No junk fees. Wholesale rates. And a team with deep personal roots in the Royal Oak corridor — Kirk and Jennifer Chivas bought their first home together in Royal Oak in 1998, raised their first two children here, and know this community the way only a family that lived it can.
Royal Oak, Birmingham, Huntington Woods, Berkley, and Ferndale make up one of the most desirable and centrally located corridors in all of Metro Detroit. If you are buying anywhere in this market — whether it is your first home, a move up, or an investment — you deserve a mortgage broker who actually knows these streets.
Get Pre-Approved — It's FreeFirst Commerce Financial co-founder Kirk Chivas and his wife Jennifer bought their first home together in Royal Oak in 1998. Their first two children were born while they lived there — in 1999 and 2002. Royal Oak was not just a market Kirk worked — it was where his family started. Jennifer also attended the University of Detroit Mercy, located right in this corridor, for her Bachelor of Science in Nursing. Now, more than 25 years later, their daughter is earning her CRNA at UDM — the same institution, the same corridor, a new generation.
Kirk and Jennifer Chivas moved to Royal Oak in 1998 and bought their first home together there. They lived in Royal Oak from 1998 to 2003 — five years during which they started their family, welcomed two children, and built their lives in one of Metro Detroit's most vibrant communities. Jennifer was a nursing graduate of the University of Detroit Mercy, which sits just minutes from this corridor. Their daughter is now completing her CRNA program at UDM — bringing the family's connection to this community full circle across two generations.
Kirk has been working the Southeast Michigan mortgage market since 1997. He knows the Royal Oak corridor not from a database of sales data, but from the experience of living here, raising a family here, and watching this market evolve over nearly three decades. That is the kind of knowledge that shows up when it matters — when you are navigating a competitive multiple-offer situation, understanding what a home is actually worth, or knowing which neighborhoods are moving and which are not.
Ken Turkington has been working the Southeast Michigan mortgage market since 1996 and knows the Oakland County market deeply. Between Kirk and Ken, First Commerce Financial brings over 60 combined years of Michigan mortgage experience to every client in this corridor.
Why This Corridor Is Metro Detroit's Best Location
People who live in Royal Oak, Birmingham, Huntington Woods, Berkley, and Ferndale will tell you the same thing: there is nowhere else in Metro Detroit quite like it. The reason is simple — this corridor sits at the geographic heart of the entire metro, and everything is accessible from here in a way that is simply not true anywhere else.
Downtown Detroit is 15 minutes south. Troy and the Auburn Hills technology and automotive corridor — home to major employers including Stellantis, FCA, and dozens of tier-one suppliers — is 20 minutes north. Ann Arbor and the University of Michigan are 45 minutes west. The airport is under 30 minutes. You can be at Comerica Park, Ford Field, or Little Caesars Arena in minutes. The University of Detroit Mercy, where Jennifer Chivas earned her nursing degree and where her daughter is now in CRNA school, is a short drive down Woodward Avenue.
No other location in Metro Detroit checks all of these boxes simultaneously. That central position — combined with walkable downtowns, strong schools, and a genuine community character — is why demand in this corridor has held strong through every market cycle Kirk has seen in nearly 30 years of Michigan mortgage work.
The Royal Oak Corridor — Five Communities, One Market
Royal Oak
Kirk and Jennifer's home from 1998–2003. The heart of the corridor — walkable downtown, vibrant restaurant and bar scene, bungalows and colonials on tree-lined streets, young professionals and families side by side. One of the most consistently in-demand markets in Oakland County.
Median: ~$325K–$360K
Birmingham
The premium end of the corridor. Luxury homes, one of the finest downtowns in Michigan, top-rated schools, and home values that reflect sustained demand from Detroit's executive and professional community. One of the most prestigious addresses in Southeast Michigan.
Median: ~$600K–$813K
Huntington Woods
A small, tight-knit city surrounded by Royal Oak — one of the most sought-after family communities in Oakland County. Beautiful homes, exceptional schools (shared with Royal Oak), and a neighborhood character that makes it one of the most competitive markets in the corridor.
