ENES CALL (224) 591-3179 Apply Now
Certified Mortgage Advisor · NMLS #2771584 · EN / ES

Straight Talk.
Real Approvals.

I'm Ben Duran — a Certified Mortgage Advisor helping homebuyers in all 50 states, and I pre-underwrite your file so your offer actually gets taken seriously. In English o en Español.

Get Pre-Approved → Estimate My Payment
50
States Served
24hr
Response Time
4.9★
Client Rating
EN·ES
Bilingual Service
Ben Duran, mortgage broker
Ben Duran signature New videos every week · @benmortgages
Editorial No. 01 — Season 2026
Master Class Series

Homebuying 101,the series

The whole homebuying process, explained straight — one short episode at a time. Watch it here, then grab the matching worksheet.

Now Streaming · Free Series

The Real Price of a House Isn't on the Listing

Episode 01 • Ben MortgagesWatch on YouTube ↗

The Invisible Price Tag

Episode 02 • Ben MortgagesWatch on YouTube ↗
Watch on YouTube → Get the Worksheets
Episode Previews
Start Here

What brings you here?

New · 60 seconds Not sure where to start? Take the quiz and find your loan match. Start →

Buy a Home

First home or forever home — get a pre-approval sellers respect.

Start →

Refinance

Lower your rate, drop your payment, or pull cash out of your equity.

Start →

Tap Your Equity

HELOCs and home equity loans — cash when you need it, on your terms.

Start →

Invest / Rentals

Rentals, flips, multi-unit — financing that thinks like an investor does.

Start →
The Process

Pre-underwritten, not pre-qualified

Most lenders hand you a letter based on a 10-minute conversation. I actually underwrite your file up front — so when you make an offer, it holds. And I can do it for buyers in all 50 states.

01

We Talk

A real 15-minute conversation about your goals, income, and timeline. English o en Español.

02

I Review Your File

Secure document upload. I review income, credit, and assets the way an underwriter will — before you shop.

03

Approved With Conditions

Your file goes into underwriting and comes back approved with conditions — a short, clear checklist of what's left. No mystery, no scrambling.

04

Clear to Close

We knock the conditions out one by one. When the last one clears, you get the underwriter's final green light.

05

You Close

Sign, fund, keys. A pre-underwritten file means fewer surprises and a faster closing table.

WHY IT MATTERS

In a competitive market, a pre-underwritten buyer looks almost as strong as a cash buyer. Listing agents know the difference — and so do sellers.

Loan Products

One advisor. Every option.

Purchase, refinance, HELOC, VA, FHA, jumbo, DSCR, self-employed, ITIN — serving buyers in all 50 states. If a loan fits your situation, we'll find it together.

Ben Duran
About

Meet Ben Duran

I've helped hundreds of families and investors get financed — first homes, refis, rental portfolios, and ITIN buyers. My approach is simple: I explain everything in plain language, and nothing shows up at the closing table that you haven't already seen.

I originate through Texana Bank Mortgage, a division of Texana Bank, N.A. — a bank that underwrites and funds its own loans. Your file stays under one roof from application to closing: one team, one set of guidelines, and no handing you off to a name you've never heard of. And because I serve clients in English and Spanish, nothing gets lost in translation — sí, hablo español.

NMLS #2771584 · FHA · VA · Jumbo · DSCR · Self-Employed · Se Habla Español

Straight Talk on Mortgages & Markets

New videos every week on YouTube · @benmortgages
Run the Numbers

Mortgage calculator

Adjust Your Numbers

$400,000
$80,000 (20%)
6.50%
30 years
$450
Estimated Monthly Payment
$2,473/mo
Principal & InterestTaxes & Insurance
Loan Amount$320,000
Principal & Interest$2,023
Total Interest Paid$408,280

Illustrative numbers only — not a quote, rate offer, or approval. Your actual rate and payment depend on your full financial picture.

