Mortgage options with Shawn Way
Your next move.
A clearer plan.
Buying, refinancing or putting your equity to work? Explore the options, then work through the right fit with Shawn.
Find your starting point
What would you like to do?
Choose a situation to narrow the list, or explore all ten financing families.
A little more about your situation
What Shawn might compare
Open a category to see how the programs work and what to weigh. You can keep several open to compare.
Compare the cash you’ll need upfront, the monthly payment and how your income will be documented.
Weigh the new payment, closing costs and repayment timeline against the mortgage you already have.
Compare keeping your first mortgage with replacing it. The amount you need and your repayment plan matter.
Start with the property’s purpose, expected income and how you plan to repay the loan.
Start with the lender’s reason. Another review can clarify the options, without promising a different outcome.
You don’t need a loan name to begin. Explore the categories below or bring your question directly to Shawn.
10 financing families
Conventional & jumboHome financing built around the purchase, the property and documented income.
Programs in this family
- Conventional loans
- Jumbo loans
- High-balance conventional
- Second-home financing
When someone might consider it
Buying a primary home, a second home or an investment property; refinancing an existing loan.
What to weigh
Down payment, mortgage insurance, loan size and how income is documented can change the comparison. A larger loan is not simply the same loan with a bigger balance.
What else Shawn might compare
Government-backed financing; alternative documentation when the file calls for it.
What to prepare before your first mortgage conversation
Talk through this with ShawnGovernment-backed home loansFHA, VA and USDA are separate programs with different purposes and rules.
Programs in this family
- FHA loans
- VA loans
- USDA loans
- FHA Streamline refinance
- VA IRRRL
- VA cash-out refinance
When someone might consider it
Buyers and homeowners considering an agency-backed structure, including eligible veterans and eligible rural-home buyers.
What to weigh
Compare total costs and any program-specific insurance or funding charges. Military status or a rural address alone does not establish eligibility.
What else Shawn might compare
Conventional financing and down-payment solutions.
Plan your budget and cash to close
Talk through this with ShawnHome equity & second liensBorrow against home equity while potentially keeping the existing first mortgage.
Programs in this family
- HELOC
- Home-equity loan / HELOAN
- Second-lien structures
When someone might consider it
Homeowners who need money for a defined purpose and want to compare keeping versus replacing their first loan.
What to weigh
A HELOC and a home-equity loan have different draw and repayment structures. Compare fixed versus variable terms, fees and both mortgage payments together. The home secures the debt.
What else Shawn might compare
Cash-out refinance; a smaller amount; waiting.
Compare a HELOC with a cash-out refinance
Talk through this with ShawnRefinanceReplace an existing mortgage to change its structure, term or access to equity.
Programs in this family
- Rate-and-term refinance
- Cash-out refinance
When someone might consider it
Homeowners with a specific reason to change the loan—not just a headline rate to chase.
What to weigh
Closing costs and a restarted term can offset a lower payment. Cash-out reprices the existing balance as well as the new money. Compare cost over the time you expect to keep the loan.
What else Shawn might compare
Keep the current mortgage; HELOC or home-equity loan for an equity need.
Is refinancing worth it? Work through the numbers
Talk through this with ShawnSelf-employed & alternative documentationDifferent ways to document income when the standard tax-return picture needs a closer look.
Programs in this family
- Self-employed loans
- 12-month bank statement programs
- 24-month bank statement programs
- 1099 income programs
- Profit-and-loss / P&L programs
- Asset-based / asset-depletion options
When someone might consider it
Business owners, independent contractors and borrowers with eligible assets or nontraditional income documentation.
What to weigh
Self-employed does not automatically mean Non-QM. Documentation, pricing and investor requirements differ; compare agency financing before assuming an alternative is necessary.
What else Shawn might compare
Conventional or government-backed financing; DSCR for a relevant rental-property scenario.
How self-employed mortgage income is evaluated
Talk through this with ShawnInvestor & Non-QMStructures for rental-property, investment and other files outside standard qualified-mortgage categories.
Programs in this family
- Non-QM
- DSCR loans
- Interest-only options
- Bridge loans
- Hard money
- Fix-and-flip financing
When someone might consider it
Investors comparing property-income analysis, acquisition timing, renovation plans and an eventual exit.
What to weigh
DSCR centers on the property’s rental income relative to its debt obligation; it is not documentation-free. Short-term bridge or hard-money financing needs a credible repayment or exit plan. Interest-only payments do not pay down principal during that period.
What else Shawn might compare
Conventional investment-property financing; renovation financing matched to occupancy.
Compare DSCR and conventional rental financing
Talk through this with ShawnRenovation & constructionFinancing that accounts for work to be completed, rather than only the property as it stands today.
Programs in this family
- Construction loans
- FHA 203(k) renovation
- Conventional renovation financing
When someone might consider it
People buying a home that needs renovation, improving an existing home or considering a new build.
What to weigh
The scope of work, property use, budget and construction process matter. An owner-occupied renovation loan and investor fix-and-flip financing are different structures.
What else Shawn might compare
Equity financing or cash-out for improvements; investor financing for an investment project.
Talk through this with ShawnReverse mortgageA home-equity financing category for eligible older homeowners, including HECM structures where applicable.
Programs in this family
- Reverse mortgage
When someone might consider it
Older homeowners comparing cash-flow, equity and long-term housing needs.
What to weigh
The balance can grow over time. Taxes, insurance and property obligations remain. Discuss counseling requirements, repayment triggers and effects on heirs before deciding. Age alone does not determine fit.
What else Shawn might compare
HELOC, home-equity loan, cash-out refinance or keeping the current arrangement.
Talk through this with ShawnFirst-time buyer & down-payment solutionsPrograms and strategies that may help address the upfront side of buying a home.
Programs in this family
- Down payment assistance
- 2/1 buydown
- HomeReady
- Home Possible
- First-time buyer solutions
When someone might consider it
Buyers comparing available cash, ongoing payment and program-specific requirements.
What to weigh
Assistance can be a grant or a loan with repayment conditions. A temporary buydown changes initial payments, not the long-term obligation. It is different from paying permanent discount points.
What else Shawn might compare
Conventional, FHA, VA or USDA structures, as applicable.
Understand the down payment, deposits and cash to close
Talk through this with ShawnSpecialized borrower & property situationsA place to discuss a file that does not fit a familiar category.
Programs in this family
- Foreign-national mortgage options
- ITIN mortgage options
- Commercial scenarios
- Mixed-use scenarios
- Vacant-land scenarios
When someone might consider it
Foreign-national or ITIN borrowers, or a property scenario that needs specialist review.
What to weigh
Foreign-national and ITIN structures are not interchangeable. Documentation, property use and location affect what may be available. Commercial, mixed-use and vacant-land inquiries need an individual scope discussion.
What else Shawn might compare
Other income-documentation or property-specific structures after reviewing the actual file.
Talk through this with ShawnNo programs match these filters. Clear the filters or bring the situation to Shawn.
Financing capabilities as of September 2026. Current product terms, guidelines and availability require review. Specialized commercial, mixed-use and land inquiries require an individual scope discussion.
Work through it with Shawn
You don’t have to figure it out alone.
Bring what you want to accomplish, the questions you have and what you’ve heard so far. Shawn can help you compare the next steps.
Already been told no? See Shawn’s approach →Educational comparisons, not a determination of eligibility, approval or pricing. Available terms depend on the borrower, property and current program requirements.