For Iowa buyers and homeowners told no somewhere else
Told no somewhere else? Get a second opinion.
Mike Steger has been an Iowa mortgage broker since 2005. He works with multiple lenders, not one bank's rulebook, to find what actually fits your situation. Tell him what happened last time, and he'll tell you upfront if credit is going to be an obstacle, before you ever apply. Purchase, refinance, cash-out, self-employed, and investment property loans, all across Iowa.
Mike Steger, owner of Iowa Mortgage Solutions.
You've heard "no" before. Or worse, mixed signals.
Maybe one lender told you your credit wasn't good enough. Maybe another gave you a maybe, then went quiet. Maybe you make decent money, you have some savings, and you still can't get a straight answer about whether a house you can afford is even possible for you.
You've started to wonder what's actually realistic and what's just marketing. And there's a quieter fear underneath that: that you'll go through the whole thing again, hand over your paperwork, get asked about your credit in a way that feels like judgment, and then hear no again right at the end, after you let yourself hope.
That fear is reasonable. It also doesn't have to happen again.
One "no" is one lender's rulebook. It isn't the market's answer.
Every lender has its own checklist. When one says no, it usually means you didn't fit that specific checklist, not that no lender anywhere will work with you. Mike Steger has been shopping multiple lenders for Iowa borrowers since 2005. Where one bank sees a rejection, he sees a different set of rules that might already fit what you've got.
His first job isn't to push an application through. It's to find out what's actually in your way, and tell you before you apply again.
What a second opinion actually gets you
- ✓A one-on-one review of your situation with Mike, not a form letter
- ✓A straight answer on whether credit is going to be an obstacle, before you apply
- ✓Your file shopped across multiple lenders instead of one bank's rulebook
- ✓A plain list of what would have to change if the answer isn't yes yet
- ✓Coverage for purchase, refinance, cash-out, self-employed, and investment property loans
- ✓A credit decision goal of the same day or within 24 hours, once you do apply
What happens after you reach out
Tell Mike your situation
Two minutes, through the form on this page.
A consultant calls you back
Immediately, or the next business day.
One-on-one obstacle review
Mike lays out what could get in your way, before you apply.
You decide, then apply
Credit decision goal: same day or within 24 hours.
"What if I just get told no again?"
That's the real question underneath all of this, and it's a fair one. Here's the difference with a second opinion: Mike tells you what's in the way before you apply, not after. If credit is going to be a problem, you hear that upfront, from him, one-on-one. Nobody is promising you'll be approved. What you get instead is the truth about where you stand, early enough to actually do something about it.
Will I be judged for my credit or for asking basic questions?
No. Mike works with people across all kinds of credit situations. Asking what's realistic isn't something to be embarrassed about, and it won't be treated that way here.
Is this just another application that could end in another no?
No. A second opinion is a conversation before any application goes anywhere. You find out what's in the way first, then you decide whether to move forward.
What real Iowans say about Mike
"Fast, professional, and reliable service. They worked hard to get me the best rate possible and kept me updated every step of the way. Highly recommend!"
"Mike Steger is great!! He was very responsive and jumped in head first to help us! Definitely recommend Mike if you are looking to buy a home!"
"Mike Steger was great to work with all three times. This is the third loan my family has went through Iowa Mortgage Solutions... When Mike says let him make it happen he does just that."
"Amazing people to work with. ... Mike, Mike and Marcy were amazing and worked with us and always checked in with us and made sure everything was done. ... 1000% recommend!"
Is a second opinion for you?
A short, honest filter before you reach out.
| Your situation | Good fit? |
|---|---|
| You were told no, or got stalled, somewhere else | Yes |
| Fair or rebuilding credit | Yes |
| Little cash saved for a down payment | Yes |
| You're self-employed | Yes |
| A veteran, active duty, or reservist | Yes |
| Buying in a small or rural Iowa town | Yes |
| Buying or refinancing an investment property | Yes |
| The property is outside Iowa | No |
| You only want the single lowest quoted rate, nothing else matters | No |
| A large commercial or multifamily deal (10+ units) | No |
A few quick questions
What does a broker do that a bank doesn't?
A bank only offers its own rules. Mike shops your situation across multiple lenders, so a rule that stopped you at one bank might not apply somewhere else.
Does being self-employed rule me out?
No. Mike works with lenders built to read self-employed income correctly, not just one rigid formula.
I was already turned down elsewhere. Does that count against me here?
No. A no from one lender is one lender's answer. Tell Mike what happened and he'll look at your whole situation fresh.
Do investment properties and cash-out refinances fit here?
Yes. Both are part of what Mike works on, alongside purchase, refinance, and self-employed borrower loans.
Will asking hurt my credit?
A second opinion conversation with Mike is just that, a conversation. He tells you up front if credit is going to be an obstacle before anything moves toward an application.
What should I have ready for the first call?
Just a short sense of what you're trying to do and what you were told elsewhere. Mike will tell you what else he needs from there.
What happens after I submit the form?
A mortgage consultant calls you back immediately or the next business day.
You'll know where you stand before you apply.
- Mike tells you up front if credit is going to be an obstacle, before you apply.
- One-on-one work to assess your situation and lay out any obstacles in your way.
- Credit decision goal: the same day or within 24 hours of your application.
- Leave a message and a mortgage consultant calls you immediately or the next business day.
This isn't a promise of approval. It's a promise that you'll know where you stand, before you ever apply, from someone who tells you the truth.
Told no somewhere else? Get a second opinion.
Tell Mike what you're trying to do and what happened last time. He'll tell you straight whether it works, no shame about credit, savings, or asking questions. Iowa homes only.
Or call (319) 377-1988