Skip to main content
The Mortgage Expert
Run My Scenario

Independent Orlando mortgage broker · Wholesale pricing · No application fee

Mortgage rates without the math are just bait. I show you the numbers first.

Most mortgage sites make you trade your phone number for a fake rate. I built this site to show you the math first.

Run the same loan three ways: Lower Rate, Balanced, or Lender Credit. See the rate, APR, points, payment, and cash to close tradeoff before anyone runs your credit.

Yeah. You found your mortgage guy.

  • No call center
  • No rate bait
  • No BS
As seen onWFTV Channel 9 Home Experts

Featured on WFTV Channel 9 Home Experts

Orlando Magazine 2026: #1 Mortgage Lender – Individual

Shahram Sondi

Certified Mortgage Advisor™ · NMLS 186790

Shahram Sondi, The Mortgage Expert — Orlando, Florida

Shahram Sondi

Certified Mortgage Advisor™ · NMLS 186790

Intake

Tell me your scenario

Buying, refinancing, self-employed, seller credit, points vs. credit, cash to close, or payment goal — tell me what you’re trying to figure out.

Run the numbers first

No credit pull. No application. Just a straight first take.

Run the NumbersAsk Shahram

Sample scenario. Not a quote or commitment to lend. Rates and terms subject to change.

As seen on& trusted across Central Florida.

WFTV Channel 9 Home Experts
5.0★★★★★400+ GOOGLE & ZILLOW
25+YEARS IN FL MORTGAGE
Access to wholesale rates

Tools, without the pressure

Look around first. No forms, no follow-up calls.

Explore the numbers on your own time. When you want a human read on them, I’m one message away — never the other way around.

Today’s rate options

A current planning snapshot across common loan types — no email gate, no “call to unlock.”

Planning snapshot

Program-specific scenarios · 780 credit · Primary SFR

30-year Conventional75% LTV
5.999% · APR 6.143%1.071 pts · $6,024
15-year Conventional75% LTV
5.499% · APR 5.651%1.214 pts · $6,829
30-year FHA3.5% down
5.500% · APR 6.564%1.526 pts · $7,364
30-year VA100% financing
5.625% · APR 6.003%1.492 pts · $7,462

Each row uses program-specific scenario assumptions, with the closest available option to 1.500 points. 780 credit · primary single-family residence. Subject to change. Not a commitment to lend.

Program assumptions vary. Expand for details.

Conventional assumptions
  • $750,000 purchase price
  • 25% down payment
  • $562,500 loan amount (75% LTV)
  • 780 credit score bucket
  • Primary single-family residence
  • Closest available option to 1.500 points
30-year Conventional5.999% · APR 6.143% · 1.071 pts ($6,024)
15-year Conventional5.499% · APR 5.651% · 1.214 pts ($6,829)

Planning snapshot for Conventional 30-year and 15-year fixed scenarios. Rate and APR are shown together. Subject to change. Not a Loan Estimate, not a rate lock, not an approval, and not a commitment to lend.

FHA assumptions
  • $500,000 purchase price
  • 3.5% down payment
  • $482,500 base loan amount before applicable FHA upfront MIP
  • 780 credit score bucket
  • Primary single-family residence
  • Closest available option to 1.500 points
30-year FHA5.500% · APR 6.564% · 1.526 pts ($7,364)

FHA scenarios may include upfront and monthly mortgage insurance, and APR can differ materially from the note rate because of FHA mortgage insurance and program costs. Subject to change. Not a Loan Estimate, not a rate lock, not an approval, and not a commitment to lend.

VA assumptions
  • $500,000 purchase price
  • 100% financing
  • $500,000 base loan amount before any applicable VA funding fee treatment
  • Eligible VA borrower assumption
  • 780 credit score bucket
  • Primary single-family residence
  • Closest available option to 1.500 points
30-year VA5.625% · APR 6.003% · 1.492 pts ($7,462)

VA pricing and APR can vary based on funding fee status, exemption status, entitlement, occupancy, and final eligibility. Subject to change. Not a Loan Estimate, not a rate lock, not an approval, and not a commitment to lend.

See full rate sheet

Payment calculator

A real monthly estimate — taxes, insurance, and PMI included, not just principal and interest.

Loan amount$450,000

Full payment breakdown opens in the rate tool.

Run My Scenario

Structure over rate-shopping

A rate means nothing if the structure is wrong.

The cheapest-looking quote is not always the smartest loan. I look at the full picture: rate, APR, points, lender credit, seller credits, payment, cash to close, approval strength, and how long the loan actually needs to make sense.

Same buyer · same home · two ways to write it

The number that looks cheapest on the screen — and the most cash out of your pocket. Points paid up front to hit it, on a loan most Florida buyers refinance or sell long before it ever pays off.