Median: ~$455K–$572K
Berkley
Immediately south of Huntington Woods — a genuine value play in this corridor. Walkable, community-oriented, and priced below its neighbors while sharing the same central location advantage. A popular choice for first-time buyers who want this corridor's lifestyle at a more accessible price point.
Median: ~$280K–$330K
Ferndale
The most urban and arts-forward community in the corridor — a creative, diverse, walkable city with strong neighborhood identity. Popular with younger buyers, artists, and young professionals. One of the most affordable entry points into this market with strong long-term appreciation.
Median: ~$235K–$290K
Pleasant Ridge & Clawson
Smaller communities that sit within and adjacent to this corridor — Pleasant Ridge borders Ferndale and Huntington Woods, Clawson borders Royal Oak and Troy. Both offer the corridor's lifestyle at competitive price points with strong community character.
Median: ~$280K–$350K
The University of Detroit Mercy Connection
The University of Detroit Mercy sits just minutes from this corridor on McNichols Road — one of Michigan's most respected private universities, home to strong nursing, health science, law, and professional programs. Jennifer Chivas earned her BSN there. Their daughter is currently earning her CRNA at UDM.
UDM creates a consistent demand for housing in this corridor — faculty, staff, graduate students, and healthcare professionals connected to UDM's health sciences programs all need to live nearby. If you are a healthcare professional, faculty member, or graduate student at UDM, we understand your financial profile and we know this market from the inside.
Why Royal Oak Corridor Buyers Choose First Commerce Financial
Kirk Bought His First Home Here
Kirk and Jennifer bought their first home in Royal Oak in 1998. They had their first two children here. Jennifer went to UDM. Their daughter is at UDM now. This is not a market Kirk researched to add to a service area page — it is part of his family's story. That personal history translates into market knowledge that no database can replicate.
Wholesale Rates — Not Retail Markup
As an independent mortgage broker, we shop dozens of wholesale lenders to find the lowest rate available for your situation. In a corridor where prices range from $235K in Ferndale to $813K in Birmingham, the right rate makes a real difference at every price point.
Zero Junk Fees
No processing fees, no administrative fees, no surprises at closing. What we quote is what you pay. We have operated this way since 2007 and it is the foundation of how we do business.
60+ Years of Combined Michigan Mortgage Experience
Kirk has been working Michigan mortgages since 1997. Ken since 1996. Between them, they have seen every market cycle this corridor has been through — the boom years, 2008, the recovery, the pandemic surge, and the current normalization. That experience matters when you are making one of the biggest financial decisions of your life.
Mortgage Programs for the Royal Oak Corridor
Conventional Loans
The most common choice across this corridor. Competitive rates for buyers at every price point from Ferndale's entry-level market to Birmingham's luxury segment.
Jumbo Loans
Birmingham and upper Huntington Woods properties regularly exceed conventional loan limits. We have the lender relationships to compete strongly on jumbo rates.
FHA Loans
For first-time buyers entering the market in Ferndale, Berkley, or the more affordable parts of Royal Oak. 3.5% down with flexible qualification standards.
VA Loans
Zero down payment for eligible veterans and active-duty military. This corridor is accessible to Veterans Affairs facilities throughout the metro.
First-Time Homebuyer
Kirk bought his first home in Royal Oak. We understand what first-time buyers need — clear guidance from pre-approval through closing, with no jargon and no surprises.
Refinance
Rate-and-term or cash-out refinances for existing homeowners throughout this corridor. We shop wholesale lenders to find your best option.
What Royal Oak Corridor Buyers Should Know
This market moves fast. Well-priced homes in Royal Oak, Huntington Woods, and Birmingham still see multiple offers. Having a pre-approval in hand before you start looking is not optional in this corridor — it is the difference between getting the house and losing it. We can typically turn around a pre-approval same day.
