--- canonical_url: https://lendb.ai/s/first-time-buyer/minnesota last_verified: 2026-10-09 --- # Loan officers for first-time buyers in Minnesota As of 2026-10-09, LenDb lists 156 loan officers licensed in or based in Minnesota whose lender pages show First-time buyer work. The top-ranked are Melanie Benjamin (Homeowners Financial Group, Waite Park), Adam Workman (CrossCountry Mortgage, Charlotte) and Chad Rankin (Guild Mortgage, Worcester). Ranking is lender-neutral: specialty evidence first, then a license in MN, branch location, experience and profile completeness. Nobody pays for placement. ## Ranked, with reasons 1. **[Melanie Benjamin](https://lendb.ai/lo/melanie-benjamin-533157)** (NMLS 533157), Homeowners Financial Group, Waite Park, MN - Lists First-time buyer on lender page (lender page, verified 2026-10-09) - Office in Waite Park, MN - MN listed on their lender page (not yet checked with the state regulator; verify at NMLS) - States 26 years of experience (lender page, 2026-10-09) 2. **[Adam Workman](https://lendb.ai/lo/adam-workman-128183)** (NMLS 128183), CrossCountry Mortgage, Charlotte, NC - Lists First-time buyer on lender page (lender page, verified 2026-10-09) - MN listed on their lender page (not yet checked with the state regulator; verify at NMLS) - Licensed since 2020 (per Florida records) - States 20 years of experience (lender page, 2026-10-09) 3. **[Chad Rankin](https://lendb.ai/lo/robert-rankin-490282)** (NMLS 490282), Guild Mortgage, Worcester, MA - Lists First-time buyer on lender page (lender page, verified 2026-10-09) - MN listed on their lender page (not yet checked with the state regulator; verify at NMLS) - Licensed since 2017 (per Florida records) - States 20 years of experience (lender page, 2026-10-09) 4. **[Alissa Penkava](https://lendb.ai/lo/alissa-penkava-720725)** (NMLS 720725), Union Home Mortgage, Albert Lea, MN - Lists First-time buyer on lender page (lender page, verified 2026-10-09) - Office in Albert Lea, MN - MN listed on their lender page (not yet checked with the state regulator; verify at NMLS) - States 12 years of experience (lender page, 2026-10-09) 5. **[Dan Larkin](https://lendb.ai/lo/daniel-larkin-258898)** (NMLS 258898), LeaderOne Financial, Oak Brook, IL - Lists First-time buyer on lender page (lender page, verified 2026-10-09) - MN listed on their lender page (not yet checked with the state regulator; verify at NMLS) - Licensed since 2017 (per Florida records) - States 25 years of experience (lender page, 2026-10-09) 6. **[Jenn Gawenda](https://lendb.ai/lo/jennifer-gawenda-755952)** (NMLS 755952), Guild Mortgage, Aurora, IL - Lists First-time buyer on lender page (lender page, verified 2026-10-09) - MN listed on their lender page (not yet checked with the state regulator; verify at NMLS) - Licensed since 2020 (per Florida records) - States 20 years of experience (lender page, 2026-10-09) 7. **[John Astrologo](https://lendb.ai/lo/john-astrologo-441861)** (NMLS 441861), CrossCountry Mortgage, White Plains, NY - Lists First-time buyer on lender page (lender page, verified 2026-10-09) - MN listed on their lender page (not yet checked with the state regulator; verify at NMLS) - Licensed since 2022 (per Florida records) - States 16 years of experience (lender page, 2026-10-09) 8. **[Shawn Garner](https://lendb.ai/lo/shawn-garner-1035302)** (NMLS 1035302), Guild Mortgage, Centennial, CO - Lists First-time buyer on lender page (lender page, verified 2026-10-09) - MN listed on their lender page (not yet checked with the state regulator; verify at NMLS) - Licensed since 2013 (per Colorado records) 9. **[Candace Cagle](https://lendb.ai/lo/candace-cagle-878436)** (NMLS 878436), CrossCountry Mortgage, Houston, TX - Lists First-time buyer on lender page (lender page, verified 2026-10-09) - MN listed on their lender page (not yet checked with the state regulator; verify at NMLS) - States 20 years of experience (lender page, 2026-10-09) 10. **[Kristi Piatz](https://lendb.ai/lo/kristin-piatz-452537)** (NMLS 452537), Guild Mortgage, Edina, MN - Lists First-time buyer on lender page (lender page, verified 2026-10-09) - Office in Edina, MN - MN listed on their lender page (not yet checked with the state regulator; verify at NMLS) - Licensed since 2021 (per Florida records) 11. **[Dave Amelsberg](https://lendb.ai/lo/dave-amelsberg-373394)** (NMLS 373394), CrossCountry Mortgage, Stillwater, MN - Lists First-time buyer on lender page (lender page, verified 2026-10-09) - Office in Stillwater, MN - MN listed on their lender page (not yet checked with the state regulator; verify at NMLS) - States 20 years of experience (lender page, 2026-10-09) 12. **[Kristina Melnik](https://lendb.ai/lo/kvitoslava-melnik-2316172)** (NMLS 2316172), Churchill Mortgage, Roseville, CA - Lists First-time buyer on lender page (lender