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A Better Way to Mortgage

Local experts. Better rates.

We are committed to offering mortgage loans that have great rates, transparent pricing, and a fast and easy process – resulting in a better experience for our clients. You could save thousands on your mortgage.

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BUY A HOME

More house. More partnership.

Purchase

Find a home and make it yours
in 4 simple steps.

How much home can I afford?

To determine how much house you can afford, many experts agree that people should spend no more than 28 percent of their gross monthly income on housing expenses and no more than 36 percent on total debt — that includes housing as well as things like student loans, car expenses, and credit card payments.

There are many types of home loans offering different terms and rates, some requiring lower down payments than others. Use this simple mortgage loan amortization calculator to find out what your payments would be and help determine the maximum home price you feel comfortable with.

What is a first-time home buyer loan?

Typically, if you’ve never owned a home, you are considered a first-time home buyer. Additionally, if you have not owned a primary residence for the last three years, you may still be considered a first-time home buyer. There is maximum financing and flexibility for first time homebuyers, with as little as 3% down. FHA loans are very popular for first-time buyers due to low down payment requirements of 3.5%.

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REFINANCE

Lock in a rate. Save right away.

Refinance

Your own expert and a great rate
in 3 simple steps.

Is now a good time to refinance my home mortgage?

There’s more to consider than just getting a lower mortgage rate. You should also weigh how long you plan to stay in your home. Use our refinance break even calculator, to determine the number of months to break-even if you refinance the loan.

People typically start thinking about a refinance when they notice mortgage rates falling below their current loan rate. But there are some other good reasons for refinancing your home loan:

  • If you’re looking to pay off the loan quicker with a shorter term.
  • You currently pay private mortgage insurance (PMI) and now you’ve gained enough equity in your home to refinance without the mortgage insurance.
  • You’re looking to utilize your home equity with a cash-out refinance.
What is cash-out refinance?

Cash-out mortgage refinancing is a way to both refinance your home mortgage and borrow money at the same time. It allows you to borrow more than your current loan, typically up to 80 percent of your home value, and receive cash (cash-out) for the amount that is higher than your current loan balance. To qualify for a cash-out refinance, you’ll generally need to get your home appraised.

Cash Out Refinance Rates

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VA LOAN

Lower Rates. Buy more house.

VA Loan Calculator and Rates

Buy a home with the VA benefits
you’ve earned.

What are VA loans?

These loans make it easier for veterans of the U.S. armed forces, and sometimes their spouses, to buy homes. VA Home Loans are provided by private lenders, such as banks and mortgage companies. They don’t require a down payment and are guaranteed by the Department of Veteran Affairs, enabling the lender to provide you with more favorable terms.

Use our VA loan calculator to see current rates and payment amounts.

What are the benefits of VA loans?
  1. No down payment: Qualified VA Loan borrowers can purchase a home without a down payment. Most home loan programs require you to make at least a small down payment to buy a home. The VA loan is a true no-money-down opportunity.
  2. No private mortgage insurance (PMI): Typically, lenders require you to pay for mortgage insurance if you make a down payment that’s less than 20 percent. This insurance protects the lender in the event you default on your loan. There is no mortgage insurance with VA loans.
  3. Lower closing costs: The VA limits the closing costs lenders can charge to VA loan applicants. Homebuyers can ask sellers to pay all their loan-related closing costs and up to 4 percent of the purchase price for things like prepaid taxes and insurance, collections and judgments.
  4. No prepayment penalties: A VA loan won’t restrict your right to sell your home. There’s no prepayment penalty or early-exit fee no matter within what time frame you decide to sell your home.
  5. Lower interest rates: VA loans typically have the lowest average interest rates of all loan types.
My loan closed in two weeks which helped make my offer stand out.  My agent said they’ve never seen someone close so fast and be so helpful.

