When you get a mortgage through a big bank, you’re paying their rate — which includes their profit margin, their overhead, and often a handful of fees buried in the fine print. When you work with First Commerce Financial, you get something different: a licensed Arizona mortgage broker who shops dozens of wholesale lenders on your behalf to find you the lowest rate available — and shows you exactly what you’re paying, upfront, with no junk fees and no surprises at the closing table.
Co-founders Kirk Chivas and Ken Turkington have 60+ years of combined mortgage experience and have helped homebuyers and homeowners across the Phoenix metro and beyond navigate the loan process with complete clarity. If you’re buying, refinancing, or just exploring your options in Arizona, this is the team to call.
Why Choose an Independent Mortgage Broker in Arizona?
There’s a big difference between going to your bank for a mortgage and working with an independent mortgage broker. Here’s what that difference means for you:
Access to Wholesale Rates
As an independent broker, we’re not locked into one lender’s rates. We have relationships with dozens of wholesale lenders and shop them all to find the best rate and terms for your specific situation. Banks can only offer you their own products. We can offer you the market.
No Junk Fees — Full Transparency From Day One
Junk fees are made-up charges lenders tack on to increase their profit. Processing fees, application fees, administrative fees — they add up fast and many borrowers don’t notice them until they’re sitting at the closing table. At First Commerce Financial, we don’t charge junk fees. Period. You’ll know exactly what you’re paying from the very first conversation, and that number won’t change.
A Team That’s Done This Thousands of Times
Kirk and Ken have handled straightforward first-time buyer deals and complex jumbo transactions. They’ve seen every market condition Arizona has thrown at borrowers over the past two decades. That experience means fewer surprises, faster closings, and better outcomes for you.
Arizona Mortgage Programs We Offer
Whether you’re a first-time buyer in Gilbert or refinancing a Scottsdale investment property, we have a loan program built for your situation:
Conventional Loans
Fixed and adjustable rate conventional loans for primary residences, second homes, and investment properties. Competitive rates, flexible down payment options, and no unnecessary fees.
FHA Loans
FHA loans are a great fit for Arizona buyers who are purchasing with a smaller down payment or who are rebuilding credit. Down payments as low as 3.5% with flexible qualification requirements.
VA Loans
Arizona has one of the largest veteran populations in the country. VA loans offer $0 down, no PMI, and competitive rates for eligible veterans, active-duty service members, and surviving spouses. This is one of our specialties and we’ll make sure you’re getting every benefit you’ve earned.
Jumbo Loans
The Phoenix and Scottsdale markets have seen significant home price appreciation. If your loan amount exceeds conventional limits, a jumbo loan gets you into the home you want without compromising on rate or terms.
Refinance — Rate & Term and Cash-Out
Whether you want to lower your rate, shorten your loan term, or tap your home’s equity with a cash-out refinance, we’ll walk you through your options and run the numbers so you can make a confident decision.
Investment Property & DSCR Loans
Arizona’s rental market is strong, especially across the East Valley. We offer investment property financing and DSCR loans that qualify based on the property’s rental income rather than your personal income.
Arizona Cities We Serve
We’re licensed throughout the state of Arizona and lend in every market — from the East Valley to central Phoenix to the Scottsdale corridor. We have particular depth in:
- Gilbert — one of the fastest-growing cities in the country, with strong demand from families and first-time buyers
- Mesa — a large, diverse market with options across every price range and loan type
- Chandler — a tech-driven economy with a competitive housing market
- Tempe — popular with young professionals and buyers near ASU
- Phoenix — the state’s largest market, fast-moving and highly competitive
- Scottsdale — luxury, resort, and investment properties with higher loan amounts
No matter where in Arizona you’re buying or refinancing, we can help.
What the Arizona Housing Market Means for Buyers Right Now
Arizona — especially the Phoenix metro — has been one of the most active housing markets in the country over the past several years. Here’s what that means if you’re buying today:
- Pre-approval matters more than ever. Sellers in competitive markets like Gilbert, Chandler, and Scottsdale want to see a strong pre-approval before they’ll take an offer seriously. We get you pre-approved fast, backed by real underwriting review.
- Arizona has no state transfer tax, which is a meaningful cost advantage for both buyers and sellers compared to other states.
- The East Valley — Gilbert, Mesa, Chandler, Tempe — continues to attract buyers from out of state due to job growth, quality of life, and relative affordability compared to other Sun Belt markets.
- Rates are still a key factor. Even a 0.25% difference in your interest rate can mean hundreds of dollars per month. Shopping lenders matters — and that’s exactly what we do.
Frequently Asked Questions — Arizona Mortgage
How is a mortgage broker different from a mortgage lender?
A mortgage lender loans you money directly from their own funds — they only offer their own products at their own rates. A mortgage broker like First Commerce Financial works on your behalf across multiple lenders to find the best rate and terms available. We’re not limited to one product shelf, which almost always means better options for you.
Do I need to be a current Arizona resident to work with you?
No. We work with buyers relocating to Arizona from out of state all the time. As long as the property you’re purchasing or refinancing is in Arizona, we can help — regardless of where you currently live.
How fast can you get me pre-approved?
In many cases, same day or next business day. The process starts online and our team moves quickly. A real pre-approval — not just a pre-qualification — puts you in a much stronger position when you make an offer, especially in competitive markets like Scottsdale and Gilbert.
What credit score do I need to buy a home in Arizona?
It depends on the loan type. Conventional loans typically require a 620+ credit score, FHA loans can go as low as 580 with 3.5% down, and VA loans are flexible. The best way to know where you stand is to start a conversation with our team — we’ll review your situation and show you exactly what you qualify for.
Are your rates really lower than a bank?
In most cases, yes — because we shop wholesale lenders rather than offering a single bank’s retail rate. We can’t guarantee we’ll beat every offer in every situation, but we’ve built our reputation on getting Arizona borrowers the best deal available. We’ll always show you the numbers so you can compare apples to apples.
Ready to Get Started? Let’s Talk.
No junk fees. No runaround. Just straight answers and the lowest rate we can find you.
Whether you’re buying your first home in Gilbert, upsizing in Scottsdale, or refinancing in Chandler — our team is ready to walk you through your options at no cost and no obligation.
📞 Call us at (248) 459-5511
✅ Or get pre-approved online — takes just a few minutes and puts you in a position to move fast.
Licensed Arizona Mortgage Broker | NMLS #137512 | AZ MB #1001354
Serving Gilbert, Mesa, Chandler, Tempe, Phoenix, Scottsdale, and all of Arizona.
