Central Texas Mortgage Broker
Mortgage Broker in Austin, TX
Austin is a big word for a lot of very different neighborhoods, and South Austin proves it more than anywhere else in the city. The typical South Austin home runs around $525,000, but that number hides real range. 78745 sits closer to $467,000 and is where a lot of first-time and move-up buyers land, 78748 and 78749 run a similar band further south (Shady Hollow, Onion Creek, and Circle C Ranch are the names that come up most), while 78704 pockets like Zilker, Travis Heights, and Bouldin Creek push well past $1 million. The financing conversation changes block by block here, and a heavy share of buyers are self-employed or working on 1099 income and need a lender who can actually read that file, not decline it on sight. Property taxes stack three ways across most of South Austin too, Travis County, the City of Austin, and Austin ISD, and I walk every buyer through what that actually adds to the monthly payment before they write an offer.
Most purchases here land between $250,000 and $500,000
Jennifer Ferrara
Loan Officer · NMLS #2781982
Fourteen years navigating real estate deals taught me to listen before I recommend anything. Tell me what you're working with, and let's talk it through.
What fits here
Loan options that come up most in South Austin
Price points and buyer profiles differ market to market, so the financing conversation does too. These are the ones South Austin raises most often.
First-Time Homebuyer
A first-time homebuyer loan is any loan structured around the fact that you have not done this before, usually a lower down payment, flexible credit guidelines, and help covering closing costs. Most first-time buyers in Central Texas use FHA or conventional financing, often paired with seller concessions or a seller-paid rate buydown.
Read moreConventional
A conventional loan is a mortgage that meets Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac guidelines instead of running through a government insurance program. It can start as low as 3 percent down on a primary home, and once you reach 20 percent equity the mortgage insurance falls off for good. It generally works best for buyers with solid credit who want the lowest cost over the life of the loan.
Read moreSelf-Employed / Bank Statement
Yes. A bank statement loan qualifies you on deposits into your business or personal accounts, typically over 12 or 24 months, instead of the net income on your tax returns. It is built for self-employed and 1099 borrowers whose write-offs make their tax return income look far smaller than what they actually earn.
Read moreBridge
A bridge loan lets you tap the equity in your current home to fund the down payment on the next one, so you can make an offer that is not contingent on selling first. You carry it short term, then pay it off when your existing home closes.
Read more
This is not a commitment to lend. All loans are subject to credit approval, income and property verification. Rates, terms, and programs are subject to change without notice. Nook Lending is powered by MPA Home Loans. Jennifer Ferrara, Loan Officer, NMLS #2781982. MPA Home Loans NMLS #2778343. Equal Housing Opportunity.
Reviewed by Jennifer Ferrara, NMLS #2781982 · Last updated 2026-08-11
Down payment help
Down payment assistance in South Austin
The City of Austin runs its own down payment assistance program: up to $40,000 as a 0% deferred loan, forgiven after 10 years in the home, for households at or below 80% of area median income. One real gap to know about: SETH's 5 Star program excludes Travis County entirely, so it is not an option here. TSAHC's programs and BCL of Texas's NeighborhoodLIFT (up to $7,500 forgivable) both still apply, covered on the full Texas Grants page.
See every Texas grant and down payment program I work withQuestions
Buying in South Austin
Both. Nook Lending is a mortgage broker serving all of Austin, TX, and South Austin specifically is one of the six Central Texas markets Jennifer Ferrara works in most, alongside Kyle, Buda, San Marcos, Driftwood, and Dripping Springs. She is licensed throughout Texas and can write a loan anywhere in the state.
A few of my local favorites
Looking in South Austin?
Tell me the price range and what you are working with. I will show you the real monthly number and the cash you would need, before you fill out anything.