First-time Buyer,
The staff at Upwell are professional, efficient, and always looking out for their client’s best interest. Five stars and my very highest endorsement.
Blaine Weber, Weber Thompson

Mortgage loans with nothing to hide.

We put everything on the table

  • You’re encouraged to compare rates from local lenders.
  • Our real mortgage rates are posted upfront – no bait and switch.

  • Local relationships with real humans means we’re accountable.
  • There are no surprises in our fine print, ever.

We operate differently so you save

  • Our lean organizational structure keeps costs down.
  • Tech is there when you need it, and boosts efficiency.
  • You’ll get the same fair rates from all our loan officers.
  • Focused on serving Washington, we know the local market.

We deliver a higher level of service

  • All our mortgage loan officers average more than 15 years of experience.

  • Our pre-approvals are rock solid.
  • You’ll receive status updates from application to closing.
  • Post-closing, we’ll monitor your loan for the best rates.

It Starts With You

Upwell is founded on the belief that price and convenience shouldn’t come at the expense of dedicated service. We’re raising the industry bar by insisting that you can have it all. The advantages of leading-edge innovation, and the power of human relationships. This bright vision is fueled by the passion of our founders and built on decades of experience. We are committed to providing you with the best customer service.

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Blended Rate Calculator

Blended rate calculator will help you see the average blended interest rate of mortgages, debts, or any loans.

Total Balance

$ 11,000

Blended Rate

5.00 %
Current Balance
Current Rate

Default amounts are hypothetical and may not apply to your individual situation. This calculator provides approximations for informational purposes only. Actual results will be provided by your lender and will likely vary depending on your eligibility and current market rates.

Reviews

Ashley Nieto Avatar
Ashley N.
Eddie, Susanna and the entire team at Upwell Mortgage made what I was sure was going to be a complicated loan process go through so smoothly. They stayed in constant communication and always made sure I knew what was coming next. Any decisions I had to make were explained in detail and I always felt like I had what I needed to make the best informed decision. I highly recommend Eddie and his team at Upwell!
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Louis G.
Eddie helped get everything done and the house closed in less than a month. He was very detailed and helpful, always responding quickly.
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Aaron R.
My wife and I refinanced our home with Eddie and his team and it could not have been better. They kept us informed, made it easy and on our time schedule. They dealt quickly with any issues that came up. We always felt they were working on our behalf. If you are looking for someone you can trust and who will deliver what they promise then look no further.
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Purujit Saha Avatar
Purujit S.
I found out about Upwell and Jeff from co-workers. Their rates were competitive and outside of big banks (= slower closing and worse service) cannot be beat - trust me, I tried 😀. Service was impeccable. I had a misfortune of closing during a very volatile 2 weeks for mortgage rates - they dropped but at least 0.25% over a week but Jeff was able to drop our rates by a bit even after locking. Closing was smooth and exactly on time - in 28 days. They could have done it faster if needed. Another pleasant surprise was that there was no manual appraisal for this specific house because their automated models were confident enough - ymmv. Overall, I'd highly recommend for everybody except for the few who don't mind a less predictable closing time in exchange for a slightly lower rate from a big bank.
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Chris Rudow Avatar
Chris R.
Jeff and team guided us through our first-time buying experience. He spent over 45 minutes on the phone with me during the initial consult, thoughtfully answering all my questions and explaining the loan process in detail. The loan process was online, we were able to e-sign everything from their secure portal and view all our documents in one place. His team was professional and kind - emails are answered promptly and they answer the phones. I was really impressed with the whole experience.
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Jenny Abers Avatar
Jenny A.
Always such personalized customer service and a true passion to help their clients fit what truly best meets their needs. Great advice, help and service. Highly highly recommend.
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Manny f.
Jeff Bell and the entire team at Upwell are incredibly dedicated professionals who helped us navigate an extremely complex lending environment with great skill and and resourcefulness. I was so appreciative of their responsiveness, honesty and expert guidance throughout the entire mortgage process. I would recommend Upwell to anyone seeking exceptional service, and would recommend them without reservation.
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Rachael D. Avatar
Rachael D.
5 star rating
I worked with Upwell Mortgage to purchase my first home, and wow--what an awesome experience, every step of the way. Being a first-time homebuyer, I had a million questions. Jeff, Chad, and Gretchen were super patient with me and took the time to fully explain everything, helping me feel so much more knowledgeable and empowered in the process. They were always on top of everything that needed to be done: though home buying is inherently a little bit stressful, their clear instructions and deadlines made everything as stress-free as possible. And, when a little mix-up with my appraisal happened through no fault of theirs, they were there (on the weekend!) to pick up the pieces and make sure everything was handled on time. Upwell Mortgage is an incredibly honest, hardworking company, and I can't recommend them enough for your home purchase.
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Kirstin S. Avatar
Kirstin S.
5 star rating
Jeff and his team at Upwell did a fantastic job recently with our house refinance. They were responsive when needed, which at times included the weekends, creative in their advice for our situation and ensured a relatively pain-free and quick refinance. I would not hesitate to recommend Upwell to anyone.
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Frequently Asked Questions