Illustrative comparison only. Your real numbers come from a conversation, not a screen.

Headline ratewhat catches your eye
Looks cheapest
Cash to closewhat you bring to the table
More up front
Cost over the years you keep itnot just the headline term
More if it’s short-term
Approval strengthhow it reads to underwriting
Fragile

What I actually review

Most lenders stop at the rate and the monthly payment. These eight decide whether the loan is right.

01

Rate and APR

The real cost of borrowing — not just the teaser headline.

02

Points vs. lender credit

Pay to lower the rate, or take credit and keep your cash.

03

Seller credit strategy

Negotiated right, it buys down the rate — not just fees.

04

Cash to close

What you actually bring, and the cushion you keep after.

05

Monthly payment

Real PITI — taxes, insurance, and PMI, not just P&I.

06

Approval strength

How the file reads to underwriting before you make an offer.

07

Lock timing

When to lock, and what floating costs if rates move.

08

Refinance or exit strategy

How long this loan needs to make sense before you move or refi.

That’s the difference between getting quoted and getting advised.

Show me the smarter structure

One person accountable

You don’t need a mortgage department. You need someone who knows your file.

When you work with me, you are not bounced between a sales rep, a processor, a call center, and a manager who barely knows the scenario. I review the file, explain the tradeoffs, and tell you what I would do if it were my money on the line.

The industry pathfive hands, no one accountable

You
Sales rep
Processor
Call center
Manager
You. Again.

Tossed around — explaining your file from scratch every time.

Shahram Sondi, Certified Mortgage Advisor

Shahram Sondi

Certified Mortgage Advisor™ · Orlando, FL · NMLS 186790

One direct line

  • I know your scenario — not a ticket sitting in a queue.
  • I explain the tradeoff in plain English, before you decide.
  • Text, call, or email me directly — the same person every time.
  • I move your file forward myself — no handoff, no waiting on a department.
  • I give you the answer, not a script someone read off a screen.

One person. One file. Straight answers.

Tell me your scenario

Find your loan path

Find the loan path that actually fits your situation.

Conventional, FHA, VA, Jumbo, DSCR, Bank Statement, and Non-QM all solve different problems. The wrong program can cost you money, time, or approval strength. I help you pick the path that makes sense before you waste time chasing the wrong quote.

01

Buying with lower down payment

Common starting points for most buyers.

Conventional

Clean option for strong credit, stable income, and buyers who want flexible down payment options.

See loan details

FHA

Useful when credit score, debt ratio, or cash to close makes conventional less attractive.

See loan details

VA

For eligible veterans and service members. Zero down may be available, and the structure can be powerful when used correctly.

See loan details
02

Higher loan amount or stronger file

When the loan size or the file needs a tighter read.

Jumbo

For higher loan amounts where pricing, reserves, income, and documentation need a tighter read.

See loan details
03

Investor, self-employed, or outside-the-box

Income or property that doesn’t fit the standard box.

DSCR

Investor loan based more on property cash flow than personal income.

See loan details

Bank Statement

For self-employed borrowers whose tax returns do not tell the whole story.

Talk it through

Non-QM

For real files that do not fit the standard agency box but still make sense.

Talk it through

Who reads your file

The tools show the math. I read the file.

Shahram Sondi, Florida mortgage broker
Certified Mortgage Advisor™

Shahram Sondi

Independent Orlando mortgage broker · In mortgages since 2001

NMLS #186790 · Company NMLS 2412313 · FL MBR5733

I built MortgageExpert.com so you can run the numbers before you talk to anyone. The math is the easy part. The judgment — reading income, credit, cash to close, loan type, seller credits, underwriting risk, and lock timing as one connected decision — is what you’re actually hiring me for.

What I’m actually reading

  • How the whole file reads to underwriting — before you ever make an offer.
  • Which structure fits how long you’ll actually keep the loan, not just today’s payment.
  • The levers worth pulling for your situation — points, credits, timing — and the ones that aren’t.

Shahram’s take

“Most borrowers don’t need more noise. They need someone to read the whole file, show them the tradeoff, and tell them what actually makes sense.”

Have Shahram read your scenarioSee today’s rate options

Start from your situation

Start from the situation, not the program.

You don’t have to name the loan program. Tell me the situation you’re actually in — I’ll point you to the path that fits and the tradeoffs that come with it.

01

Buying with limited cash up front

The real questionUse points, or keep cash for after closing?

Lower down payment, first-time buyer, or simply protecting your cushion once the keys are in hand.

Explore this path

02

Deciding between FHA and conventional

The real questionWhich structure actually costs you less?

It is rarely about credit alone — debt ratio, mortgage insurance, and cash to close all move the answer.

Compare the options

03

Veteran or VA-eligible

The real questionIs zero down the right move here?

