MEET THE
AFFORDABLE HOME LOANS TEAM
Deneen Bernard
As a CMPS, Certified Mortgage Planning Specialist, I am committed, qualified and equipped to implement mortgage, cash flow and real estate equity management strategies that help my clients build and conserve wealth, become debt free sooner, and achieve financial freedom safer and sooner.
I am COMMITTED to raising mortgage industry standards of practice, ethics and professionalism through individual membership, training and certification. I am QUALIFIED to help clients achieve financial freedom, build wealth and experience their life dreams by implementing intelligent mortgage, cash flow and home equity strategies. I am EQUIPPED to be a strategic resource to homeowners, first-time home buyers, move-up home buyers, senior citizens, real estate investors, Realtors, builders, attorneys, CPAs and financial advisors.
As a CMP, Certified Mortgage Planner, I assist borrowers on a more personal level by incorporating the mortgage decision with a Borrowers short and long-term goals. The term "Certified Mortgage Planner" is an effort to validate through education and subsequent certification a mortgage originator that has had specific training for the purpose of incorporating the mortgage decision with a Borrowers short and long-term financial objectives.
VA lender guidelines often cover the basics and and most originators can handle normal everyday transactions, however, those guidelines miss the ‘how’ for many of the subtle details of VA loans, and often include limitations that can be worked around if you are a Certified Veteran Loan Specialist (CVLS). With this extra information, as well as years of experience helping hundreds of veterans and their families, I am able to get deals done that nobody else can.
As a certified Certified FICO Credit Analyst, I want you to know that the concept of "credit repair" is a misnomer, the use of which in conjunction with fraudulent and deceptive practices has become so commonplace that a federal law was enacted to stop fraud associated with these activities. The fact is that accurate credit information cannot be "repaired" as the name suggests. Seeking the help of a competent and knowledgeable analyst can help protect your rights and remove inaccurate, outdated, unverifiable, incorrect and other items from your credit report. I help my clients by assisting them in removing negative items from their report and subsequently they will see their credit scores rise so that they can get the best mortgage loan program and rates possible.
As a CDPP, Certified Divorce Planning Professional, I work exclusively with clients who are either considering or already in the process of a divorce and who are anxious about their ability to continue to pay their obligations and remain independent during and after their divorce plan and protect their CRADLE – Credit (Mortgage), Assets (Investments), Dependents, Life and Estate so that they can exit their divorce fiscally intact, remain independent and pay their divorce professionals in full.
My background includes 15 years as the Public Affairs Coordinator for the New York Stock Exchange's Government Relations office in Washington DC, 8 years as the Innkeeper of Renaissance Manor Bed & Breakfast in Stafford, Virginia and I began my career in the mortgage industry in 2002.
Industry and community involvement:
"Homes For Heroes", Lender Affiliate, 2020 & 2019 Circle of Giving Award Winner, 100+ Heroes Served Club
"Haven for Heroes", Board Member
Fredericksburg Area Association of Realtors (FAAR), Platinum Sponsor
Women's Council of Realtors, Fredericksburg Charter Member, 2013 Affiliate of the Year
Women in Business Leadership
Lifepointe Church, member
NMLS 207094 MLO-6207VA
Office/Mobile: 540-376-4194
Email: dbernard@affordablehomeloans4u.net
I am COMMITTED to raising mortgage industry standards of practice, ethics and professionalism through individual membership, training and certification. I am QUALIFIED to help clients achieve financial freedom, build wealth and experience their life dreams by implementing intelligent mortgage, cash flow and home equity strategies. I am EQUIPPED to be a strategic resource to homeowners, first-time home buyers, move-up home buyers, senior citizens, real estate investors, Realtors, builders, attorneys, CPAs and financial advisors.
As a CMP, Certified Mortgage Planner, I assist borrowers on a more personal level by incorporating the mortgage decision with a Borrowers short and long-term goals. The term "Certified Mortgage Planner" is an effort to validate through education and subsequent certification a mortgage originator that has had specific training for the purpose of incorporating the mortgage decision with a Borrowers short and long-term financial objectives.
VA lender guidelines often cover the basics and and most originators can handle normal everyday transactions, however, those guidelines miss the ‘how’ for many of the subtle details of VA loans, and often include limitations that can be worked around if you are a Certified Veteran Loan Specialist (CVLS). With this extra information, as well as years of experience helping hundreds of veterans and their families, I am able to get deals done that nobody else can.
