Searching for the best va lenders for veterans is less about picking a brand and more about how you evaluate lenders. Duane Buziak, NMLS #1110647, walks through seven strategies, starting with your Certificate of Eligibility and entitlement, to help veterans match funding fee, pricing, and guidelines to the right VA lender for their situation.
Does DTI Include Bonus Income? The Real Rules
Does DTI include bonus income? Learn the two-year history rule, calculation methods, documentation, and strategies to qualify with variable pay today
7 Strategies to Choose the Right USDA Lender: A Duane Buziak Guide for 2026
USDA guarantees loans but does not lend the money, so the lender you choose shapes your approval odds, pricing, and timeline. This guide from Duane Buziak shares seven strategies for finding the best USDA lenders, from confirming property and income eligibility first to comparing lenders on rules, cost, service, and credentials.
Short Sale Impact on Future Mortgage: Waiting Periods, Credit Effects, and Your Path Back to Homeownership
A short sale does not permanently block homeownership, but it brings a credit hit and a waiting period that varies by loan program, commonly two to four years in 2026. This guide explains the short sale impact on future mortgage underwriting, what your next loan may cost, and how to rebuild credit so you qualify sooner.
7 Strategies to Get Approved When It’s Hard to Qualify for a Conventional Loan
When it’s hard to qualify for a conventional loan, the cause is usually one fixable factor, such as credit score, DTI, down payment, income documentation, or a lender overlay. This guide walks through seven strategies in order: find the real blocker, fix the cheapest factor, adjust the loan structure, document income, switch programs, and shop without stacking credit pulls.
Duane Buziak’s 7 Strategies to Use Teacher Home Loan Programs and Lower Your Cost of Buying
There is no single national teacher mortgage, but teacher home loan programs from state housing agencies and local employers can lower what educators pay to buy a home. Duane Buziak shares seven strategies for finding the right program, qualifying correctly, and pairing it with the best FHA, conventional, or USDA base loan.
Non-QM Income Documentation Guide for Borrowers
This non QM income documentation guide shows self-employed and asset-rich borrowers how brokers test qualifying income, documents, and DTI before applying.
7 Strategies for Military Relocation Mortgage Options: A PCS Buyer’s Guide by Duane Buziak
PCS orders leave military families a short window to choose where to live and how to finance it, and the wrong choice can lock up VA entitlement or add avoidable fees. This guide walks through seven strategies for military relocation mortgage options, covering VA entitlement, buying, renting out your old home, IRRRL refinancing, and non-VA programs.
How to Fix Tax Return Problems on a Mortgage Application: Duane Buziak’s Step-by-Step Guide
Tax return problems on a mortgage application usually cause delays rather than denials. This guide walks through an ordered fix list: spotting what underwriters will flag, filing missing returns, handling tax debt, rebuilding qualifying income, and choosing the right loan path so your file answers questions before they are asked.
Seller Concessions Maximum Allowed Percentage: Limits by Loan Type, Explained by Duane Buziak
The seller concessions maximum allowed percentage varies by loan program: conventional loans allow 3%, 6%, or 9% depending on loan-to-value, FHA allows 6%, USDA generally allows 6%, and VA caps a defined group of concessions at 4%. Duane Buziak breaks down each 2026 limit, runs the math on a real purchase, and shows how to use a seller credit without triggering appraisal or underwriting problems.
