Instagram story viewer> @lender_des> Posts

Des Gonzales | Texas Mortgage Loan Broker

@lender_des

2K

followers

1820

following

🏆 Mortgage Broker•Mama•Gym•Books• NAHREP Secretary ‘26
🪪 NMLS 2117660 | 2479581
Equal Housing Lender
⬇️Schedule a call⬇️

POSTS STORIES REELS TAGGED

Download All

Texas sunshine may be abundant—but solar panels are not automatically “free electricity” or included ownership.

Before purchasing a home with solar, determine whether the system is:

✨ Owned free and clear
✨ Included in the home’s existing mortgage
✨ Financed through a separate solar loan
✨ Leased from a solar company
✨ Subject to a power-purchase agreement
✨ Connected to a PACE assessment or another recorded obligation

Then request and review:

* The complete solar agreement and all amendments
* The current payoff or remaining contract term
* The required monthly payment
* Transfer requirements and applicable fees
* Any buyer credit-approval requirement
* Production guarantees and escalation clauses
* Roof-removal and reinstallation responsibilities
* UCC filings or liens appearing in the title search
* Insurance responsibilities
* Recent utility and solar-production statements

Why does this matter?

A solar payment may need to be included in mortgage qualification. Certain liens can affect the lender’s required first-lien position. Leased or third-party-owned panels also generally cannot be included in the property’s appraised value under conventional agency guidance.

That does not make a solar home a poor purchase. It means the system must be evaluated as both a property feature and a financial agreement.

In a Texas transaction, ask for the documents early enough for your loan officer, title company, insurance professional, and real estate agent to review them before your contractual deadlines expire.

The panels may be attached to the house—but the obligation may attach to your budget.

Educate. Empower. Elevate.
—The Mortgage Strategist™

#SolarPanels #TexasHomebuyer #SolarLoan #TexasRealEstate #FirstTimeHomebuyer by @lender_des

4

0

a day ago

CLOSED & FUNDED! 🏡🔑✨ And @shalanda_txrealtor negotiated an amazing deal on this one! 👏

Here’s what she secured for our buyers:

✅ $19,450 in seller credit toward a rate buydown and most closing costs
✅ Several repairs to the home
✅ Seller-paid title policy
✅ Seller-paid survey
✅ $675 toward a home warranty

Their new home is absolutely STUNNING! 😍 Hearing their love story, learning about their son taking his first steps in the home they’re keeping as a rental, and listening to how they’ll make this new house a home for their little family made this closing so special. ✨💕

A new chapter, a home full of possibilities, and a thoughtful plan for the property they’re keeping. 🏡

I’m so thankful for the opportunity to help families like theirs. Each transaction is about more than getting preapproved—it’s about understanding the full financial picture and helping them make decisions that support their goals for years to come.

Congratulations to this beautiful family, and thank you, Shalanda, for being such a strong advocate for our clients! Teamwork makes moments like this possible. 🥂💕

Ready to plan your next chapter? Let’s talk!
📲 210-643-5740
The Mortgage Strategist™
NMLS #2117660 | Haven Mortgage LLC NMLS #2479581 taken in San Antonio, Texas by @lender_des

22

3

2 days ago

🏡 CLOSED & FUNDED — and this one is a perfect example of why your TEAM matters! 🔑✨

Congratulations to Mr. Palacios on purchasing his very FIRST HOME! 🎉

Yes, he secured a 5.75% note rate—but that’s only part of the story.

His Realtor negotiated an incredible deal that included repairs, seller-paid title policy, seller-paid survey, $500 toward a home warranty AND $19,795 in seller credits. 🤯

Then we put those credits to work strategically.

That $19,795 helped buy down his interest rate AND covered ALL of his closing costs. On top of that, he received a FREE temporary 1% rate buydown for the first 12 months, reducing his first-year rate to 4.75% and saving him approximately $3,246 in year one alone. 💰

THIS is why I tell buyers: Don’t only negotiate the price. Negotiate the strategy.

A great Realtor negotiates the opportunity.
A great Loan Officer shows you how to maximize it.

