Triston Crowell
Triston Crowell
Mortgage Loan Officer
NMLS #2795997
(520) 508-7921  |  triston.crowell@fairwaymc.com
Mortgage Loan Officer  ·  Denver, CO

Most loan officers
give you a rate.
I give you a plan.

Serving Colorado, Wisconsin & Arizona. VA loans, down payment assistance, and first-time homebuyers.

📄 Apply Now 📞 (520) 508-7921
Triston Crowell, Mortgage Loan Officer, Denver CO
NMLS
#2795997
Licensed
CO · WI · AZ
Company
Fairway Independent Mortgage Corp.
Specialty
VA · Down Payment Assistance · First-Time Homebuyer
What I Specialize In

Real answers in one conversation

*A down payment is required if the borrower does not have full VA entitlement or when the loan amount exceeds the VA county limits. VA loans subject to individual VA Entitlement amounts and eligibility, qualifying factors such as income and credit guidelines, and property limits.

*Eligibility subject to program stipulations, qualifying factors, applicable income and debt-to-income (DTI) restrictions, and property limits.

Common Questions

Straight answers. No runaround.

Yes. VA loans offer 100% financing with no down payment required. This is one of the biggest advantages of the VA benefit. You can buy a home with $0 down, which means you keep your savings for moving costs, emergencies, or home improvements.
No. VA loans never require Private Mortgage Insurance (PMI), even with zero down. On a conventional loan, PMI typically costs $100-$300+ per month until you reach 20% equity. With VA, that cost doesn't exist, saving you hundreds every month.
Yes. Your VA benefit is reusable. If you sell a home purchased with a VA loan and pay off the loan, your full entitlement is restored. You can even have two VA loans at the same time in certain situations. This benefit doesn't expire.
This is one of the biggest myths in real estate. A strong VA offer backed by a solid preapproval and an experienced lender is just as competitive as any other offer. The key is having a lender who can communicate the strength of your file to the listing side. That's literally what I do.
With a good lender, VA loans typically close in 25-35 days, the same timeline as conventional loans. Fairway has in-house underwriting, which means faster decisions and fewer delays. The lender matters more than the loan type.
No. I'm a full-service Mortgage Loan Officer. I specialize in VA because I know it better than most, but I also work with CHFA, FHA, conventional, and other programs daily. Whatever gets you the best deal, that's what we use.
Down payment assistance (DPA) programs are state-run initiatives that help homebuyers cover their down payment and sometimes closing costs. In Colorado, the program is called CHFA. In Wisconsin, it's WHEDA. In Arizona, it's HOME+PLUS. All three offer either grants (free money) or low-interest second mortgages that reduce what you need to bring to the table, sometimes to nearly nothing out of pocket.
CHFA (Colorado Housing and Finance Authority) offers up to 3-4% of your purchase price in down payment assistance plus below-market interest rates. Eligibility is based on income, household size, and county, and the limits are higher than most people expect. It's available statewide across Colorado, not just Denver. The fastest way to find out if you qualify is a five-minute conversation.
WHEDA (Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority) offers up to 6% of your purchase price for down payment and closing cost assistance through programs like WHEDA Advantage. Eligibility is income-based and varies by county and household size. If you're buying anywhere in Wisconsin, this is worth exploring. Most people leave money on the table because they don't know it exists.
HOME+PLUS is Arizona's primary statewide down payment assistance program, administered by the Arizona Industrial Development Authority. It provides up to 5% of the first mortgage amount toward down payment and closing costs, available as either a second mortgage or a grant depending on the structure chosen. It works with FHA, VA, USDA, and conventional loans. You do not have to be a first-time homebuyer. Minimum credit score is 640, and income and purchase price limits apply by county. Homebuyer education is required before closing.
Not always. CHFA, WHEDA, and HOME+PLUS all have options available to repeat buyers, especially in targeted areas or under specific program guidelines. HOME+PLUS in Arizona has no first-time buyer requirement at all. The requirements vary, so don't assume you're out. Let me check for you.
Yes, and this is where it gets powerful. CHFA, WHEDA, and HOME+PLUS can all be layered on top of FHA, VA, USDA, and conventional loans. A veteran could use a VA loan (zero down) and stack DPA to cover closing costs. An FHA buyer could use DPA to cover the entire 3.5% down payment. Stacking programs is one of the most effective strategies I use for buyers.
Income limits vary by county, household size, and specific program. They're updated regularly by each authority. In Colorado, Wisconsin, and Arizona alike, the limits are often higher than people expect. Many buyers who assume they earn too much actually qualify. I check this for every client as part of the preapproval process. It takes two minutes.
It depends on the program. Some DPA comes as a grant, genuinely free money that you never pay back. Others come as a second mortgage, often with deferred payments or below-market rates. Some are forgivable after a certain number of years. I'll walk you through the specific options available to you and which one makes the most financial sense.
No. This is the single biggest myth in home buying. Conventional loans go as low as 3% down. FHA is 3.5%. VA is zero. And with programs like CHFA, WHEDA, or HOME+PLUS, you may not need any money down at all. The 20% number comes from avoiding PMI on conventional loans, but that's just one factor, not a requirement.
It depends on the loan type. FHA allows scores as low as 580 (sometimes lower). VA loans are flexible, with many lenders working with scores in the low 600s. Conventional typically wants 620+. But here's the thing: your score is just one piece. I look at your full picture (income, debt, savings, and goals) to find the best path forward.
Nothing. Preapproval with me is free, and there's no obligation. It's a conversation about your finances, a credit pull, and a letter that tells you exactly what you can afford. It also shows sellers you're serious. There's no reason not to do it, even if you're months away from buying.
Prequalification is a rough estimate based on what you tell the lender, with no verification. Preapproval involves pulling your credit, reviewing your income and assets, and issuing a verified letter. In a competitive market, only a preapproval matters. It's the difference between "I think I can afford this" and "I know I can, here's the proof."
Closing costs typically run 2-4% of the purchase price and cover things like lender fees, title insurance, appraisal, and prepaid taxes/insurance. On a $400,000 home, that's roughly $8,000-$16,000. But there are ways to reduce this. Seller concessions, lender credits, and programs like CHFA, WHEDA, or HOME+PLUS can all help. I break down every dollar before you commit.
That depends on your situation, and I'll be honest with you about it. If you're staying in the area for 3+ years, have stable income, and can cover the costs without draining your savings, buying almost always beats renting long-term. You're building equity instead of paying someone else's mortgage. But if the timing isn't right, I'll tell you that too.
Yes. Student loans affect your debt-to-income ratio, but they don't disqualify you. Many of my clients have student debt and buy homes successfully. The key is how your payment is calculated for qualification purposes, and that varies by loan type. This is exactly the kind of thing I sort out in a preapproval conversation.
What's New