page, verified 2026-10-09) - MN listed on their lender page (not yet checked with the state regulator; verify at NMLS) - Licensed since 2025 (per Florida records) - States 8 years of experience (lender page, 2026-10-09) 13. **[Bridget Ische](https://lendb.ai/lo/bridget-ische-480187)** (NMLS 480187), Guild Mortgage, Prior Lake, MN - Lists First-time buyer on lender page (lender page, verified 2026-10-09) - Office in Prior Lake, MN - MN listed on their lender page (not yet checked with the state regulator; verify at NMLS) - Licensed since 2024 (per Florida records) 14. **[Angie Turley](https://lendb.ai/lo/angela-turley-363066)** (NMLS 363066), Fairway Independent Mortgage Corporation, Mooresville, IN - Lists First-time buyer on lender page (lender page, verified 2026-10-09) - MN listed on their lender page (not yet checked with the state regulator; verify at NMLS) - Licensed since 2019 (per Florida records) 15. **[Dawson Rosenow](https://lendb.ai/lo/dawson-rosenow-2248516)** (NMLS 2248516), CrossCountry Mortgage, White Bear Lake, MN - Lists First-time buyer on lender page (lender page, verified 2026-10-09) - Office in White Bear Lake, MN - MN listed on their lender page (not yet checked with the state regulator; verify at NMLS) - Licensed since 2025 (per Florida records) 16. **[Allison Larson](https://lendb.ai/lo/allison-larson-1059283)** (NMLS 1059283), Guild Mortgage, Prior Lake, MN - Lists First-time buyer on lender page (lender page, verified 2026-10-09) - Office in Prior Lake, MN - MN listed on their lender page (not yet checked with the state regulator; verify at NMLS) 17. **[Patrick Black](https://lendb.ai/lo/patrick-black-1514350)** (NMLS 1514350), CrossCountry Mortgage, Maplewood, MN - Lists First-time buyer on lender page (lender page, verified 2026-10-09) - Office in Maplewood, MN - MN listed on their lender page (not yet checked with the state regulator; verify at NMLS) 18. **[Erin Hendricks](https://lendb.ai/lo/dennis-hendricks-90634)** (NMLS 90634), Intercap Lending, Pleasant Grove, UT - Lists First-time buyer on lender page (lender page, verified 2026-10-09) - MN listed on their lender page (not yet checked with the state regulator; verify at NMLS) - Licensed since 2021 (per Florida records) - States 20 years of experience (lender page, 2026-10-09) 19. **[Olivia Cox Paulson](https://lendb.ai/lo/olivia-cox-paulson-209281)** (NMLS 209281), Guild Mortgage, Portland, OR - Lists First-time buyer on lender page (lender page, verified 2026-10-09) - MN listed on their lender page (not yet checked with the state regulator; verify at NMLS) - States 20 years of experience (lender page, 2026-10-09) 20. **[Heath Barnes](https://lendb.ai/lo/heath-barnes-210164)** (NMLS 210164), Guild Mortgage, Houston, TX - Lists First-time buyer on lender page (lender page, verified 2026-10-09) - MN listed on their lender page (not yet checked with the state regulator; verify at NMLS) - Licensed since 2022 (per Colorado records) 21. **[Huy Huynh Le](https://lendb.ai/lo/huy-le-1917502)** (NMLS 1917502), Loan Factory - Lists First-time buyer on lender page (lender page, verified 2026-10-09) - MN listed on their lender page (not yet checked with the state regulator; verify at NMLS) - Licensed since 2020 (per Florida records) 22. **[Sonia Hashimi](https://lendb.ai/lo/sonia-hashimi-965240)** (NMLS 965240), Loan Factory - Lists First-time buyer on lender page (lender page, verified 2026-10-09) - MN listed on their lender page (not yet checked with the state regulator; verify at NMLS) - Licensed since 2020 (per Florida records) 23. **[Denise Cuddeback Montgomery](https://lendb.ai/lo/denise-montgomery-57734)** (NMLS 57734), American Pacific Mortgage, Eugene, OR - Lists First-time buyer on lender page (lender page, verified 2026-10-09) - MN listed on their lender page (not yet checked with the state regulator; verify at NMLS) - Licensed since 2023 (per Florida records) - States 30 years of experience (lender page, 2026-10-09) 24. **[Seth Friedrich](https://lendb.ai/lo/seth-friedrich-1604562)** (NMLS 1604562), JPMorgan Chase Bank (Chase Home Lending), Eden Prairie, MN - Lists First-time buyer on lender page (lender page, verified 2026-10-09) - Office in Eden Prairie, MN - Likely federally registered (works at a bank). Federally registered MLOs aren't state-licensed; verify at NMLS 25. **[Cliff Amundson](https://lendb.ai/lo/cliff-amundson-2443959)** (NMLS 2443959), Union Home Mortgage, Onalaska, WI - Lists First-time buyer on lender page (lender page, verified 2026-10-09) - MN listed on their lender page (not yet checked with the state regulator; verify at NMLS) ## Questions to ask - 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? Cite as: LenDb.ai, https://lendb.ai/s/first-time-buyer/minnesota. _Not a lender. Not a referral service. Verify licenses at NMLS Consumer Access._