Rates change daily — text me for today's real pricing Get My Real Numbers →
Reviews

What clients say

Ben does business the right way. Quick, simple, and straight to the point. Highly recommend him for any future purchases or business of any kind.

JOJulio O.Verified Review
★★★★★

"Talked to Ben on the phone, he was really helpful and patient. Took time to explain things. Overall great experience, would recommend."

JRJonathan R.Verified Review
★★★★★

"Ben was so nice to work with. He was very patient and spent a lot of time with us!"

WHWendy H.Verified Review
Free Guides

Know before you borrow

The same straight talk from the channel, in writing — guides free to read, worksheets free to download.

Free Download · Homebuying 101

The Affordability Worksheet

A free fill-in-the-blank PDF — find the payment you can actually live with, in three steps. More tools in the library.

Get It Free →
Purchase · 5 min

The Complete Guide to Purchase Loans

Everything you need to know about buying your first home — or your next one.

Read → Refinance · 5 min

When Should You Refinance?

When refinancing makes sense, and how much you could actually save.

Read → FHA · 5 min

FHA: The First-Time Buyer's Best Friend

Low down payments and flexible credit requirements, explained.

Read → VA · 5 min

VA Loans: Benefits You've Earned

Zero down, no PMI, and competitive terms for veterans and service members.

Read →
More Guides: Investment, Jumbo, ITIN, Fix & Flip
FAQ

Questions I get every week

What's the difference between pre-qualified and pre-underwritten?
A pre-qual is an estimate based on what you tell a lender. Pre-underwriting means I actually review your income, credit, and asset documents up front — the way the final underwriter will. Your offer carries real weight, and there are far fewer surprises before closing.
Do you only work with buyers in Illinois?
No — I'm serving homebuyers in all 50 states. Your file is underwritten and funded in-house at Texana Bank Mortgage, so it's one team and one set of guidelines from application to closing — and you only deal with one person: me.
What credit score do I need?
It depends on the program — FHA can work with scores others won't touch, and some investor programs qualify on the property's income rather than yours. Don't disqualify yourself before we talk; that's my job to figure out, and it's free.
Do I really need 20% down?
No — that's the most expensive myth in the business. Conventional loans start at 3% down, FHA at 3.5%, and VA at zero. We'll look at the down payment that fits your goals, not a rule of thumb from 1985.
¿Ofreces servicio en español?
Sí. Todo el proceso — la consulta, los documentos y el cierre — puede ser completamente en español. Sin intermediarios y sin perder detalles en la traducción.
How fast can I close?
Because your file is pre-underwritten before you offer, most of the heavy lifting is already done. Clean purchase files can close in as little as 2–3 weeks; timelines vary with the property, program, and third parties like appraisers.
Free Consultation

Not sure which loan fits? Let's talk.

15 minutes, no obligation, no pressure. I'll tell you exactly where you stand and what your options are — even if the honest answer is "wait six months."

Call (224) 591-3179 Start Online →
✓Straight answers, not scripts ✓Evenings and weekends work too ✓English / Español
Contact

Get in touch

Phone(224) 591-3179Call or text anytime — evenings & weekends OK
Emailbenmortgages2008@gmail.comDocuments and questions welcome
Office1000 N Milwaukee Ave #403, Chicago, IL 60642Wicker Park / Noble Square — serving all 50 states
YouTube@benmortgagesStraight talk on mortgages & markets, weekly

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Market Watch

Where rates stand

National averages, updated as the market moves — the 10-year Treasury shifts daily and mortgage averages follow. These are benchmarks, not my quote for you.

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Source: Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey & U.S. Treasury via FRED®. These are national average interest rates, not APRs — the APR on any actual loan includes fees and will be higher. Market information only: not our rates, not an offer or quote of credit terms, and your rate depends on your credit, down payment, and loan program. Text me for your real number today

Rate-drop alerts

Tell me your current rate and I'll let you know when the national average drops enough that a refi review is worth your time.

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