your Loan Estimate and Closing Disclosure, along with every other cost. Compare total cost across offers rather than any single fee.

Look for a licensed broker you can verify on NMLS Consumer Access, who works with multiple wholesale lenders and explains your Loan Estimate clearly. Voyage Home Loans is NMLS #2667229; Logan Lindstrum is NMLS #1859439.

It depends mainly on how quickly your documents are ready and complete. Starting online and sending pay stubs, W-2s or tax returns, and bank statements early helps.

Consider it when a new loan lowers your payment or total cost, changes your term, removes mortgage insurance, or lets you use equity — and you plan to keep it long enough to recover the closing costs.

A refinance has closing costs such as lender fees, appraisal, title and prepaid items. Amounts vary; your Loan Estimate lists every line item. Lender credits can reduce upfront costs in exchange for a higher rate.

FHA loans are offered through approved lenders and look at your credit, income, debts and the property. Minimum down payment starts at 3.5%. Logan can review your scenario against current lender guidelines.

Some third-party and government programs, such as WHEDA and certain cities or counties, offer down payment assistance. This is general information only: Voyage Home Loans does not participate in, administer, or help clients apply for WHEDA or any down payment assistance program. Contact those agencies directly. With Voyage, talk with us about Conventional, FHA and VA options.

Email, text, or call us any day of the week (team@voyagefinancing.com, 414-309-6013). Our weekday hours are from 8AM–9PM CT, weekends from 9AM–6PM CT. We are closed on New Year's Day, Martin Luther King Jr Day, Memorial Day, Juneteenth, Independence Day, Labor Day, Veteran's Day, Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas Day. If you need us on Halloween, we'll be there, with plenty of candy.

Voyage Home Loans is an independent mortgage broker focused on Milwaukee and Wisconsin. We're also licensed in Iowa. Company NMLS #2667229. See /licensing for full details.

Yes. Voyage is an independent mortgage broker serving greater Milwaukee and Wisconsin homebuyers. Logan Lindstrum, NMLS #1859439. Company NMLS #2667229.

Logan Lindstrum, NMLS #1859439. Call or text 414-309-6013 or use /contact.

Independent mortgage broker — we shop wholesale lenders instead of locking you into one bank's retail rate. Transparent Loan Estimates. NMLS #2667229. Equal Housing Lender.

Yes. See live quotes on /rates/milwaukee-wi, /rates/waukesha-wi, and the /rates hub.

Voyage Home Loans supports homebuyers with a minimum credit score of 580. While a higher score often secures better rates, our flexible requirements help a wider range of buyers qualify. 760–850 (Excellent): Qualify for the lowest possible market interest rates and most favorable terms. 700–759 (Very Good): Access highly competitive rates, typically just slightly above the top tier. 620–699 (Fair to Good): Eligible for most conventional loans, though you may pay more for PMI and higher interest. 580–619 (Building Credit): Primarily limited to FHA or VA loan products.

Yep! That's one of the great things about our pre-approvals. We make it easy for you to edit your pre-approval application any time, day or night. Ready to make an offer? You can reduce the amount on your pre-approval letter to match your offer to avoid showing your hand to the seller. Just log in and make the change.

A hard credit check is a critical part of getting a mortgage. It helps us confirm your eligibility. The impact of a mortgage hard credit check is low (typically 3–8 points), is temporary (typically 12 months), and is usually the same no matter how many other mortgage hard credit checks you get in a 30-day period.

Pre-approval letters expire after 120 days. If your financial situation changes before then, you may also need an updated letter. The good news is that it's easy to renew them, and we're here to help you do so any time.

It depends. Mortgage rates change every day, and rates will most likely have changed by the time you go under contract. A Loan Advisor will talk to you about locking your rate.

Of course. We'll supply your Loan Advisor with your agent's name and contact info early on so we can keep them updated as you progress with your application. We're one team after all.

The minimum down payment is 3% for conventional loans, 3.5% for FHA loans, or 0% for VA loans. Putting down 20% or more eliminates PMI (saves $100–300/month on a $400k loan) and lowers your interest rate by 0.25–0.5%. Your exact requirement depends on credit score, loan type, and property use.

