Ask the mortgage questions you think are too basic.
First home, next home, or rethinking the one you've got. A mortgage is a big step. We'll walk you through it like a neighbor would, in plain English, at your pace.
You don't have to be a member to talk to us.
Want the detail first? See how the process works.
They made the whole process easy in spite of all of my ridiculous questions. I would definitely recommend and we'll be working with them again.
Been with you for at least 25 years, way back when it was 310 CU. Many loans and our home mortgage. Keep on keepin on.
4.8★ 
(2,900+ reviews)
2023 National Credit Union of the Year
Serving Iowa since 1949
CDFICertified CDFICertified by the U.S. Treasury’s CDFI Fund to serve low-income communities
What actually happens, start to keys
The conversation.
Ten-ish minutes. Where you are, what you're hoping for, what you make, what you owe. No documents needed yet. Just talk.
The pre-approval.
We look at the full picture and give you a real budget: a number you can shop with, not a guess.
The house hunt, with backup.
Found one? Call us before you offer. We'll run the real monthly payment, taxes and insurance included, so the number you commit to is the whole number.
Closing and keys.
We coordinate the paperwork parade (appraisal, title, the stack of signatures) and tell you exactly what to bring. Then it's your front door.
Which move are you making?
My first home
Nobody's born knowing how mortgages work. Ask every question, including the ones that feel dumb. They aren't.
My next home
Selling one and buying another is a timing puzzle. We'll help you sequence it so you're not paying for two houses or living in zero.
Rethinking my current mortgage
Rates change, lives change. Sometimes a refinance saves real money; sometimes it doesn't. We'll tell you which, honestly.
What would the payment be?
Price, down payment, taxes, insurance: see the whole monthly number, not just the loan. No login. No personal info. Just the math.
Estimates only — not a commitment to lend. Your actual rate, payment, and term depend on your credit, the property, and rates at the time you lock.
Walk into the showing with a real budget.
A pre-approval costs you one conversation, and it changes everything: sellers take you seriously, you stop falling in love with houses you'd hate paying for, and the guessing stops before it starts.
What the payment really is
- The ad rate isn't the payment
Advertised rates often assume you've paid ‘points’ (money up front to buy the rate down) and that your file is perfect. The honest number is your rate, on your file. That's what we'll quote you. - The payment is more than the loan
Principal, interest, property taxes, homeowner's insurance, and sometimes mortgage insurance. We quote the whole monthly number, because that's the one your budget feels. - Pre-qualified and pre-approved aren't the same
One's an estimate from a form. The other is a reviewed file a seller can trust. We do the second kind.
The goal isn't to get you the biggest loan you qualify for. It's to get you a house you can comfortably keep.
The first step might not be a loan.
Not sure you're ready to buy yet?
Good instinct. Sometimes the answer is a plan, not a loan. Affinity offers free financial coaching: no account required, no pressure, just a conversation about where you are and what would actually help. Not mortgage-ready yet? That's a starting point, not a verdict. A coach can help you build toward it.
- Free
- No account required
- No pressure
Gage Smith, AFC · Accredited Financial Counselor · 515-777-7824 · gsmith@affinitycuia.org
“Jenna was so helpful during an already stressful process of buying our new home. She was patient with all my questions and was very knowledgeable on the subject.”
Julia, review, November 2023
Meet the person you’ll actually work with
Your mortgage runs through one person here, not a call center queue. Ask for Victoria.
Come ask your questions in person
Victoria runs free first-time homebuyer sessions around Des Moines. No sales pitch, no obligation, and you can bring whatever you’re unsure about.
Nothing on the calendar this minute, but Victoria runs these a few times a year — and she’ll answer the same questions one-on-one in the meantime. Get in touch with her and she’ll let you know when the next one is set.
See everything Victoria has coming up →If you need it, it's here
Home equity
Already own? A HELOC or fixed equity loan puts your house to work for repairs, projects, or consolidating debt.
Auto loans
Refinancing or buying: real numbers from a real person, even if the bank said no.
Everything else we do
Checking, savings, credit cards, personal loans: the whole toolbox, one credit union.
Common questions
Other loan terms may be available; please contact our mortgage department. Affinity Credit Union NMLS ID# 474043. Equal Housing Lender.