Your Local Mortgage Lender
Located in Clearwater, Florida
Personalized Mortgage Experience
Will Merritt offers personalized service and loan options you'll love. We shop multiple lenders to find the best rate and product for you, getting you into your dream home faster.
With wholesale interest rates and cutting-edge technology, we make the mortgage process seamless. Trust the experts who focus solely on mortgages. Support your local community and experience elite client service.
Let us help you achieve your homeownership dreams!
The Home Loan Process
Mortgage Pre-Approval
Get pre-approved from one of our Loan Officers to see how much you can afford.
House Shopping
Work with a trusted Real Estate Agent to find a home you would like to move into.
Loan Application
Complete your home loan application to get the lending process started.
Don't take my word for it
Mortgage Programs
Experience the best mortgage experience located in Clearwater, Florida.
Home Loan Options
Our experienced mortgage advisors will walk you through the best mortgage loan program that will fit your specific scenario.
Conventional Home Loans.
FHA Home Loans.
USDA Home Loans.
VA Home Loans.
Frequently Asked Questions
How often can I refinance my mortgage?
There is no limit to the number of times you can refinance. However, you must qualify every time you apply and there will be costs associated with closing the loan each time.
Can I buy a home if I do not have money for a down payment?
Yes! There are a number of bond programs that offer low or no down payment financing options.
How do I know which mortgage is right for me?
The key to choosing the right mortgage is to understand the range of options and features available to you, as well as your budget, circumstances, and goals. Our licensed mortgage professionals are here to help you navigate that process. The more you know, the more comfortable and confident you will be choosing the best option for you and your family.
How long will the loan process take?
The Truth in Lending Act (TILA) does not permit a lender to close a loan until at least seven (7) business days have passed from the date your application was received. A typical home loan takes 30 days, as a number of third-party services such as appraisals, title work, and credit are required in conjunction with the mortgage process. Once you familiarize your Loan Officer with the details of your specific loan scenario, they will be able to provide you with a more specific timeline.
Will I qualify for a home loan?
The only way to find out is to speak with a qualified mortgage professional. Our Loan Officers have helped numerous clients who didn’t know if they could qualify to become home owners. We take the time to understand your financial situation and long-term financial goals, and then match you with the loan program that best fits your needs. Your approval for a loan may also largely depend on the price of the home you are financing. Getting pre-qualified prior to beginning your home search can give you an idea of what you may be able to afford.
Why do people refinance their mortgages?
Homeowners typically refinance to save money, either by obtaining a lower interest rate or by reducing the term of their loan. Refinancing is also a way to convert an adjustable loan to a fixed loan or to consolidate debts.
How much money will I have to pay upfront to buy a home?
This question does not have a simple, one-size-fits-all answer. The exact amount will depend on the price of the home you buy as well the type of mortgage financing you choose. Depending on your loan program, your down payment could be as much as 20% of the home’s price or as little as 3%, while some loans require no down payment at all.
Can I get a mortgage after bankruptcy?
You may still qualify for a home loan even if you have experienced a bankruptcy. The best way to find out if you qualify is to talk with a Loan Officer to discuss your options. Be sure to bring all paperwork regarding your bankruptcy so your Loan Officer can find the program that best fits your situation.
Should I lock my interest rate now, or wait until we are closer to our closing?
Interest rates fluctuate all day, every day. If an interest rate is good, it may be in your best interest to lock now. If you wait, you run the risk of an increase in rates later. If you are concerned that rates may go down after you lock, contact your Loan Officer to discuss your options. Some programs allow you to lock for an extended period and choose to lower your rate should a better one become available.
Most Recent Blog Updates
A VA Loan Turndown From One Lender Does Not Mean the Deal Is Dead and Here Is Why Agents Should Know
The Truth Most Real Estate Agents Never Hear About VA Loan Declines
If you have ever had a VA buyer get turned down by a lender and watched the deal fall apart as a result this is the conversation that could have saved it. A turndown from one lender on a VA loan is not the end of the road for your client or the transaction. It is often the beginning of a conversation that should have started with a different lender.
Why VA Guidelines Are More Flexible Than Most People Realize
The VA loan program operates under guidelines set by the Department of Veterans Affairs. Those guidelines establish the minimum requirements for eligibility, income, credit, and property standards. What they do not do is set a single uniform standard that every lender applies identically.
Individual lenders who originate VA loans apply their own overlays on top of the VA minimum guidelines. These overlays reflect the lender's internal risk tolerance, investor requirements, and underwriting preferences. One lender might require a minimum credit score that is 40 points higher than the VA minimum. Another might have stricter debt-to-income requirements. Another might decline a file based on the type of income documentation presented when a different lender using VA flexibility would approve the same borrower.
The result is that one lender's no is genuinely and regularly another lender's yes on VA loans. The guidelines themselves allow for more flexibility than many lenders actually use and finding a lending partner who works within the full scope of what VA allows rather than applying conservative overlays that narrow the eligible population is what saves deals that other lenders decline.
What This Means for Agents Working With VA Buyers
As Will Merritt explains having the right lending partner in your corner changes the outcome for VA buyers who have been told no elsewhere. A decline from a conventional lender or from a VA lender with restrictive overlays does not mean the borrower is unqualified under VA guidelines. It means they did not qualify under that specific lender's interpretation of those guidelines.
For agents who work regularly with military buyers veterans and active duty service members this distinction is worth understanding clearly. When a VA buyer gets a turndown the right next step is not to assume the deal is over. It is to get the file in front of a VA specialist who understands the full flexibility the program allows and who has a track record of finding paths forward on files that other lenders have declined.
That call can save the deal. It can keep your buyer on track to closing. And it can preserve a transaction that a less informed response would have written off as finished.
Bring Your VA Turndows to Will Merritt
Will Merritt works specifically with VA buyers and has the expertise to evaluate files that other lenders have declined and to identify whether a path forward exists within VA guidelines. Text, call, or DM Will Merritt with any VA turndowns you have encountered and follow along for more tips that help agents win more deals in today's market.
Sources
VA.gov
MilitaryOneSource.mil
MortgageNewsDaily.com
NAR.realtor
ConsumerFinancialProtectionBureau.gov
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