Questions people actually ask.

Denee' Cox (NMLS #1111839) is a Loan Officer with Fairway Independent Mortgage Corporation, based at the Prairieville, Louisiana branch at 37283 Swamp Road, Suite 402. She holds an MBA and helps first-time and repeat buyers across the greater Baton Rouge Capital Area with home financing, including Louisiana down payment assistance programs like CAFA.

Often far less than you think. Conventional loans start at 3% down for qualified buyers, FHA at 3.5%, and VA and USDA loans can be 0% down for eligible buyers. Louisiana down payment assistance can reduce your out-of-pocket amount even further.

There's no single number. FHA financing commonly works from the low 600s, CAFA Platinum assistance starts at a 620 FICO score, and CAFA's Capital Advantage programs start at 640. If your score is below your target program today, a focused plan can often close the gap in months.

CAFA is the Capital Area Finance Authority, serving the nine parishes around Baton Rouge. Its programs provide funds toward down payment, closing costs, prepaid items, and even private mortgage insurance costs. Fairway is a CAFA-approved lender, so Denee’ can originate CAFA-assisted loans directly.

For most CAFA programs, no — with the exception of the CAFA First Home and Hometown Heroes programs, first-time-buyer status is not required. Income limits by parish and credit minimums do apply.

Pre-qualification is an estimate based on what you tell a lender. Pre-approval means your credit, income, and asset documents were actually reviewed — it carries real weight with sellers and is what you want before shopping.

From accepted offer to closing is commonly around 30–45 days. The full journey — credit prep, saving, pre-approval, shopping — often runs 6–12 months, which is why starting conversations early pays off.

Principal, Interest, Taxes, and Insurance — the four parts of a real monthly payment. Many advertised payments show only principal and interest, which understates the true number. Our calculator shows all of it, plus mortgage insurance.

Mortgage insurance protects the lender when you put less than 20% down. You can avoid it with 20%+ down, remove conventional PMI later once you have enough equity, or simply weigh it as the monthly cost of buying years sooner. Some CAFA assistance can even help with mortgage insurance costs.

Plan on roughly 2–4% of the purchase price, plus prepaid taxes and insurance. Assistance programs that cover closing costs — like CAFA’s — can significantly reduce what you bring to the table.

Hurricane and wind exposure. It's a real cost that belongs in your budget from day one — which is why our payment calculator has a dedicated insurance field and why Denee' recommends getting insurance quotes on serious candidate homes before you offer.

If the home sits in a FEMA special flood hazard area and you have a mortgage, yes — it's required. Outside those zones it's optional but often worth pricing. Always check the flood zone and the home's flood history before you offer; it's Louisiana house-hunting rule number one.

A property tax break on your primary residence that shields a portion of your home's value from most property taxes. You file once with your parish assessor after you buy — it's one of the perks of owning in Louisiana, and forgetting to file is a classic new-owner mistake.

Typically: photo ID, 30 days of pay stubs, two years of W-2s and tax returns, and two months of bank statements — plus documentation for any other income you want counted. Our Pre-Approval Checklist covers the full stack.

Yes. Gift funds from family are allowed on most loan types with a simple gift letter documenting that the money is a gift, not a loan. Gifts can also stack with assistance programs.

It's a genuine gamble either way: when rates fall, buyer competition and prices tend to rise. You can refinance a rate later, but you can't refinance a purchase price. Most people do best buying when their own finances are ready rather than trying to time the market.

Don't open new credit cards, finance a car or furniture, co-sign for anyone, close old accounts, change jobs without telling your loan officer, or move money around without a paper trail. Your credit and finances are re-verified before closing.

It depends on how long you'll stay. Renting usually wins for short stays; buying tends to win over roughly 4–5+ years because a fixed-rate payment stays frozen while rents rise, and part of every payment builds your equity. The honest answer comes from running your specific numbers.

No. This site has no forms, no accounts, and no analytics trackers. Checklist progress is stored only in your own browser. All applications and documents go exclusively through Fairway’s secure corporate systems.

Call or text 225-442-3617, email deneec@fairwaymc.com, or apply directly through her secure Fairway application link. A first conversation is free, fast, and commitment-free — most buyers start with a simple 'what would my payment be?'