Borrower situations · Illinois
Loan officers for first-time buyers in Illinois
As of 2026-10-09, LenDb lists 463 loan officers licensed in or based in Illinois whose lender pages show First-time buyer work. The top-ranked are Kim Martorano (Guild Mortgage, Chicago), Michael E Vogt (Guild Mortgage, Swansea) and Daniel Kozor (LeaderOne Financial, Oak Brook). Ranking is lender-neutral: specialty evidence first, then a license in IL, branch location, experience and profile completeness. Nobody pays for placement.
Last verified . Sources: lender loan officer pages and state license records. Licenses: check NMLS Consumer Access.
Ranked, with reasons · top 25
- 1
Kim MartoranoNMLS 225229
Guild Mortgage · Chicago, IL
- First-time buyer
- Low credit score
- Self-employed
- Lists First-time buyer on lender page (lender page, verified 2026-10-09)
- Licensed in IL (listed on lender page, verified 2026-10-09)
- Branch in Illinois
- 25 years experience (stated on lender page, 2026-10-09)
- 2
Michael E VogtNMLS 275381
Guild Mortgage · Swansea, IL · licensed in 2 states
- First-time buyer
- Down payment assistance
- FHA loan
- USDA loan
- Lists First-time buyer on lender page (lender page, verified 2026-10-09)
- Licensed in IL (listed on lender page, verified 2026-10-09)
- Branch in Illinois
- 15 years experience (stated on lender page, 2026-10-09)
- 3
Daniel KozorNMLS 294902
LeaderOne Financial · Oak Brook, IL
- First-time buyer
- Lists First-time buyer on lender page (lender page, verified 2026-10-09)
- Licensed in IL (listed on lender page, verified 2026-10-09)
- Branch in Illinois
- 40 years experience (stated on lender page, 2026-10-09)
- 4
Edwin SantiagoNMLS 133618
CrossCountry Mortgage · Wayne, PA · licensed in 23 states
- First-time buyer
- Non-QM loan
- Down payment assistance
- Lists First-time buyer on lender page (lender page, verified 2026-10-09)
- Licensed in IL (listed on lender page, verified 2026-10-09)
- 15 years licensed
- No disciplinary actions on file at LenDb
- 5
Christy WhiteNMLS 543306
Guild Mortgage · Indianapolis, IN · licensed in 2 states
- First-time buyer
- Real estate investor
- Lists First-time buyer on lender page (lender page, verified 2026-10-09)
- Licensed in IL (listed on lender page, verified 2026-10-09)
- 27 years experience (stated on lender page, 2026-10-09)
- No disciplinary actions on file at LenDb
- 6
Jeremy WetzelNMLS 3364
CrossCountry Mortgage · Louisville, KY · licensed in 10 states
- First-time buyer
- FHA loan
- Lists First-time buyer on lender page (lender page, verified 2026-10-09)
- Licensed in IL (listed on lender page, verified 2026-10-09)
- 14 years licensed
- No disciplinary actions on file at LenDb
- 7
Brian SewellNMLS 212085
Guild Mortgage · Frankfort, IL · licensed in 6 states
- First-time buyer
- Physician and medical professional
- Real estate investor
- Self-employed
- Lists First-time buyer on lender page (lender page, verified 2026-10-09)
- Licensed in IL (listed on lender page, verified 2026-10-09)
- Branch in Illinois
- 4 years licensed
- 8
Dan EltmanNMLS 225030
LeaderOne Financial · Oak Brook, IL · licensed in 2 states
- First-time buyer
- FHA loan
- Renovation loan (203k / HomeStyle)
- USDA loan
- Lists First-time buyer on lender page (lender page, verified 2026-10-09)
- Licensed in IL (listed on lender page, verified 2026-10-09)
- Branch in Illinois
- 35 years experience (stated on lender page, 2026-10-09)
- 9
Cindy AllenNMLS 451818
Guild Mortgage · Aurora, IL · licensed in 9 states
- First-time buyer
- Real estate investor
- Lists First-time buyer on lender page (lender page, verified 2026-10-09)
- Licensed in IL (listed on lender page, verified 2026-10-09)
- Branch in Illinois
- 4 years licensed
- 10
Jenn GawendaNMLS 755952
Guild Mortgage · Aurora, IL · licensed in 7 states
- First-time buyer
- Lists First-time buyer on lender page (lender page, verified 2026-10-09)
- Licensed in IL (listed on lender page, verified 2026-10-09)
- Branch in Illinois
- 8 years licensed
- 11
Adam MillerNMLS 221065
LeaderOne Financial · Oak Brook, IL · licensed in 13 states
- First-time buyer
- FHA loan
- Real estate investor
- VA loan
- Lists First-time buyer on lender page (lender page, verified 2026-10-09)
- Licensed in IL (listed on lender page, verified 2026-10-09)
- Branch in Illinois
- 9 years licensed
- 12
Garrett O'NeillNMLS 1576017
LeaderOne Financial · Oak Brook, IL · licensed in 10 states
- First-time buyer
- Real estate investor
- Lists First-time buyer on lender page (lender page, verified 2026-10-09)
- Licensed in IL (listed on lender page, verified 2026-10-09)
- Branch in Illinois
- 9 years licensed
- 13
Edgar SantiagoNMLS 287395
CrossCountry Mortgage · Elgin, IL · licensed in 2 states
- First-time buyer
- Real estate investor
- Self-employed
- FHA loan
- Lists First-time buyer on lender page (lender page, verified 2026-10-09)
- Licensed in IL (listed on lender page, verified 2026-10-09)
- Branch in Illinois
- No disciplinary actions on file at LenDb
- 14
Chad RankinNMLS 490282
