Louis Wonio

Louis's Personal Bio-"I'm a strong believer in owning real estate & think everyone should own the home they live in. For some people that is easy & for some people it is one of the most challenging things they will ever attempt to do. When I bought my first house in 2012, I applied with the bank I worked for and the loan officer there presented me with 2 loan options & almost no explanation of the difference besides the minimum down payment – which was 3.5% for an FHA loan or 5% for a conventional loan. As I grew in my career, I learned there were tons of different loan programs available and as I investigated further I couldn’t get over it.  Why wasn’t I told about these? I could have saved thousands of dollars! So that was it, I knew what I was meant to do & dove headfirst into loan origination.

Most people think of a house as an investment: a physical building & an appreciable asset. Of course, that is true – your home can (& should) be one of the best-performing assets that you ever own.  That’s why investing in real estate outside of your primary residence is so popular and why something like 90% of all millionaires made their first million off owning real estate. The numbers between the amount of wealth held by homeowners vs renters are staggering. But I want my clients to understand what homeownership does outside of the money. Owning your home brings a sense of pride, stability, and personal freedom, it builds and protects communities. Your home is where you will create a majority of your memories, let’s make sure it’s yours.

Owning real estate is for everyone and I want to work with everyone.  One thing I promise to do differently than other lenders is to educate my clients.  Not only will I show you every homebuyer or refinance program out there (first-time homebuyer, conventional, FHA, VA, USDA, investment, Non-QM, etc) but I will outline the process to simplify everything.  You will feel confident walking into a house and knowing exactly what it will cost in totality and what your monthly payment will be. I explain every potential cost, every interest rate option, and the entire process from start to finish to put you in the driver’s seat while you make one of the biggest purchases of your life.  Many lenders think that too many options can be confusing, but I feel that taking a little extra time up-front makes for a more confident homebuyer and a stress-free experience. 

Things can and do come up during the home-buying process that is out of anyone’s control.  Appraisal issues, title problems & cold feet from both sides happen – which is why it's imperative that you work with a dedicated mortgage professional like me. I pride myself on being the ultimate problem-solver and will do whatever I can to get you into the home of your dreams.  While many lenders just look for ways to say “no,” I look for ways to say “yes.”  In my experience, solving problems that happen in the loan process is all about communication.  When issues come up they need to be addressed immediately & practically every issue can be overcome with enough time. I’ve found that with open and honest communication (even on nights & weekends) we can uncover and address most potential issues before you ever find your perfect home. 

I chose to work with ProVisor because I want to help everyone.  We have ultra-competitive interest rates (I challenge all my clients to shop around to see if anyone can beat me) and have access to just about every loan program out there. But what I have found to be the real difference is that ProVisor is a company that cares. We are real people (mostly) living here in Wisconsin & Iowa and make decisions locally. I have worked for big banks & regional lenders that are required to “go to corporate” for a decision on a particular loan but here at ProVisor, every decision is local.  The owner & CEO of ProVisor, James Mercado, sits right across the hallway from me and I personally seen him step in and save deals on numerous occasions. He will do anything within his power to help our clients get the keys to the home of their dreams. Every single client matters here at ProVisor. Whether you are a first-time homebuyer, moving up to accommodate a growing family, downsizing, or just looking for the best deal, Louis & ProVisor is your top choice.