Your Local Mortgage Lender
Located in New Orleans, Louisiana
Personalized Mortgage Experience
Markita Woods 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 New Orleans, Louisiana.
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
The Waiting Trap: Why Sitting on the Sidelines for Rates to Drop Could Be Costing You Money Now
The Math That Most Headlines Are Missing
If you are waiting for mortgage rates to drop before you buy a home you may be falling into a costly trap. Markita Woods, the Queen of Mortgages, wants to walk through the math that the headlines consistently ignore when they focus on Federal Reserve decisions and rate forecasts.
The math is not complicated. But it is counterintuitive enough that most buyers who are waiting have not fully thought it through.
What Actually Happens When Rates Drop
The moment mortgage rates dip meaningfully a massive wave of buyers who have been sitting on the sidelines makes the same decision at the same time. Every buyer who was waiting for rates to fall gets off the bench simultaneously. That surge in demand hits a market where supply has not changed overnight and the result is predictable.
Bidding wars. Escalating offers. Waived contingencies. Home prices driven up by competition that was not there the week before.
The savings from the lower rate get partially or fully erased by the higher purchase price that competition produces. And here is the line worth remembering. You can refinance a mortgage. You cannot refinance your purchase price.
The buyer who purchased at today's price and today's rate can refinance into a lower rate when rates improve. The buyer who waited and purchased at a higher price after rates dropped paid more for the home permanently regardless of what the rate eventually becomes. That higher purchase price compounds in interest over the life of the loan.
What the Current Market Actually Offers Buyers
When rates are elevated buyers sit on the sidelines. Markita Woods is direct about why that creates an opportunity rather than just a challenge. When fewer buyers are competing sellers are willing to negotiate in ways they simply would not in a hot market.
Price reductions on homes that have been sitting. Seller contributions toward closing costs. Rate buydown concessions that lower the monthly payment from day one. Repair credits that transfer the cost of known issues from the buyer's pocket to the seller's proceeds.
These tools are available right now in a way that a wave of returning buyers will eliminate. The negotiating leverage that exists in a quieter market disappears when demand surges and every buyer in the country who was waiting decides to act at once.
Focus on Purchasing Power Not Market Timing
Markita Woods encourages buyers to stop trying to time the market and start focusing on individual purchasing power. The right question is not whether rates are at their lowest possible point. The right question is what fits your monthly budget today and whether buying now at current rates and current prices puts you in a better position than continuing to rent while you wait.
Reach out to Markita Woods to run the numbers on your specific situation. The goal is to help you build a real wealth strategy grounded in what your budget supports today rather than waiting for conditions that may shift the market against the very buyers who were waiting for them.
Secure today's price. Start building equity. Refinance when rates fall. Stop waiting.
Sources
FederalReserve.gov
MortgageNewsDaily.com
NAR.realtor
ConsumerFinancialProtectionBureau.gov
Investopedia.com
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