2026 VA Loan Changes You Should Know

✅
Good news

VA Streamlined Property Requirements

The VA has streamlined several Minimum Property Requirements on the appraisal side in 2026, reducing friction on items that historically flagged VA deals without affecting safety. The core framework (safe, sanitary, structurally sound) is unchanged. Fewer unnecessary flags should mean fewer delays and fewer deals falling apart over non-issues.

📈
Updated

Loan Limits Increased to $832,750

The 2026 VA conforming loan limit is $832,750 (up from $806,500). Veterans with full entitlement have no cap. This limit only applies if you have reduced entitlement from a prior VA loan. High-cost areas go up to $1,249,125.

💰
Potential benefit

VA Funding Fee May Be Tax Deductible

The VA funding fee may be tax deductible for some borrowers. Whether, how, and how much is deductible depends on the borrower's individual tax situation, filing status, and whether they itemize. Veterans with compensable service-connected disability ratings pay no funding fee, so there's nothing to deduct. Talk to your tax professional before counting on this at closing.

👤
Permanent

Buyers Can Now Pay Their Own Agent Commission

The VA Home Loan Reform Act made it permanent: VA buyers can negotiate and pay their buyer's agent commission directly. This means your offer is no longer dependent on the seller covering agent fees, making VA offers more competitive than ever.

Ready to make a move? Let's talk.

No cost. No obligation. No pressure. Just a real conversation about where you stand and how to get where you want to be.

📄 Apply Now 📞 (520) 508-7921
Get Started

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About

Who you're working with

Triston Crowell headshot

Triston Crowell

Mortgage Loan Officer | Fairway Independent Mortgage Corp.

I got into this business because too many people receive bad advice on the most important financial decision of their lives. I don't believe in cookie-cutter lending. I take the time to understand your situation, match you with the right program, and guide you through every step so you always know what's going on.

I specialize in VA loans, down payment assistance (CHFA, WHEDA & HOME+PLUS), and first-time homebuyers, but I work across all loan types. If there's a better option, I'll tell you. If you're not ready yet, I'll tell you that too. No games, just honest guidance.

📞 (520) 508-7921 ✉ triston.crowell@fairwaymc.com
NMLS #2795997 | Licensed in Colorado, Wisconsin & Arizona