Frequently asked, honestly answered

No. Conversations, payment scenarios, pre-approvals, strategy — all free. Cole is compensated when a loan closes, like every loan officer; the difference is he’d rather you be educated and ready than rushed.

Cole is a loan officer with Fairway Independent Mortgage Corporation (dba Fairway Home Mortgage), a direct lender — meaning Fairway underwrites, funds, and closes loans in-house. That control is a big part of how he closes on time.

Cole is licensed in Minnesota, Colorado, and Wisconsin, and is based at Fairway’s Eden Prairie, MN branch. Most of his clients are in the Twin Cities metro, but he works with buyers across all three states.

Yes — 612-963-2570. It’s how most of his clients communicate. Real question, real person, real answer. (During closing crunches he may take a few hours; he always responds.)

Honest answer: it depends — on your credit score, down payment, loan type, property type, and the day’s market. Anyone quoting you a rate without knowing those things is marketing, not lending. Cole prices your actual scenario, usually same-day.

From $0 (VA, USDA) to 3–3.5% (conventional first-time buyer, FHA) and up. Plus Minnesota down payment assistance can cover much of it for eligible buyers. The 20% figure is about avoiding mortgage insurance, not about permission to buy.

Typically 2–4% of the purchase price, covering lender, title, appraisal, and prepaid items. They can be offset with seller credits, lender credits, or assistance programs — Cole shows you every lever available in your deal.

Often within 24–48 hours of submitting documents. If you’ve found a house and the clock is ticking, tell Cole — he has closed purchases in as little as two weeks when the situation demanded it.

About 30 days from accepted offer is standard, and Cole has closed 100% of his loans on time since joining Fairway in 2015. Docs go to the title company days before closing — no closing-table surprises.

The unsatisfying truth: nobody can time rates — but you can always refinance a rate, and you can never get back years of rent or a house that sold to someone else. Cole will run your rent-vs-buy math honestly, including the “wait” scenario.