We Close Loans Like
a Well-Oiled Machine.
Great advice. Excellent communication. No dropped balls. How lending should be.
I grew up hating mortgages.
My dad started a mortgage company two years before I was born and it ran for 30 years. To a teenager, a mortgage dad meant a lot of working. As I got older, I wanted the opposite of mortgages, which to me meant being a farmer.
That was until I realized how hard farming was...
So two years into college in Ohio, I got licensed as a 20-year-old Loan Officer, packed my truck and drove to Southwest Florida.
My plan couldn't fail: go to college in Fort Myers, figure out how to close loans and catch as many redfish and tarpon as I could. And that's exactly what I did.
I originated loans while running two college clubs at FGCU and by 24 I was ranked #3 in production at Equitable Mortgage.
Until I realized Equitable's run was coming to an end...
The long version left me paralyzed in the hospital bed for two weeks...
Read the Full Story
Every dot is a loan I closed in Southwest Florida.
Each one is a real transaction I closed in Southwest Florida. I'm local, and so is my team. The agents here know me, and our underwriters know this market. That's why my deals close clean.
- Agents know me.Realtors across Bonita Springs, Estero, Naples and Fort Myers know my work. When your agent says call Steve, that's why.
- Underwriters know the market.Local properties, local condos, local quirks. Questions get answered early instead of stalling your file.
- Clients say it better than I can.160+ Google reviews at 4.9 stars, from buyers and homeowners I've worked with.
Getting a mortgage?
Call me.
Conventional, FHA, VA, USDA, jumbo, bridge, self-employed. Whatever the loan, we close it in-house, so your file stays with one team and moves fast.
The standard programs, handled by someone who also does the hard ones.
JumboJumbo LoanFinancing above conforming limits for higher-end Southwest Florida homes.
Second HomeSecond Home & Vacation HomeFinance the Florida place you have been wanting.
Self-EmployedBank Statement LoanQualify on deposits, not tax returns.
Buy Before You SellBridge FinancingWhen you need to finance, but not for 30 years. Includes an equity calculator.
PhysiciansDoctor LoanLow down payment options built around a medical career.
A process built to remove
friction at every step.
Most borrowers go in blind. Not here. You know what happens next before it happens.
Know your numbers before you start shopping. We get you pre-approved fast so you can move with confidence.
Walk into every showing knowing exactly what you can spend. Sellers take pre-approved buyers seriously.
Under contract and the clock is running. We get to work immediately. Every task assigned, every deadline tracked.
We keep it moving. You get updates at every milestone. No wondering where things stand.
Backed by one of
America's best lenders.
Steve Calabrese originates loans through Highlands Residential Mortgage. A nationally recognized lender with 15 years of doing things the right way.
Learn More About Highlands →Straight answers.
Are you a mortgage broker?
No. Highlands Residential Mortgage is a direct lender.
Underwriting, processing, and closing all happen in house, with more than 500 team members, so one team handles your loan from application to closing. For you, that means fewer handoffs, one point of contact, and a clearer timeline.
A broker sends your file to outside lenders, and you depend on whichever lender they pick. Brokers are not bad, and some are very good. They just have limits, and they do not control the process.
If your situation falls outside standard guidelines, I have options for that too, including non-QM and specialty programs. And if another lender is the better fit for you, I will tell you.
Where do you lend?
I am based in Bonita Springs, and I lend across the state of Florida. Most of my business is Naples, Bonita Springs, Estero, Fort Myers, Cape Coral, and Lehigh Acres, and I work with the same realtors, title companies, and appraisers there every week.
What is the difference between pre-qualified and pre-approved?
Pre-qualified is a quick estimate based on what you tell me. Pre-approved means I have looked at your actual income, assets, and credit, so a seller and your realtor can trust it. If you are going to make an offer, get pre-approved.
What do I need to get pre-approved?
Typically a photo ID, recent pay stubs, W-2s or tax returns, and your recent bank statements. If you are self-employed or do not have a standard paycheck, tell me. We have options built for that, like bank statement loans and asset utilization loans.
Do I need 20 percent down?
No. Many programs go much lower, and some go to zero. See conventional, FHA, VA, USDA, and down payment assistance. Which one is best depends on your credit, your income, and how long you plan to stay.
160+ reviews. 4.9 stars on Google.
Here is what clients say.
Ready to get started?
Call, text, or book a time. Straight answers, no runaround.