You can use multiple types of assets: savings, checking, or CD accounts; stocks and bonds; cryptocurrency (must be converted to USD before closing); proceeds from selling your current home; retirement accounts (401k withdrawals or loans); and gift funds from family members. If you have another asset type, reach out—we can likely work with it.

Ask a lender for a Loan Estimate—every lender must provide one within 3 business days of your application. Focus on: interest rate and APR (Page 1), closing costs (Page 2, Section J), and lender fees (Page 2, Section A). Don't just compare rates; the full picture is the combination of rate, points or credits, and fees.

Your mortgage rate is primarily determined by your credit score, down payment, and market conditions. 760+: Lowest available rates. 720–759: ~0.25–0.5% higher. 700–719: ~0.5–0.75% higher. 680–699: ~0.75–1% higher. Putting down 20%+ typically reduces your rate by another 0.25–0.5%.

Points and credits let you trade upfront costs for a different rate. Discount points: Pay more upfront, get a lower rate (1 point = 1% of loan amount = ~0.25% lower rate). Lender credits: Get closing cost help, accept a slightly higher rate. We help you decide based on how long you plan to own the home.

No. Voyage Home Loans does not charge prepayment penalties on any of its loan products. Borrowers are free to pay off their mortgage balance in full or make extra principal payments at any time without incurring additional fees.

Your credit score is a primary factor in determining your interest rate. 760+ (Excellent): Lowest available rates. 720–759 (Very Good): Highly competitive rates, slightly higher than top tier. 700–719 (Good): Standard market rates. 680–699 (Fair): Higher rates and potentially higher PMI. 620–679 (Below Average): Minimum range for most conventional loans, often the highest rates.

Beyond credit score: Down Payment (larger down payments reduce risk and can lower your rate), Loan Amount & Term, Debt-to-Income Ratio (DTI), Property Type and Occupancy (single-family vs. condo, primary vs. investment), and Market Conditions (inflation, Federal Reserve policy, bond market dynamics).

Voyage Home Loans offers Conventional Loans (most common, at least 3% down), FHA Loans (government-backed, ideal for first-time buyers or lower credit scores, 3.5% down), VA Loans (no down payment for eligible veterans and service members), and Jumbo Loans (high-balance mortgages for luxury properties exceeding conforming loan limits).

Voyage Home Loans uses wholesale-lender pricing: certain lender fees are not charged separately but may be reflected in the interest rate or overall loan pricing, and lender credits may be available to offset certain closing costs. Your Loan Estimate itemizes everything, including required third-party costs like appraisal ($500–800) and title insurance.

Closing costs vary by loan, property, and location. They include third-party costs (appraisal, title insurance, credit report), prepaid taxes and insurance, escrow deposits, and any points or credits. Your Loan Estimate breaks down every cost line by line before you commit. See /closing-costs-explained for a plain-English breakdown.

Voyage Home Loans can close a home loan in as little as 12 to 21 days, significantly outperforming the industry average of 42 days. This speed gives buyers a competitive advantage in hot markets, ensuring they can meet tight contract deadlines that traditional lenders often miss.

Lock your rate as soon as you're under contract. Voyage Home Loans typically closes in 12–21 days vs. the 42-day industry average, so a standard 30–60 day rate lock covers your entire timeline. Since rates change daily (sometimes multiple times), locking immediately after your offer is accepted protects you from increases.

If rates go up after you lock, you're protected—your locked rate stays the same. If rates drop by at least 0.25% before closing, Voyage Home Loans' float-down program lets you take advantage of the lower rate. Your Loan Advisor will monitor market rates and help you secure the best available rate. (Voyage Home Loans requires a minimum of 12 days to move your loan to take advantage of the 0.25% rate drop.)

Yes. Share a Loan Estimate from another lender and we'll walk through it with you line by line — rate, APR, points or credits, and closing costs — and show you the wholesale options we can find for the same scenario, so you can decide with the numbers side by side.