As a certified Certified FICO Credit Analyst, I want you to know that the concept of "credit repair" is a misnomer, the use of which in conjunction with fraudulent and deceptive practices has become so commonplace that a federal law was enacted to stop fraud associated with these activities. The fact is that accurate credit information cannot be "repaired" as the name suggests. Seeking the help of a competent and knowledgeable analyst can help protect your rights and remove inaccurate, outdated, unverifiable, incorrect and other items from your credit report. I help my clients by assisting them in removing negative items from their report and subsequently they will see their credit scores rise so that they can get the best mortgage loan program and rates possible.
As a CDPP, Certified Divorce Planning Professional, I work exclusively with clients who are either considering or already in the process of a divorce and who are anxious about their ability to continue to pay their obligations and remain independent during and after their divorce plan and protect their CRADLE – Credit (Mortgage), Assets (Investments), Dependents, Life and Estate so that they can exit their divorce fiscally intact, remain independent and pay their divorce professionals in full.
My background includes 15 years as the Public Affairs Coordinator for the New York Stock Exchange's Government Relations office in Washington DC, 8 years as the Innkeeper of Renaissance Manor Bed & Breakfast in Stafford, Virginia and I began my career in the mortgage industry in 2002.
Industry and community involvement:
"Homes For Heroes", Lender Affiliate, 2020 & 2019 Circle of Giving Award Winner, 100+ Heroes Served Club
"Haven for Heroes", Board Member
Fredericksburg Area Association of Realtors (FAAR), Platinum Sponsor
Women's Council of Realtors, Fredericksburg Charter Member, 2013 Affiliate of the Year
Women in Business Leadership
Lifepointe Church, member
NMLS 207094 MLO-6207VA
Office/Mobile: 540-376-4194
Email: dbernard@affordablehomeloans4u.net
Danielle Smith
Danielle is the team’s Loan Production Manager who assists our clients throughout the entire process of a home purchase or refinance. She is there for the borrowers step by step throughout the loan transaction and her goal is to enhance the experience of our customers by giving them a top notch team-inspired "WOW"!
After graduation from Charleston Southern University with a degree in Kinesiology, she moved on to The Citadel and completed her studies in Health, Exercise & Sports Science. She is now raising two wonderful boys in their hometown of Greenville, SC, and loves sharing her passion for maintaining physical fitness and having a healthy lifestyle.
Her background in the mortgage industry began as our office clerk and part time loan processor during her college summer breaks. In 2011, she worked for two large national banks as a Mortgage Loan Specialist and Loan Production Manager. She has returned to our team with increased knowledge and experience that we know you’ll appreciate. She is now a fully licensed mortgage originator In Virginia and South Carolina and has been certified in a number of areas, including our One Time Construction Loan Programs and recently became a Certified VA Home Loan Specialist.
Office/Mobile: 540-424-5700
Email: dsmith@affordablehomeloans4u.net
Emily Arndt
Emily is currently employed as our loan processor, joining the team in 2020 after getting certified. She is our client's "go to" person and handles all of our borrower's conditional loan approvals including ordering Verification of Employment, Home Appraisal Reports, and keeping our referral partners & agents updated on the transaction's progress. Ensuring a smooth road to settlement is her #1 goal!
Emily values quick responses and reliable communication and is committed to guiding you through the home buying process to make it as smooth of a transaction as possible. She enjoys the organization that is needed to meet deadlines and following up with other parties such as the title company, realtors, and underwriters to ensure you will close on time. “Clear to Close” has become 3 of her favorite words!
As a homeschool mom Emily has learned to be disciplined, patient, focused and adaptable - all characteristics that come in handy in her daily job as our processor! Happily married for 16 years, spends most of her time on the road taking her 4 children to various athleti, music and theatre events, along with playing the piano for her church worship team.
Office/Mobile: 571-436-8491
Email: earndt@affordablehomeloans4u.net
Emily values quick responses and reliable communication and is committed to guiding you through the home buying process to make it as smooth of a transaction as possible. She enjoys the organization that is needed to meet deadlines and following up with other parties such as the title company, realtors, and underwriters to ensure you will close on time. “Clear to Close” has become 3 of her favorite words!
As a homeschool mom Emily has learned to be disciplined, patient, focused and adaptable - all characteristics that come in handy in her daily job as our processor! Happily married for 16 years, spends most of her time on the road taking her 4 children to various athleti, music and theatre events, along with playing the piano for her church worship team.
