Introducing HQ Mortgage, a smarter way to finance your home

Buying a home is one of the biggest decisions most people will ever make. Before you’ve even chosen the home you want, you should first figure out your financial situation. What do you need to know about mortgages and lenders? Let’s make it easy. Introducing HQ Mortgage, a smarter way to finance your home.

Buying a home requires working through the mortgage process. Whether you’re a first-time homebuyer or an experienced one, the ease of the process is dependent on the lender you choose. A knowledgeable mortgage professional is important, but finding one who is dedicated to your best interests is essential. Find someone who will work with you to find the right option to fit your needs and manage any obstacles that come along.

Simplify financing for new construction

As a builder, Hunter Quinn Homes has helped thousands of people find the right home. Our teams guide every buyer, step by step, whether they’re having a home built or purchasing one that’s just completed. Homebuying is a carefully planned process, but every buyer is unique. Their needs, wants, and financial situation vary from one person to the next.

While we’ve refined the Hunter Quinn Homes process to deliver a positive customer experience, all we could do to help buyers with financing was to steer them to reliable lenders. Some buyers experienced difficulties, because the lender they chose didn’t understand financing a new construction home or wasn’t experienced with loans, like VA, FHA, and USDA. Or they simply didn’t do the work.

So, Hunter Quinn Homes launched HQ Mortgage,a full-service mortgage lender. The goal was to create a seamless experience, from choosing the home to moving in. We recognized the importance of applying the same individual attention we give to our buyers to ensure they also receive all the information to make the best choice for a lending partner. With HQ Mortgage, we’re giving homebuyers a lesson in obtaining the right mortgage for a new construction home. We saw the need for a more personal lending experience—less transactional and more focused on building trust. From mortgage pre-approval through closing, HQ Mortgage’s professionals will work closely with each customer, paying close attention to details to ensure that the loan goes through smoothly. And with no surprises at closing!

Is it complicated to finance a new construction home?

The short answer is, “No!”

Many mortgage lenders are familiar with what’s involved to finance an existing home, but when it hasn’t been completed—or even started!—there are a few extra steps. It’s not complicated, but knowledge of the building process makes the loan processing simple. The lender knows when certain documents should be filed in order to avoid delays. They understand the difference between a construction loan and a loan for a home that is being built in a subdivision that’s owned by a developer.

A construction loan is required when the buyer is having a home built on their own land. Lenders see this scenario as risky, because, too often, the buyer runs into financial problems and the home isn’t completed. Then, the lender must collect on the debt incurred for an unfinished home. Or they end up owning that property, which they definitely do not want to handle.

The great news is that you can build a home without a construction loan. When you’re having a home built in an existing community, the developer owns the land, not the homebuyer. The purchase is a package deal: the land and the home. The lender is confident in the developer or builder, because the home is part of a larger neighborhood. It feels more certain to be completed, so the risk is less.

Less risk = Simpler mortgage process. 

Caveat: It’s simpler as long as your lender understands financing a new construction home within a community.

• When you build on your own land: As your new home progresses through construction, the lender prepares documents for closing. If you have a construction loan, you close when you sign the purchase and sale agreement. That transaction frees up the funds to start building. When the home is completed, you convert to a conventional mortgage. Depending on how your lender structured the loan, you might have a second closing.
• When your home is to be built in a subdivision: The home will be constructed on the developer’s property, not yours. There’s one closing, which takes place when the home is ready for occupancy. You pay a small “good faith deposit” when you sign the purchase and sale agreement. A lender who is experienced with a home that does not yet exist understands the steps involved.

And that’s where HQ Mortgage fits in. 

What Is HQ Mortgage?

HQ Mortgage is a full-service mortgage lender focused on helping buyers understand their financing options and move through the homebuying process with confidence. By working closely with the Hunter Quinn Homes team, HQ Mortgage helps ensure the financing side of the journey stays aligned with construction timelines, contract milestones, and buyer expectations.

The goal is straightforward: Make the mortgage process clearer, more efficient, and easier to navigate. Whether you’re buying your new construction home from Hunter Quinn Homes or another builder, HQ Mortgage can guide you smoothly through financing.

A full range of mortgage services and programs

As a homebuyer, you have a variety of loan options to consider. The right lender asks questions to identify the best fit, rather than fitting you into a program they’re familiar with. 