When the two work together? That’s where the magic happens. 🏡🔑

Ready to find out what we can negotiate and structure for your home purchase? DM me “STRATEGY.”

Temporary buydown reduces the payment during the buydown period; the underlying note rate remains 5.75%. Savings shown are specific to this transaction. Loan terms and eligibility vary.

#FirstTimeHomeBuyer #FHALoan #SellerCredits #SellerConcessions #MortgageStrategy taken in Boerne, Texas by @lender_des

18

2

5 days ago

The mortgage moves I’d make if I were buying a home this year.

✅ Lock in a permanent rate buydown, not a temporary one
✅ Use seller credits to cover it
✅ Keep more cash working for you
✅ Set up bi-weekly payments from day one

The buyers who come out ahead aren’t always the ones with the most saved up. They’re the ones with a clear strategy before they ever make an offer.

Save this one for when you’re ready to start planning. taken in Texas by @lender_des

23

2

6 days ago

Your employment may be reviewed again before you receive the keys. 🔑

A mortgage preapproval reflects the income and employment information available when your application was evaluated. Before closing, the lender may verify that you are still actively employed and that the income being used to qualify remains stable and supportable.

Please speak with your loan officer before:

✨ Giving notice to your employer
✨ Accepting a position with a new company
✨ Moving from salary to commission
✨ Reducing your scheduled hours
✨ Beginning unpaid or extended leave
✨ Transitioning from W-2 employment to self-employment
✨ Changing your anticipated start date

A new opportunity does not automatically disqualify you. Depending on the situation, however, underwriting may need an offer letter, updated pay documentation, confirmation of your start date, or a new income calculation.

The best time to discuss the change is before it happens….NOT when the lender discovers it during the final employment verification.

Your career decisions matter. So does coordinating their timing with your homebuying strategy.

Educate. Empower. Elevate.
—The Mortgage Strategist, Desiree Gonzales

#MortgagePreapproval #EmploymentVerification #TexasHomebuyer #MortgageUnderwriting taken in Texas by @lender_des

12

2

12 days ago

🏘️ Looking to purchase an investment property OR access equity from one you already own?

A DSCR loan may allow you to qualify primarily using the property’s rental cash flow instead of traditional personal-income documentation.

Available options may include:

✅ FICO scores as low as 620
✅ Purchase financing up to 85% LTV—or as little as 15% down
✅ Cash-out refinancing up to 75% LTV
✅ Loan amounts starting at $100,000
✅ Non-owner-occupied, 1–4-unit investment properties
✅ DSCR programs ranging from no minimum ratio to 1.25+
✅ Fixed-rate, adjustable-rate and interest-only options

For cash-out refinances, at least six months of ownership is generally required. Reserve, housing-history and investor-experience requirements may also apply.

Eligibility depends on credit, DSCR, loan amount, property type, investor experience, state and the complete loan scenario.

Whether you’re acquiring your next rental or leveraging equity to expand your portfolio, I can help you compare the available structures and build the right financing strategy.

📲 Call or text 210-643-5740

Desiree Gonzales
The Mortgage Strategist™
NMLS #2117660
Haven Mortgage LLC | NMLS #2479581
Educate. Empower. Elevate.

Programs and guidelines are subject to change. All loans are subject to qualification and underwriting approval.

#DSCRLoan #RealEstateInvestor #InvestmentProperty CashOutRefinance by @lender_des

5

0

14 days ago

Property taxes can create an expensive surprise when the timing isn’t verified before closing. 🏡

In Texas, property taxes are generally paid in arrears, but the current owner may be using a half-payment or quarterly installment plan. That means a tax record showing a payment does not necessarily mean the entire annual bill has been paid.

Before closing, the lender and title company should confirm:

✨ Whether the taxes are paid, unpaid, or partially paid
✨ Which exemptions are currently reducing the bill
✨ Whether the seller is using an installment plan
✨ What will be credited or collected at closing
✨ How the buyer’s new escrow account will be established

Buyers: The seller’s exemptions may not transfer to you, so your future tax payment could be different.

