About Me
Mike Gallagher’s career in the mortgage industry spans 19 years. He has held Vice President positions with Bank of America in San Francisco and NorthMarq Capital in Palo Alto before opening his own mortgage company, Avantis Capital in 2004. He currently is a Mortgage Advisor for Finance of America Mortgage in Morgan Hill.
In addition to significant mortgage industry experience, Mike has also earned a Series 65 registration with the Securities and Exchange Commission and has received his Personal Finance credential through extensive training.
Mike specializes in modeling the home purchase decision and how the mortgage decision impacts his client’s entire financial picture today and into their future. This approach helps clients gain confidence in their purchase and mortgage decision.
Access to customized loan programs highly unique in the marketplace gives Mike the ability to offer more solutions to his clients whether they are first time home buyers or seasoned real estate investors.
Mike holds an MBA in finance and has arranged financing in excess or $600 million in his career. Mike also holds the Certified Mortgage and Planning Specialist (CMPS) designation, is a member of the Mortgage Bankers Association, and is a member of the California Association of Mortgage Professionals. Mike was also recognized as a top 1% mortgage originator in America for 2016 by Mortgage Executive Magazine.
Not only is Mike committed to serving his clients, but with his wife Janelle, he is focused on improving the lives of children in their community through a variety of charitable avenues, including Zuzu’s Petals, a non-profit they founded in 2007.
Why Finance of America Mortgage?
We’re not about pushing loan papers. We’re about moving your dream forward. And we do that through knowledgeable local advisors, a personal approach, and a variety of smart loan options.
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Frequently Asked Questions
The total number of properties you may look at will depend on several factors, such as your budget and the housing availability in your area. In general, real estate agents recommend that homebuyers look at several properties before making a decision, but there is not an exact number. Most people look at 10 homes, at a minimum, so they can compare them. However, you may find the dream house with more or fewer searches.
When it comes to the best home buying tips, there are different ways to search for properties. Statistics from the National Association of REALTORS® reveal that 51 percent of buyers searched and found their homes on the internet, while 30 percent used real estate agents. Other ways to search for homes include asking friends, relatives, neighbors and homebuilders for help. A small percentage of homebuyers used newspaper advertisements and yard or open house signs to search for homes.
Although a pre-approval is not one of the required steps to buying a house, it can certainly help you stand out in a competitive market with many buyers. A pre-approval can show sellers that you’re serious and capable of getting a mortgage, so they may be more likely to accept your offer.