Answers to common questions about mortgage loans.

What types of home mortgage loans are available?

Purchasing a home can seem overwhelming, with so many options and industry jargon.  Take a few minutes to understand the various types of home loans so you can move forward with confidence.  Our mortgage rates calculator will provide you with rates and loan types for your situation.

  1. Fixed Loans: A Fixed loan has an interest rate that does not change for the duration of the loan, so your mortgage principal and interest payments stay the same. Fixed loans typically come in terms of 10 years, 15 years, 20 years, 25 years, or 30 years.
  2. Adjustable Rate Mortgage (ARM) loans: There are numerous types of ARM loans, with the most popular having a fixed term for a specified number of years (such as 5, 7, or 10 years) and can then be adjusted each year thereafter, up or down based on an index.
  3. FHA Loans: These are mortgages guaranteed by the Federal Housing Administration. The required down payments are smaller with these loans.
  4. VA Loans: These loans make it easier for veterans of the U.S. armed forces, and sometimes their spouses, to buy homes. They don’t require a down payment and are guaranteed by the Department of Veteran Affairs.
  5. Jumbo Loans: Jumbo refers to a mortgage that’s too big for the Federal Government to purchase or guarantee. The current limit is defined by the county where the property is located.
What are current mortgage rates today?

Mortgage rates are driven by movements in the financial markets around the world. When the economy is going strong, bond prices drop, and rates increase. Conversely, when the economy retreats, interest rates will tend to fall.

View current mortgage rates for fixed-rate, FHA, and Jumbo mortgages and get custom rates.

How much home can I afford?

To determine how much house you can afford, many experts agree that people should spend no more than 28 percent of their gross monthly income on housing expenses and no more than 36 percent on total debt — that includes housing as well as things like student loans, car expenses, and credit card payments.

There are many types of home loans offering different terms and rates, some requiring lower down payments than others. Use this simple mortgage loan amortization calculator to find out what your payments would be and help determine the maximum home price you feel comfortable with.

What is a first-time home buyer loan?

Typically, if you’ve never owned a home, you are considered a first-time home buyer. Additionally, if you have not owned a primary residence for the last three years, you may still be considered a first-time home buyer. There is maximum financing and flexibility for first time homebuyers, with as little as 3% down. FHA loans are very popular for first-time buyers due to low down payment requirements of 3.5%.

What is a mortgage loan pre-approval?

Pre-approval allows you to get pre-approved for a specific loan amount prior to finding the home you want to purchase. The loan documents are reviewed, and the lender commits to a specific loan amount. A strong pre-approval can provide an advantage if someone else is interested in the same home simultaneously.

Drop us your details online or call us (425-748-9990) to get an accurate pre-approval right away. With your loan pre-approved, you can shop for a home knowing you’re ready to make a rock solid purchase offer.

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