While every buyer’s scenario is different, your loan solutions may include:

• Conventional home loans: This mortgage is ideal for people with a strong credit score.
• FHA loans: First-time buyers with less-than-ideal credit scores might qualify for a loan with a low down payment and competitive interest rates.
• VA loans: Veterans, active servicemembers, and surviving spouses could buy a home with no down payment, plus a low interest rate and limited closing costs.
• USDA loans: If you’re considering a home in a rural area, the USDA could help with a mortgage with a low down payment, down payment assistance, and longer loan term.
• First-time homebuyer programs: In addition to these loan options, you might qualify for down payment assistance that is available in North Carolina, South Carolina, or Florida. 
• New construction financing options: You might be eligible for additional benefits, including closing cost credits, upgrades, and rate buydown.

Buying your new home should evolve from a solid relationship with the builder and the lender. You’re putting trust in their ability to protect your interests. Working with a local mortgage professional who knows the business of financing as well as the business of building gives you a winning combination.

A recent Hunter Quinn Homes buyer worked with Candace Green of HQ Mortgage. Their experience reflects exactly what we want every customer to have. 

“As first-time homebuyers, I cannot stress this enough, how confusing processes might be. Candace has been an amazing source of information. She patiently answered every single question we had. She is exceptionally knowledgeable.”

What should you expect from your lender?

The mortgage professional you choose can make the difference between a satisfying buying experience and a nightmare, between closing on time and facing one delay after another. The wrong choice can lead to oversights that cause delays or even rejection of your loan. It could cost you in higher fees and lost opportunities, like closing cost credits.

Before you decide on your home, you will carefully consider your options for the location of your new home, and then decide on the floor plan after studying the layout. Then, you pick the details, like the cabinets, floors, wall colors, all the way down to the door hardware.

You put forth the effort because your home is a major investment in your life and future. So, it makes sense that partnering with a professional who respects your needs and your feelings should take an equally thoughtful evaluation.

You should plan on shopping around to find the right lending partner for you. 

• Ask about their experience with various loan programs, with financing a new construction home, and with working with a buyer like you. 
• Request a written list of their fees, which vary from one lender to the next. 
• Find out about their availability when you have questions. 
• Inquire about the steps they take to keep the loan processing on track, to avoid a delay in closing. 
• Who do they use for the title search and appraisal, and why do they work with that pro?

Be as thorough with your lender selection as you are with your home.

And if you end up talking with someone from HQ Mortgage, they’ll fully answer every question. 

Key steps for the first-time homebuyer

Are you new to homebuying? The very first step is not browsing the listings. It’s mortgage pre-approval.

With one phone call, you learn if you’re likely to be approved for a mortgage and the approximate amount you can expect to borrow. Once you provide some basic information to the lender, you’ll learn quickly—less than 24 hours and possibly right away—about your borrowing potential. Then, you can shop for a home with the knowledge of what you can afford. You’ll also receive a pre-approval letter that shows a seller that you’re ready to close the deal!

Since you’re new to the mortgage process, talking to a lender early on will give you confidence and knowledge of key steps:

• How pre-approval works
• What documentation may be needed
• How financing impacts monthly payments and long-term planning
• How the mortgage process aligns with building a new home

Early engagement also helps avoid delays later in the process and keeps the transaction moving smoothly toward closing.

Is an in-house mortgage partner the right lender for you”?

HQ Mortgage is considered an in-house partner with Hunter Quinn Homes. Some builders will refer you to their preferred lender. And of course, you can also source a mortgage provider on your own.

One of the biggest advantages of choosing an in-house mortgage partner is its close relationship with the builder. The pros at HQ Mortgage had already earned the trust and respect of Hunter Quinn Homes’ leadership from prior experiences. It’s why they were recruited for this critical role in protecting the buyer’s path to purchase.

This connection allows for better communication and a smoother overall experience.

• Early guidance on affordability and budgeting
• Clear expectations around the financing timeline
• Better coordination between loan processing and home construction
• A more streamlined path from contract to closing

For many buyers, especially first-time homeowners, the mortgage process is unfamiliar, which can be uncomfortable. HQ Mortgage places a strong emphasis on education, communication, and transparency.

HQ Mortgage serves buyers in the markets where Hunter Quinn Homes builds, offering local insight and hands-on support that large national lenders often cannot provide. Having a mortgage partner familiar with the local market and the new construction process can make a meaningful difference in both timing and experience.

Hunter Quinn Homes is excited about introducing HQ Mortgage, a smarter way to finance your home. If you’re looking for a lender or simply want to start somewhere with learning about mortgages, reach out to the professionals at HQ Mortgage, Max Ballard and Candace Green.