Ken Turkington
Co-Founder & Mortgage Broker — First Commerce Financial
NMLS #137873 | Licensed in Michigan, Florida, Arizona & Texas | Gilbert, AZ
Ken's Story
Ken Turkington has been in the mortgage business since 1997 — starting at a Michigan-based mortgage company as a loan officer before moving into management as the company grew into a national lender. Ten years of large-company experience gave him deep perspective on how the industry worked — and a clear view of what it was getting wrong for consumers.
In 2007, Ken and Kirk Chivas co-founded First Commerce Financial as an independent mortgage brokerage built on a simple premise: wholesale rates, zero junk fees, and direct access to the people who own the company. No call centers. No junior loan officers. No fees invented to pad a margin. Just honest mortgage lending the way it should work.
Ken earned his BA in Economics from Kalamazoo College and spent four years in the title insurance industry before entering mortgage — giving him a fuller picture of the closing process than most loan officers ever develop. He lives in Gilbert, Arizona with his wife Michelle and their two daughters, and handles First Commerce Financial's Arizona, Texas, Florida, and Michigan markets personally.
When you call or text (248) 459-5511, you are talking to Ken. Not a call center. Not an assistant. The co-founder of the company — with 30 years of mortgage experience and a direct line to wholesale rates from 20+ lenders.
What Makes Working With Ken Different
📞 You Talk to Ken. Every Time.
No call centers. No loan officers handling your file while Ken's name is on the door. When you have a question — at any stage of your purchase or refinance — you reach Ken directly by phone or text.
📈 Wholesale Rates from 20+ Lenders
As an independent broker, Ken is not tied to one lender's rate sheet. He shops dozens of wholesale lenders to find the lowest rate available for your specific situation — every single time.
🚫 Zero Junk Fees — No Exceptions
No underwriting fees. No processing fees. No administrative fees. No application fees. What Ken quotes you on Day 1 is what you pay at closing. That has been true since 2007 and it has never changed.
⏳ Same-Day Pre-Approvals
In competitive markets, speed matters. Ken can pre-approve you the same day in most cases — with real underwriting review behind the approval, not just a quick online estimate that falls apart later.
🏠 4-State Coverage
Ken is personally licensed in Michigan, Florida, Arizona, and Texas. He lives in Gilbert, AZ and knows each market's carrying costs — property taxes, transfer taxes, insurance — from firsthand experience.
📋 Full Process Transparency
Ken presents every loan option on a Zoom call with the full rate and fee picture visible on screen. No surprises. No fine print. You see everything before you commit to anything.
Ken Practices What He Preaches — The Ridley Story
Tempe, AZ
market
listing agent
Ken Used an AI-Powered Platform to Sell His Own Investment Property
When Ken needed to sell his Tempe investment property to fund his next home purchase, he used Ridley — a flat-fee AI listing platform — instead of a traditional listing agent. The home sold in 4 days with 2 offers at asking price and saved $13,151 in listing commission. He wrote about the entire experience so you can see exactly what he paid and how it worked.
Read Ken's Full Story →What Clients Say
"We really enjoyed working with Ken throughout the entire process. He was patient, knowledgeable, and always willing to answer our questions along the way. He took the time to explain all of our options clearly and helped us find the best combination of rate and closing costs for our situation. Some of the tools and worksheets they supplied us with were easy to follow and even adjust on our end as we went along. The whole experience felt smooth and stress-free thanks to his guidance. Highly recommend Ken to anyone looking for a great lending experience!"
— Aaron Bennett ● Google Review ● 2 weeks ago
First Commerce Financial has 334 five-star Google reviews across Michigan, Florida, Arizona, and Texas.
Markets Ken Serves
Free Tools From Ken & Kirk
📋Apples to Apples LE Review — Shopping Multiple Lenders? Get a Free Side-by-Side Comparison 🏠Net Proceeds Calculator — How Much Will You Actually Walk Away With? 💰Closing Cost Estimator — Every Fee by State, Itemized Instantly 📈Loan A vs. B Calculator — Compare Two Loan Scenarios Side by Side 📋Mortgage Broker vs. Mortgage Banker — Why It Matters for Your Rate and Fees 🔧All Free Tools & Calculators — 20+ Free ResourcesTalk to Ken Directly
30 years of experience. Wholesale rates from 20+ lenders. Zero junk fees. Same-day pre-approvals in Michigan, Florida, Arizona, and Texas. When you reach out, you reach Ken — not a call center.
📞 Call or Text Ken — (248) 459-5511Or email Ken directly: ken@firstcommercefinancial.com