Price points vary dramatically across a short distance. You can buy a first home in Ferndale for $250K or a luxury estate in Birmingham for $1.5M — and they are 10 minutes apart. Understanding where the value is within this corridor relative to your budget and priorities is something we can help you think through before you start shopping.
Huntington Woods is one of the most competitive sub-markets in Oakland County. Small city, limited inventory, exceptional schools, strong community character — Huntington Woods homes move quickly and often above asking. If this is your target, you need to be ready to move when the right home comes up.
The UDM and healthcare corridor creates strong rental demand. If you are considering investment property in this corridor, the proximity to the University of Detroit Mercy, Beaumont Hospital Royal Oak, and multiple medical facilities creates consistent rental demand from healthcare students and professionals.
We serve the full surrounding area. Troy, Auburn Hills, Warren, Sterling Heights, Southfield, Oak Park, Madison Heights, and all of Oakland and Macomb Counties. This is the market we have worked in for our entire careers.
Frequently Asked Questions
Did Kirk actually live in Royal Oak?
Yes. Kirk and Jennifer Chivas bought their first home in Royal Oak in 1998 and lived there until 2003. Their first two children were born during those years — in 1999 and 2002. Jennifer earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the University of Detroit Mercy, which is just minutes from this corridor. Their daughter is currently in the CRNA program at UDM. Royal Oak is part of Kirk's family story, not just his market knowledge.
What makes the Royal Oak corridor different from other Metro Detroit markets?
Location. The Royal Oak / Birmingham corridor sits at the geographic center of Metro Detroit in a way that almost nowhere else does. Downtown Detroit is 15 minutes south. Troy and Auburn Hills are 20 minutes north. Ann Arbor is 45 minutes west. The airport is under 30 minutes. You can reach virtually anywhere in the metro in 30 minutes or less — and you have walkable downtowns, strong schools, and genuine neighborhood character while you are doing it. That combination is what has sustained demand in this corridor through every market cycle.
What is the difference between the communities in this corridor?
Royal Oak is the hub — walkable, vibrant, diverse price points. Birmingham is the premium end — luxury homes, the finest downtown in Oakland County, top schools. Huntington Woods is the most sought-after family market — small city, exceptional schools, competitive inventory. Berkley and Ferndale offer the corridor's lifestyle at more accessible price points and are popular with first-time buyers and younger professionals. Pleasant Ridge and Clawson round out the corridor with their own strong community characters. The right choice depends on your budget, lifestyle, and priorities — we can help you think through the tradeoffs.
Is this a good market for first-time buyers?
Yes — particularly in Ferndale, Berkley, and the more affordable parts of Royal Oak, where entry-level price points in the $230K–$300K range make homeownership accessible while still putting you in one of Metro Detroit's best locations. Kirk bought his first home in Royal Oak, so he understands this market from a first-time buyer's perspective as well as a mortgage professional's. We will walk you through every step from pre-approval to closing with complete clarity.
What areas near Royal Oak do you serve?
All of them. Troy, Auburn Hills, Warren, Sterling Heights, Southfield, Oak Park, Madison Heights, Clawson, Hazel Park, and all of Oakland and Macomb Counties. We are licensed throughout Michigan and have been serving this entire market since 1996 and 1997. If you are buying or refinancing anywhere in Southeast Michigan, we can help.
Ready to Buy in Royal Oak, Birmingham, or the Surrounding Corridor?
Talk directly with Kirk — someone who bought his first home in Royal Oak, raised his first two kids here, and has been working this market for nearly 30 years. Straight answers about what you qualify for, which neighborhoods make sense for your situation, and what your mortgage will actually cost. No pressure, no obligation.
Start Your Free Pre-ApprovalOr call us directly at (248) 459-5511
First Commerce Financial | Licensed Michigan Mortgage Broker | NMLS #137512 | Serving Royal Oak, Birmingham, Huntington Woods, Berkley, Ferndale, and all of Southeast Michigan
