Mortgage guidance built around your goals.
Your mortgage deserves more than a one-size-fits-all approach.
Serving Northwest Ohio and Southeast Michigan, I start every mortgage with a conversation about what you’re trying to accomplish, not an application.
I’ll explain your options, recommend a strategy and share the why behind it, so you can decide with confidence.
Drew Messer
Senior Loan Officer · NMLS #2186567
5 Years
in Mortgage Lending
$250M
Annual Production Overseen in Operations
Fully Underwritten
Pre-Approvals Available
As Little as 2 Weeks
For Qualified Closings
Closing timelines vary by borrower and transaction.
How can I help?
Different goals require different strategies.
No two borrowers are exactly alike. That’s why I don’t believe in a one-size-fits-all mortgage process.
Buying Your First Home?
You don't need to become a mortgage expert before buying your first house. You just need someone willing to explain the process clearly.
First-Time HomebuyersReady for Your Next Home?
Buying your next home doesn't always mean you have to sell your current one first.
Move-Up BuyersSelf-Employed?
Your tax return doesn't always tell the whole story. Traditional financing isn't the only option available to qualified self-employed borrowers.
Self-Employed FinancingInvesting in Real Estate?
Whether you're purchasing your first rental or adding to an existing portfolio, the right financing strategy matters.
Investor FinancingThinking About Refinancing?
Start with the change you want to make, not the assumption that a new loan is automatically better.
Refinancing
Occupational Therapist
5 years, Level I trauma hospital
Loan Officer Assistant
Entry into mortgage lending
Operations Manager
~$250M annual production overseen in operations
Senior Loan Officer
Working directly with clients
Meet Drew
I learned how to handle high-pressure situations long before I worked in mortgages.
Before mortgages, I spent five years as an occupational therapist at a Level I trauma hospital, working with patients and families in the ICU and burn unit. It taught me how to stay calm when the stakes are high and never lose sight of the person behind the problem.
I started in lending as a Loan Officer Assistant and worked my way into production and operations management, overseeing roughly $250 million in annual mortgage production across thousands of loan files.
I saw what makes transactions go smoothly. I also saw what causes them to fall apart.
Today I work directly with clients, bringing both sides of that experience: the ability to understand complicated mortgage scenarios and the ability to communicate clearly with the people navigating them.
The process
A clear process from the first conversation to the closing table.
Step 1: Start With Your Goals
We'll start with your budget, timeline, payment goals and what you're trying to accomplish.
Step 2: Understand Your Options
I'll walk you through the financing strategies that make sense without burying you in mortgage jargon.
Step 3: Get a Recommendation and the Why Behind It
I'll tell you what I recommend and explain why.
Step 4: Get Prepared
When appropriate, we'll strengthen your position with a fully underwritten pre-approval.
Step 5: Know Where You Stand
I'll keep you informed throughout the process so you always know what's happening next.
Step 6: Get to the Closing Table
Preparation and mortgage-focused underwriting help us identify problems early and move efficiently.
Another perspective
Been told no? Let’s take another look.
A decline from one lender doesn’t necessarily mean there isn’t another option.
Different lenders have different programs, guidelines and ways of approaching complicated scenarios. If your financing doesn’t fit neatly into the conventional box, I’m happy to take a second look.
Not every scenario will qualify. A review of your individual circumstances is required.
Another lender’s answerdoesn’t have to bethe final answer.
For Realtors
Your lender should help protect the transaction.
A pre-approval letter doesn’t mean much if the work behind it wasn’t thorough.
I approach Realtor partnerships with the same mindset I learned in mortgage operations: identify potential problems early, communicate clearly and get the transaction to the closing table.
Fully Underwritten Pre-Approvals
For qualified borrowers, we can take the process beyond a traditional pre-approval and obtain underwriting review before the buyer is under contract—helping create a stronger, more reliable offer.
Fast Closings
When timing matters, qualified transactions may be able to close in as little as two weeks.
Problem-Solving Experience
Complicated income, self-employed borrowers and scenarios that don't fit neatly into traditional guidelines deserve a closer look—not an automatic no.
Second Opinions
Have a buyer whose financing hit a roadblock? I'm happy to review the scenario and see whether another option exists.
Real situations. Real solutions.
Sometimes the best way to understand how I work is to see how I’ve helped.
A Veteran's 10-Month Path to Homeownership
He had reached a point where he wasn't sure owning a home would ever be possible. Instead of stopping at “not yet,” we put together a 10-month plan. He followed it. Ten months later, he and his family became homeowners.
Read the Story12 Days—and Nowhere Else to Go
A client was moving between states and living in an Airbnb when he went under contract. He needed to be out in 12 days. We knew the timeline from the beginning, moved quickly and were clear to close ahead of schedule.
Read the StoryWhen Two Banks Said No
A self-employed borrower had significant business write-offs and had already been declined by two banks. Traditional documentation wasn't telling the whole financial story. Using a bank-statement loan, we found another way to document qualifying income and helped the borrower purchase the new home.
Read the Story
These stories illustrate individual borrower experiences. Loan approval, program eligibility and results vary based on individual circumstances.
What clients say
Communication matters.
Drew was the perfect mortgage lender to work with as a first time homebuyer. He explained everything and was constantly giving us updates throughout the process. Also when questions arose Drew would pick up the phone quickly! 10/10 recommend!!
Bailey Kayne · Google review Drew was great to work with! Very personable and always willing to answer questions. Definitely recommend!
Sarah Ellis · Google review I had a great experience working with Drew. The process was smooth and efficient, a quick appraisal turnaround and great communication from start to finish.
Catherine S · Google review
Reviews from Google.
Mortgage education
Understand the mortgage, not just the payment.
I believe borrowers make better decisions when they understand their options. Explore straightforward answers to common mortgage questions without the unnecessary jargon.
Do You Really Need 20% Down?
No. Here's where that misconception comes from and what buyers should actually understand about down payments.
Get the AnswerFHA vs. Conventional
Neither is automatically “better.” Here's how I think about the decision.
Get the AnswerIs PMI Really a Bad Thing?
Mortgage insurance has a cost, but avoiding it at all costs isn't always the smartest strategy.
Get the AnswerPre-Qualification vs. Pre-Approval
They aren't the same, and not every pre-approval is equally strong.
Get the AnswerHow Do Bank Statement Loans Work?
A different way for some self-employed borrowers to document qualifying income.
Get the AnswerCan I Buy Before I Sell?
What move-up buyers should understand before assuming they have to sell their current home first.
Get the Answer
Let’s start with a conversation
Tell me what you’re trying to accomplish.
You don’t need to know which loan program you need. You don’t need to have every document ready. And you don’t need to fill out a full mortgage application just to start a conversation.
Tell me a little about what you’re working toward, and I’ll be in touch soon.
No SSN, asset information or full loan application required to start the conversation.