Wake Forest’s
Mortgage Professor
We’re not a call center. We’re your neighbors — right here on South White Street. The best rate, the full market, and a broker who actually fights for you.
Meet Jordan —
Wake Forest’s own
Jordan Steffaniak lives and works in Wake Forest. He holds a PhD and founded Professor Lending on a simple belief: homebuyers deserve transparency, education, and a broker who actually fights for them — not one who pushes them toward whatever pays the highest commission.
As an independent broker, Jordan partners with 25+ of the nation’s premier wholesale lenders. That gives his clients access to rates, programs, and credit flexibility that retail banks simply can’t offer — along with a single point of contact who understands every option on the table.
The difference between a broker
and a bank
A bank offers one set of products at their rates. An independent mortgage broker shops the entire market. Professor Lending has access to dozens of wholesale lenders — meaning we find the loan that fits your life, not the loan that fits a quota.
Wake Forest is our home. We know the neighborhoods, the builders, the price ranges, and the local real estate dynamics. That local knowledge — combined with access to the full wholesale market — is a genuine advantage for our clients.
Learn More About Us →Every program.
One broker.
Whether you’re buying your first home, investing, or refinancing — we have a program that fits.
Zero down, no MI, competitive rates for eligible veterans and active-duty service members. One of the most powerful benefits available.
3–3.5% down for FHA and conventional. Zero down with USDA for eligible addresses. We’ll tell you exactly which fits your situation.
Cash flow based, not income or tax-return based. No income documents whatsoever. Ideal for rental property investors.
0% down, no MI, and student loan payments can be excluded from your debt-to-income ratio. Designed for physicians and high-earning professionals.
Nationwide DPA programs for qualifying buyers. We’ll identify every grant and assistance option available in your situation.
Tax returns don’t tell the whole story. Bank statement loans and non-QM options for business owners and 1099 earners who’ve been declined elsewhere.
We live here.
We know this market.
Professor Lending isn’t a national brand with a Wake Forest landing page. We’re headquartered here — on South White Street, in the heart of downtown. Jordan knows this market because he lives in it.
From the growth corridors along Capital Boulevard to the established neighborhoods near Heritage and Traditions, we understand what drives prices, what neighborhoods are moving, and how to position your offer competitively.
Common questions from
Wake Forest buyers
No. Conventional loans start as low as 3% down — the most flexible option for buyers with good credit who want to avoid FHA’s mortgage insurance structure. FHA loans allow 3.5% down and are often the right fit for buyers building credit. VA and USDA loans require zero down for eligible borrowers. We also have down payment assistance programs. We’ll match you to the right fit — not just the easiest approval.
A bank only offers their own loan products at their own rates. As an independent mortgage broker, Professor Lending partners with 25+ of the nation’s top and most trusted mortgage lenders to find not only the best pricing, but the best service and credit qualification. We work for you, not a bank’s quota — and that difference shows up in both the rate and the experience.
Yes. Several addresses on the outskirts of Wake Forest and in surrounding communities may qualify for USDA’s zero-down program. Eligibility is based on the specific property address, not the general area — and boundaries do shift. We can verify any address for free in a few minutes.
Most clients have a pre-approval letter within 24 hours of submitting their application. In a competitive Wake Forest market, being pre-approved before you start searching gives you a real edge with sellers and listing agents.
Yes — this is one of the most common situations we solve. Tax returns often understate what self-employed borrowers actually earn. We offer bank statement loans and non-QM programs that use 12–24 months of deposits to qualify instead of tax returns. If you’ve been told no by a bank or retail lender, it’s worth a conversation — the answer is often different when you have access to the right programs.
No. We can provide a rate quote and program overview with no credit pull and no obligation. When you’re ready to move forward with a full pre-approval, a soft pull is used first. Hard inquiries are only done when you’re ready to formally apply.
Jordan is licensed in 14 states and serves clients throughout NC, SC, FL, MI, IN, ID, AL, VA, TN, PA, CO, AR, OK, and TX. He focuses especially on the greater Triangle region and has strong personal ties in Indianapolis, IN and Boise, ID. Wherever you are in those states, Jordan can help.
Ready to buy in Wake Forest?
Let’s find your best rate.
Free quote. No credit pull. Pre-approval in 24 hours or less.