Just talk
A no-pressure conversation about where you are — income, savings, timeline, worries. No documents needed to start.
Ella Krispin · NMLS #2829511 · Lending Lakes & Co
Buying a home shouldn't feel like a group project you're failing.
Hi, I'm Ella — a Minnesota loan officer with Fairway Home Mortgage. I answer the questions you're embarrassed to Google, in plain English, without ever making you feel behind. Start with the one everyone asks:what would my payment actually be?
No forms. No spam. No pressure. This site collects zero personal data — read how & why.
Ella 🏡Fairway Home Mortgage
Hey Ella, I want to buy a house but I honestly don't know where to start 😅
Perfect — that's where literally everyone starts. 🙌 Quick one: what price range are you curious about?
tap one 👇
On a $325,000 home, you'd be looking at roughly$0/mo all-in.*
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Loan programs, explained
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Plain English, guaranteed
Verify meNMLS #2829511
Meet Ella
New energy. Deep bench. Zero jargon.
I'm Ella Krispin, a loan officer with Fairway Home Mortgage in Minnesota and part of the Lending Lakes & Co team. I got into lending for one reason: too many people my age think homeownership is out of reach because nobody ever explained it to them like a human being. That's the whole job, as far as I'm concerned.
You'll never get a lecture, a hard sell, or an acronym without a translation. You'll get straight answers, real numbers, and a teammate — and behind me, a whole team and one of the country's largest independent lenders making sure every file is airtight.
First home? Start here.
Four steps between you and a set of keys
Get pre-approved
Real numbers on real letterhead through Fairway's secure system, so you shop with confidence — not vibes.
Find the fit
Conventional, FHA, VA, USDA, down payment assistance — Ella matches the program to your life, not the other way around.
Close with a plan
Clear milestones, proactive updates, and a teammate who explains every document before you sign it.
Loan programs
Every loan type, translated to human
Each guide covers who it's great for, what it really costs, and the questions people actually ask — no email required to read any of it.
Conventional Loans
The workhorse of home financing — flexible terms, competitive costs, and down payments as low as 3% for first-time buyers.
Read the guide →FHA Loans
The first-time buyer favorite — 3.5% down, friendlier credit requirements, and forgiving guidelines for real-life finances.
Read the guide →VA Loans
For those who served — $0 down, no monthly mortgage insurance, and some of the strongest terms in all of lending.
Read the guide →USDA Loans
$0 down for homes in eligible smaller communities — many Twin Cities exurbs qualify, and most buyers have no idea.
Read the guide →Jumbo Loans
Financing above conforming loan limits for higher-priced homes — with the same guidance and straight answers.
Read the guide →Down Payment Assistance
Minnesota has real down payment help — Minnesota Housing programs can put thousands toward your down payment and closing costs.
Read the guide →Refinancing
Lower the payment, drop mortgage insurance, tap equity, or shorten the term — when the math works, Ella will show you. When it doesn’t, he’ll tell you.
Read the guide →No idea which one?
That's normal — and figuring it out together is free. Tell Ella your situation and she'll point you at the right guide.
Ask EllaYou're not getting one person — you're getting a team
Backed by Lending Lakes & Co & Fairway Home Mortgage
Ella works alongside the Lending Lakes & Co team at Fairway — so every question gets an experienced answer, every file gets seasoned eyes, and you get the energy of someone who picks up the phone and the depth of a team that's closed a lot of loans.
Lending Lakes & Co
A Minnesota-grown mortgage team built around plain-English guidance and local program know-how — from first homes to lake homes.
lendinglakes.com →Fairway Home Mortgage
One of the nation's largest independent mortgage lenders — the loan platform, underwriting, and secure systems behind every file Ella touches.
fairway.com →Verify everything
Every loan officer has a public NMLS record — including Ella. Look anyone up before you work with them. Seriously, we encourage it.
NMLS #2829511 →The Learn hub
Mortgage words, decoded like a friend would
Escrow. PMI. DTI. Points. The industry loves alphabet soup — the Learn page translates 16+ terms into the version your smartest friend would text you. Free, no email wall, forever.
Open the glossary →ok real talk — what even IS escrow? everyone says it like I should know 🫠
Ha — nobody knows until someone tells them! It's basically a neutral holding account: part of your monthly payment sits there so your property taxes and insurance get paid on time, automatically. That's it. That's escrow.
Ready when you are — and only when you are.
Whether you're buying in three weeks or three years, the earlier we talk, the better your options get. Zero pressure, zero obligation.