The Inside BS About Mortgages

Craig Achtzehn                                                              Residential Loan Officer                                                    Draper & Kramer Mortgage Corp                                        (312) 961-7763                                                              craig@dkmortgage.com

About Craig Achtzehn                                                           

For over 21 years, mortgage loan officer Craig Achtzehn has been a trusted home financing resource for consumers and professionals across Chicagoland and beyond. Craig has distinguished himself as a top producer throughout his career, and Mortgage Executive Magazine has also consistently ranked him on their annual Top 1% Mortgage Originators in America list.

Much of Craig’s success can be attributed to his passion for organization, effectiveness and communication. A former Army officer with a degree in Engineering Management from West Point and an MBA from Notre Dame, his attention to detail and personal involvement in each loan helps ensure a smooth and positive loan experience for his clients. Craig’s expertise includes a wide range of loan, property and client types, and he specializes in helping military borrowers obtain VA home loans.

Craig’s favorite parts of his job are meeting new people, helping clients purchase their dream homes and seeing everyone leave the closing table happy. The majority of his clients are referred to him by satisfied past borrowers and his network of real estate agents, accountants, financial advisors, builders and attorneys.

Outside of the office, Craig can be found spending time with his family or serving his community. He resides in suburban Chicagoland with his wife and two children where he coaches youth basketball. He is also an ambassador to the Folded Flag Foundation, a nonprofit that provides educational scholarships and support grants to the spouses and children of service members who have fallen in the line of duty.

Timestamps:

00:00​ – The Inside BS About Mortgages
01:23 – What is the current state of mortgage rates?
02:37 – Don’t let rates scare you when buying a house
04:35 – The process of refinancing
06:05 – What is a popular mortgage product?
07:50 – What mortgage product should individuals avoid?
10:05 – What is the subprime market and how has it changed over time? 
11:53 – How can an entrepreneur obtain a mortgage with a poor credit score?
13:14 – How Craig assists investors in purchasing investment property
15:53 – Substantial equity refinance
17:05 – What drew Craig into the mortgage industry?
18:45 – How Craig approaches various clients
22:35 – How often should a realtor come to Craig to discuss mortgages?
24:00 – How should people know their credit score before buying a home?
26:09 – What a self-employed person should prepare for when buying a property
27:18 – What a co-signer actually means                           28:34 The Future of the residential loan industry          30:01 History of the home loan industry                          30:57 How does a mortgage affect a second house if the first is rented?                                                                         33:05 What are private loans and hard money?

📺Watch and Enjoy!