Realtors: Getting the tax information to the lender and title company early helps us structure the loan accurately and prevent last-minute changes to the buyer’s cash to close or monthly payment.

This is why precise mortgage planning matters.

Desiree Gonzales | The Mortgage Strategist™
NMLS #2117660
Haven Mortgage LLC

Educate. Empower. Elevate.

#TexasRealEstate #TexasHomebuyer #PropertyTaxes #MortgageEducation by @lender_des

10

1

17 days ago

13

1

18 days ago

Today, we pause to remember the lives lost, honor the heroes who answered the call, and stand with the families forever changed by September 11, 2001.

May we never forget their courage, sacrifice, and the unity that carried our nation through its darkest hours. 🇺🇸

#September11 #NeverForget #HonorAndRemember #PatriotDay by @lender_des

10

0

24 days ago

What if the seller could help reduce the amount you bring to closing? 🏡✨

Seller credits—also called seller concessions—may be negotiated as part of your offer and used toward eligible expenses such as:

🔑 Closing costs
📉 Discount points to reduce your interest rate
💰 A temporary interest-rate buydown
🛡️ Certain prepaid taxes and insurance expenses

The result? You may be able to keep more money in your savings for moving expenses, furniture, repairs, or emergencies after closing.

But seller credits aren’t one-size-fits-all. The amount allowed depends on the loan program, down payment, occupancy, property value, and actual eligible costs. Any unused portion generally cannot be received as cash back.

This is why your Realtor and loan officer should work together before the offer is written. The right financing and negotiation strategy can make homeownership more affordable—without focusing only on the sales price.

Want to know how seller credits could work with your loan options? Send me a message to schedule your mortgage strategy consultation.

Desiree Gonzales
The Mortgage Strategist™ | NMLS #2117660
Educate. Empower. Elevate.

#SellerCredits #SellerConcessions #FirstTimeHomebuyer #MortgageStrategy by @lender_des

15

0

a month ago

The lowest interest rate isn’t always the least expensive loan. 🏡✨

A lower rate may require paying discount points upfront, while a lender credit may reduce your closing costs in exchange for a higher rate. The right choice depends on your cash, monthly budget, goals, and how long you expect to keep the loan.

That’s why I help my clients compare more than the payment:

🔍 Interest rate and APR
💰 Discount points and lender credits
⏳ Break-even period
🏦 Total cash needed at closing
📆 Five-year borrowing cost
📉 Five-year principal reduction
🛡️ Mortgage-insurance expenses

Two loans can have similar payments but produce very different long-term results.

Your mortgage should be structured around your full financial picture, not chosen from one attractive number.

Ready to compare your options with clarity? Send me a message to schedule your mortgage strategy consultation.

Desiree Gonzales
The Mortgage Strategist™ | NMLS #2117660
Educate. Empower. Elevate.

#FirstTimeHomebuyer #MortgageStrategy #MortgageEducation #MortgageTips by @lender_des

6

0

a month ago

What your credit report doesn’t show can still affect your mortgage approval. 👀

Before your file reaches underwriting, I take a closer look at the details that could create questions later…including:

🏦 Large or unusual bank deposits
💳 Recurring debt payments that don’t appear on your credit report
📉 Overdrafts or insufficient-fund activity
🎓 The payment that must be used to qualify your student loans

Your current student-loan payment—or the amount shown on your credit report—may not always be the payment required by your loan program.

This is why a thorough preapproval matters. Identifying these items early gives us time to document, explain, or properly account for them before the underwriter reviews your file.

I don’t just issue a preapproval letter. I do the work upfront to help you enter underwriting prepared. 🔑

Ready to create a strategy for your home purchase? Send me a message to schedule your mortgage consultation.

Desiree Gonzales
The Mortgage Strategist™
Educate. Empower. Elevate.

#FirstTimeHomebuyer #MortgageEducation #MortgageTips #HomebuyerTips taken in San Antonio, Texas by @lender_des

6

0

a month ago