VA can be powerful, but the funding fee, payment, and seller strategy still need a real read first.

Explore this path

04

Moving up to a higher price point

The real questionHow do reserves and documentation change the rate?

At higher loan amounts, pricing turns on reserves, income documentation, and how the file is packaged.

Explore this path

05

Buying an investment property

The real questionDo the rent, payment, and cash to close pencil out?

The question is not just approval — it is whether the numbers and the long-term hold actually work.

Explore this path

06

Self-employed or complex income

The real questionWhich income path reads cleanest?

Tax returns, write-offs, deposits, and history decide the cleanest way to document what you actually earn.

Walk through it with Shahram

After you reach out

You send the scenario. Here’s how the file moves.

No application required to start. Once I have your scenario, one person — me — reviews the file, shows you the tradeoffs before you apply, and keeps it organized through closing. How quickly it moves depends on your documents and the verified details, not a fixed promise.

  1. You send the scenario

    Buying, refinancing, self-employed, seller credit, tight cash to close, an investment property — in plain English, in your words. No application, no credit pull to start.

  2. I review the file and the numbers

    One person looks at rate, APR, points, lender credit, payment, cash to close, loan type, and underwriting risk together — not one piece at a time.

  3. You see the tradeoffs before you apply

    You decide with the numbers in front of you. If the structure makes sense, we move toward approval. If another option fits better, I’ll say so.

  4. The file moves with a clear plan

    Documents, appraisal, title, conditions, deadlines, and lender communication stay organized through closing — with one person accountable for the next step.

Ask ShahramView today’s rate options

Proof, not promises

People don’t remember the rate quote. They remember who helped them make the decision.

A mortgage is stressful because the numbers, documents, deadlines, and advice all hit at once. The point isn’t just getting a loan. It’s having someone who can explain what’s happening and keep the file moving.

“Refinanced with Shahram after shopping four other lenders. He was the only one who actually showed me the break-even math.”

David T.Lake Mary, FL
Refinance

“Shahram made the process simple and transparent. No surprises, no runaround — just straight answers.”

Maria R.Winter Park, FL
First-time buyer

“Best mortgage experience we've had. He modeled three scenarios before we even applied.”

James & Priya D.Orlando, FL
Move-up purchase

Real buyers. Real closings.

Shahram Sondi with homebuyer clients after closing
Shahram with clients after closing
Homebuyer client at the signing table
A client at the signing table
Homebuyer clients at their new home after closing
New homeowners, keys in hand
Homebuyer client with keys at closing
Keys handed over at closing
Verify onGoogleZillowYelpBBB

Common questions

The questions people ask before they trust me with the file.

You can ask these directly, too. Most mortgage problems are easier to solve when we talk about the real situation first instead of guessing from a generic chart.

Find my answer

Routes to the full Mortgage Questions library — searchable plain-English answers reviewed through a real loan-officer lens.

Do I have to apply before you can help me?

No. You can start with the situation. I can usually tell you what we need to look at before you complete an application.

Are the rates on the homepage a quote?

No. They are planning snapshots based on stated assumptions. Your actual rate, APR, cost, and eligibility depend on verified credit, income, assets, property, occupancy, loan amount, lock timing, and lender conditions.

Why do you show APR next to the rate?

Because the rate alone doesn’t tell the full story. APR helps show how certain loan costs affect the cost of credit, especially when comparing points, lender credits, FHA mortgage insurance, or other structure differences.

What if I’m self-employed?

Then the income review matters more. Tax returns, write-offs, deposits, year-to-date profit and loss, business history, and loan type can change the strategy.

Is FHA only for first-time buyers?

No. FHA isn’t only for first-time buyers. It can be useful when credit, debt ratio, or cash to close makes the FHA structure stronger than conventional.

Can seller credits help me get a lower rate?

Sometimes. Seller credits can often be used to cover closing costs or buy down the rate, but the best use depends on the contract, loan type, cash to close, and how long you expect to keep the loan.

Why work with you instead of a bank?

A bank usually shows you its own box. I compare the structure, explain the tradeoff, and help you decide whether the rate, payment, cash to close, and underwriting path actually make sense.

What happens if the numbers don’t make sense?

Then I’ll tell you. The point isn’t to force an application. The point is to figure out the right move.

Have a question that isn’t here? Just ask.

Ready when you are

Ask the mortgage question you actually have.

Buying, refinancing, comparing rates, trying to keep cash, self-employed, VA, FHA, investment property — start with the real situation. I’ll help you sort the numbers and the tradeoff.

Shahram’s take

“If the numbers don’t make sense, I’ll tell you before you waste time applying.”

Ask ShahramView today’s rate options

Want to look at the math first? Run a scenario first.

No call center. No rate bait. Just a straight answer from the person working the file.