Office/Mobile: 571-436-8491
Email: earndt@affordablehomeloans4u.net
Julie Carriger
Julie joined our team in March of 2020. Having a strong desire to help others, she is excited about the prospect of switching gears and joining the mortgage industry as a new licensed loan originator.
Julie was born and raised in the State of Iowa. She and her husband Mike have been married for almost seven years. Julie started her sales career in 1999 with a local homebuilder. Julie went on to get her real estate license in 2010 and became part of the team at 1st Choice Better Homes & Land. In 2016 Julie joined the staff at Fredericksburg Area Association of REALTORS® focusing on building strong relationships with their affiliate members.
As a licensed mortgage originator, she is looking forward to assisting the clients of the many real estate professionals she has met working in the real estate industry for over twenty years.
NMLS 1926794
Office: 540-424-5700/Mobile: 540-840-3188
Email: jcarriger@affordablehomeloans4u.net
Lisha Payne
Lisha is the newest member of our team and has recently moved back to the area from Montana. She has a BA from James Madison University, a Masters of Library Science from UNC-Chapel Hill, and worked as a high school librarian in Prince William County before heading out west. She is married and has two daughters, one in college and one at Mountain View High School where she is also working as a librarian. As a self-professed “people person,” she enjoys getting to know her clients and working with them to determine the best solutions for their loan needs.
Lisha's background in information, research, and instruction make her the perfect person to locate the best loan for you by throughly researching available programs and options. Her 14 years working in the field of education enables her to translate the sometimes overwhelming and complex loan process for all her clients so that they are confident throughout the process. Being consistently available, comfortable with all forms of communication from emails to virtual meetings, and valuing integrity, transparency, and professionalism, are among her strongest assets.
Having been a single mother in the past, the pride of being able to purchase a home is something she will always remember and Lisha looks forward to helping others achieve their dream of homeownership by helping them navigate the loan process.
NMLS 2066117 MLO-51101VA
Office/Mobile: 804-824-4761
Email: paynehomeloans@gmail.com
Lisha's background in information, research, and instruction make her the perfect person to locate the best loan for you by throughly researching available programs and options. Her 14 years working in the field of education enables her to translate the sometimes overwhelming and complex loan process for all her clients so that they are confident throughout the process. Being consistently available, comfortable with all forms of communication from emails to virtual meetings, and valuing integrity, transparency, and professionalism, are among her strongest assets.
Having been a single mother in the past, the pride of being able to purchase a home is something she will always remember and Lisha looks forward to helping others achieve their dream of homeownership by helping them navigate the loan process.
NMLS 2066117 MLO-51101VA
Office/Mobile: 804-824-4761
Email: paynehomeloans@gmail.com
Mercedes Martell
Mercedes is our Spanish customer care associate. She has a strong desire to help folks reach their goal of home ownership and is ready, willing and able to walk our clients through the often challenging process of getting approved for a mortgage. Having been a loan officer in the past, Mercedes has the knowledge of how the process works, combined with a selection of lenders and loan programs that fit into their specific situation.
Office/Mobile: 540-538-6813
Email: mercedes.homepossible16@gmail.com
April Robertson Heflin
April has been with our team for several years and enjoys her role as our Homes for Heroes Marketing Director. She is extremely involved in our local community and has a heart for helping those that serve us, including military personal & veterans, police, firefighters and first responders, healthcare workers and a wide range of educators.
As Mrs. Spotsylvania, her platform is focused on the need for awareness to the homelessness amongst veterans and 1st responders in our state, that due to many reasons I believe, that they above all should never have the need for housing, medical or mental health services for the rest of their lives. They and their families have risked it all for our freedom, health and safety, yes, it is a choice like any other career,but it comes with so many more risks than most.
Contact her if you know of any heroes that would like to save $ and receive a cash reward if they buy or sell a home, and also have their loan origination fees waived if they refinace.
Office/Mobile: 540-376-4884
Email: ahlheroesmarketingdirector@gmail.com
As Mrs. Spotsylvania, her platform is focused on the need for awareness to the homelessness amongst veterans and 1st responders in our state, that due to many reasons I believe, that they above all should never have the need for housing, medical or mental health services for the rest of their lives. They and their families have risked it all for our freedom, health and safety, yes, it is a choice like any other career,but it comes with so many more risks than most.
Contact her if you know of any heroes that would like to save $ and receive a cash reward if they buy or sell a home, and also have their loan origination fees waived if they refinace.
Office/Mobile: 540-376-4884
Email: ahlheroesmarketingdirector@gmail.com
