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

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

Mortgage Loan Officer serving Colorado & Wisconsin

VA Loans Down Payment Assistance First-Time Homebuyers
📄 Apply Now 📞 (520) 508-7921

Fairway Independent Mortgage Corporation | NMLS #2289 | Equal Housing Lender

What I Specialize In

Real answers in one conversation

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VA Home Loans

You served. This benefit is yours. I make sure you actually get to use it — the right way, with none of the confusion.

  • Zero down payment
  • No PMI — ever
  • Lower interest rates than conventional
  • Reusable benefit (yes, more than once)
  • Funding fee waived with VA disability
Check your eligibility →
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Down Payment Assistance

Most people don't know these programs exist. Colorado has CHFA. Wisconsin has WHEDA. Both can dramatically reduce what you need to bring to closing.

  • CHFA: up to 3-4% assistance (Colorado)
  • WHEDA: up to 6% assistance (Wisconsin)
  • Grant and second mortgage options
  • Stackable with VA, FHA, and conventional
  • First-time AND repeat buyers may qualify
Explore your options →
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First-Time Homebuyers

Buying your first home doesn't have to feel overwhelming. I walk you through every step — no jargon, no pressure, just a clear path forward.

  • Step-by-step guidance from start to close
  • Down payment assistance options
  • Credit and income strategy
  • No-cost preapproval to know your budget
  • I explain everything in plain English
Start the conversation →
Common Questions

Straight answers. No runaround.

Yes. VA loans offer 100% financing — 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. Both 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.
Not always. While many DPA programs are geared toward first-time buyers, both CHFA and WHEDA have options available to repeat buyers — especially in targeted areas or under specific program guidelines. The requirements vary, so don't assume you're out. Let me check for you.
Yes — and this is where it gets powerful. CHFA and WHEDA assistance can be layered on top of FHA, VA, 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 both Colorado and Wisconsin, 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, 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 — many lenders work 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 — 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 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

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Good news

5 Property Requirements Eliminated

Effective May 1, 2026, the VA removed five Minimum Property Requirements from the appraisal process — including shed/outbuilding standards, radon certification for new construction, and simplified paint repair rules. Fewer appraisal issues means fewer delays and fewer deals falling apart.

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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 $1,299,500.

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New benefit

VA Funding Fee Is Now Tax Deductible

The IRS now treats the VA funding fee as deductible mortgage interest. If you paid it at closing, you can deduct the full amount that year. If rolled into the loan, you deduct it over the life of the loan. Veterans with disability ratings pay no funding fee at all.

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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
About

Who you're working with

Triston Crowell headshot

Triston Crowell

Mortgage Loan Officer | Fairway Independent Mortgage

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, CHFA down payment assistance, 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