Guild Mortgage · Worcester, MA · licensed in 38 states
- First-time buyer
- Lists First-time buyer on lender page (lender page, verified 2026-10-09)
- Licensed in IL (listed on lender page, verified 2026-10-09)
- 9 years licensed
- No disciplinary actions on file at LenDb
- 15
Joe McBreenNMLS 686541
CrossCountry Mortgage · Michigan City, IN · licensed in 22 states
- First-time buyer
- Real estate investor
- FHA loan
- Lists First-time buyer on lender page (lender page, verified 2026-10-09)
- Licensed in IL (listed on lender page, verified 2026-10-09)
- 9 years licensed
- No disciplinary actions on file at LenDb
- 16
Catherine Mary HinesNMLS 230727
Guild Mortgage · Chesterfield, MO · licensed in 3 states
- First-time buyer
- Down payment assistance
- FHA loan
- Jumbo loan
- Lists First-time buyer on lender page (lender page, verified 2026-10-09)
- Licensed in IL (listed on lender page, verified 2026-10-09)
- 30 years experience (stated on lender page, 2026-10-09)
- No disciplinary actions on file at LenDb
- 17
Sam WilliamsNMLS 408639
Churchill Mortgage · Salem, OR · licensed in 5 states
- First-time buyer
- VA loan
- Lists First-time buyer on lender page (lender page, verified 2026-10-09)
- Licensed in IL (listed on lender page, verified 2026-10-09)
- 21 years experience (stated on lender page, 2026-10-09)
- No disciplinary actions on file at LenDb
- 18
Jim BeckNMLS 449509
Guild Mortgage · Chesterfield, MO · licensed in 2 states
- First-time buyer
- FHA loan
- USDA loan
- Lists First-time buyer on lender page (lender page, verified 2026-10-09)
- Licensed in IL (listed on lender page, verified 2026-10-09)
- 25 years experience (stated on lender page, 2026-10-09)
- No disciplinary actions on file at LenDb
- 19
Randall L MorganNMLS 454669
Guild Mortgage · Imperial, MO · licensed in 2 states
- First-time buyer
- FHA loan
- Jumbo loan
- VA loan
- Lists First-time buyer on lender page (lender page, verified 2026-10-09)
- Licensed in IL (listed on lender page, verified 2026-10-09)
- 23 years experience (stated on lender page, 2026-10-09)
- No disciplinary actions on file at LenDb
- 20
Eric Mark StrutmanNMLS 502057
Guild Mortgage · Chesterfield, MO · licensed in 3 states
- First-time buyer
- FHA loan
- VA loan
- Lists First-time buyer on lender page (lender page, verified 2026-10-09)
- Licensed in IL (listed on lender page, verified 2026-10-09)
- 24 years experience (stated on lender page, 2026-10-09)
- No disciplinary actions on file at LenDb
- 21
Brian CisnaNMLS 621108
Guild Mortgage · Austin, TX · licensed in 3 states
- First-time buyer
- Lists First-time buyer on lender page (lender page, verified 2026-10-09)
- Licensed in IL (listed on lender page, verified 2026-10-09)
- 20 years experience (stated on lender page, 2026-10-09)
- No disciplinary actions on file at LenDb
- 22
Cody BegdorianNMLS 755908
Barrett Financial Group · Mortgage broker · Camas, WA · licensed in 5 states
- First-time buyer
- Condo
- Jumbo loan
- Real estate investor
- Lists First-time buyer on lender page (lender page, verified 2026-10-09)
- Licensed in IL (listed on lender page, verified 2026-10-09)
- 20 years experience (stated on lender page, 2026-10-09)
- No disciplinary actions on file at LenDb
- 23
Jeffrey ZulaufNMLS 18566
CrossCountry Mortgage · Suwanee, GA · licensed in 22 states
- First-time buyer
- Condo
- Real estate investor
- Lists First-time buyer on lender page (lender page, verified 2026-10-09)
- Licensed in IL (listed on lender page, verified 2026-10-09)
- 7 years licensed
- No disciplinary actions on file at LenDb
- 24
Dan LarkinNMLS 258898
LeaderOne Financial · Oak Brook, IL · licensed in 18 states
- First-time buyer
- 2 to 4 unit property
- Real estate investor
- Lists First-time buyer on lender page (lender page, verified 2026-10-09)
- Licensed in IL (listed on lender page, verified 2026-10-09)
- Branch in Illinois
- 9 years licensed
- 25
Joanna WhiteNMLS 404853
Union Home Mortgage · Arlington Heights, IL · licensed in 5 states
- First-time buyer
- Jumbo loan
- Real estate investor
- Vacation home
- Lists First-time buyer on lender page (lender page, verified 2026-10-09)
- Licensed in IL (listed on lender page, verified 2026-10-09)
- Branch in Illinois
- 5 years licensed
Before you choose
The best options combine programs (FHA, conventional low down, local assistance) and need patient guidance through the process.
- Which low down payment programs fit my situation?
- Am I eligible for any first-time buyer assistance here?
- What will my total cash to close be?
How this list is ranked
Specialty evidence carries the most weight (production data, then lender page, then self-reported). Loan officers must be licensed in IL or have a branch there. Then branch location, years licensed and profile completeness. Disciplinary actions lower the score and are always shown. No paid placement. Methodology.
Same list as JSON: /api/v1/loan-officers?specialty=first-time-buyer&state=IL. Not a lender. Not a referral service. Verify licenses at NMLS Consumer Access.