We’ll walk you through every step of the process and help you find the right loan for your first home.
Pre-approved on day one · Licensed in all 50 states · Real humans, real fast
“Finally, someone who picked up the phone.”
“Closed in 18 days. They meant it.”
“Made it easy when I thought it would be impossible.”
Pre-approved on day one
If you’ve owned your home for years, it’s likely worth far more than you owe. That difference is your equity, and for many families it’s their biggest financial asset. Leveraging your equity means turning part of that value into cash without selling the home you love. There are two main ways to do it. A cash-out refinance replaces your current mortgage with a new, larger one and pays you the difference. A reverse mortgage, available to homeowners 62 and older, turns part of your equity into cash with no monthly mortgage payment required, as long as you live in the home and keep up with property taxes, insurance, and upkeep.
We’ll help you and your family understand what your home can do for you today, and which option protects your future best.
Share your home’s estimated value, what you still owe, and what you’d like the money to do for you. We’ll show you how much equity you may be able to access before you commit to anything.
Cash-out refinance or reverse mortgage. We’ll lay out the costs, the monthly obligations, and what each means for you and your heirs, in plain English.
Choose your path and we’ll handle the paperwork, appraisal, and underwriting. For a reverse mortgage, we’ll help you schedule the required session with an independent HUD-approved counselor.
We’ll walk you, and any family members you’d like to include, through every dollar and every obligation at closing, so everyone knows exactly what you’re signing.
The right option depends on your age, how long you plan to stay in your home, and whether you want to keep making a monthly mortgage payment.
For homeowners 62 and older. Turn part of your equity into a lump sum, monthly payments, or a line of credit, with no monthly mortgage payment required. You keep ownership of your home, and you must live there and keep up with taxes, insurance, and maintenance.
Replace your current mortgage with a new one and take cash out of your equity. A good fit for homeowners of any age who are comfortable with a monthly payment and want a lump sum for retirement, family, or a major expense.
People consistently say the same things: it finally felt straightforward, they understood their options, and they weren’t treated like a number.
Just completed our refinance and it was a breeze! Megan and Jacquie are an amazing team! They are smart, hardworking, caring and knowledgeable!…
Olga G.
I had a truly wonderful experience working with HappyDog. From the very beginning, the team was professional, helpful, and prompt in guiding me through…
Jenny U.
If I could give Marci and Tori 10 stars I would! They were so friendly and easy to talk to. You can tell they enjoy helping people and that’s what makes them so good at their job!
RyAnn G.
Mike McKee, excellent service. His patience helped me to walk through the homebuying process with ease. He was available whenever I contacted him…
Althea O.
Great experience overall! Jason always kept us up to date and communicated regularly and is very good about replying quickly to questions.
AD A.
OMG!!! Mike Mckee is phenomenal…I worked with him for almost 2yrs..I had lots of issues prior to opening and he continued to reach out to me and stay in contact…
Valerie S.
HappyDog was easy to work with and highly responsive during our escrow process. I highly recommend them.
Taylor M.
Mike McKee’s professionalism and efficiency are truly impressive. He seamlessly guides clients through the lending process with his expertise…
Edward K.
Tori was amazing! She was providing several options for our budget for us to review and explained pros and cons with each option…
Rio B.
We can’t say thank you enough to vinnie, Lisa, and the whole team at happydog home loans! They made the whole process simple and straight forward…
Mariah H.
We had an absolutely amazing experience working with Happy Dog Lending while buying our first home! As first-time buyers, we had a lot of questions…
Ursula T.
Great response time, easy formatting and uploading documents. Always kind in our interactions VERY patient…
David B.
Your home is likely your biggest asset. Here are clear answers before you borrow against it.
No. You keep the title and remain the owner. The loan becomes due when the last borrower sells, moves out permanently, or passes away, or if property taxes, insurance, or upkeep aren’t maintained.
Yes, if you fall behind on property taxes or homeowners insurance, don’t maintain the home, or stop living there as your primary residence. We make sure you understand these obligations before you apply.
Federally insured reverse mortgages (HECMs) are non-recourse, so your heirs won’t owe more than the home is worth. They can keep the home by paying off the loan, or sell it and keep any remaining equity.
It mostly comes down to monthly payments. A cash-out refinance replaces your current mortgage and its rate, and comes with a monthly payment. A reverse mortgage requires no monthly mortgage payment, but the balance grows over time, which leaves less equity later. We’ll compare both based on your income, your plans, and your family’s wishes.
We encourage it. Many homeowners bring an adult child or a trusted advisor to their meetings, and family can often join reverse mortgage counseling too. The decision is always yours; we just make sure everyone understands it.
See where you stand in a few minutes. No credit hit, and it doesn’t commit you to anything.
