Borrower situations · Montana
Loan officers for first-time buyers in Montana
As of 2026-10-09, LenDb lists 102 loan officers licensed in or based in Montana whose lender pages show First-time buyer work. The top-ranked are Sheri Pexa (Guild Mortgage, Billings), Merrick Myers (Churchill Mortgage, Coeur d'Alene) and Matthew Merrill (Guild Mortgage, Vancouver). Ranking is lender-neutral: specialty evidence first, then a license in MT, 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
Sheri PexaNMLS 172306
Guild Mortgage · Billings, MT · licensed in 4 states
- First-time buyer
- Lists First-time buyer on lender page (lender page, verified 2026-10-09)
- Licensed in MT (listed on lender page, verified 2026-10-09)
- Branch in Montana
- 27 years experience (stated on lender page, 2026-10-09)
- 2
Merrick MyersNMLS 46122
Churchill Mortgage · Coeur d'Alene, ID · licensed in 4 states
- First-time buyer
- FHA loan
- VA loan
- Lists First-time buyer on lender page (lender page, verified 2026-10-09)
- Licensed in MT (listed on lender page, verified 2026-10-09)
- 22 years experience (stated on lender page, 2026-10-09)
- No disciplinary actions on file at LenDb
- 3
Matthew MerrillNMLS 115282
Guild Mortgage · Vancouver, WA · licensed in 5 states
- First-time buyer
- FHA loan
- USDA loan
- VA loan
- Lists First-time buyer on lender page (lender page, verified 2026-10-09)
- Licensed in MT (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
- 4
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 MT (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
- 5
Cherie SmithNMLS 570248
Guild Mortgage · Redmond, OR · licensed in 9 states
- First-time buyer
- FHA loan
- VA loan
- Lists First-time buyer on lender page (lender page, verified 2026-10-09)
- Licensed in MT (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
- 6
Mike MolinaNMLS 230545
Intercap Lending · Cottonwood Heights, UT · licensed in 6 states
- First-time buyer
- Real estate investor
- Renovation loan (203k / HomeStyle)
- Lists First-time buyer on lender page (lender page, verified 2026-10-09)
- Licensed in MT (listed on lender page, verified 2026-10-09)
- 19 years experience (stated on lender page, 2026-10-09)
- No disciplinary actions on file at LenDb
- 7
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 MT (listed on lender page, verified 2026-10-09)
- 15 years licensed
- No disciplinary actions on file at LenDb
- 8
Kevin HolmesNMLS 193246
NFM Lending · Linthicum, MD · licensed in 23 states
- First-time buyer
- FHA loan
- Jumbo loan
- USDA loan
- Lists First-time buyer on lender page (lender page, verified 2026-10-09)
- Licensed in MT (listed on lender page, verified 2026-10-09)
- 14 years licensed
- No disciplinary actions on file at LenDb
- 9
Pat FoxNMLS 199779
Union Home Mortgage · Tigard, OR · licensed in 6 states
- First-time buyer
- Real estate investor
- Vacation home
- VA loan
- Lists First-time buyer on lender page (lender page, verified 2026-10-09)
- Licensed in MT (listed on lender page, verified 2026-10-09)
- 17 years experience (stated on lender page, 2026-10-09)
- No disciplinary actions on file at LenDb
- 10
Roger WightmanNMLS 1089536
Churchill Mortgage · Portland, OR · licensed in 16 states
- First-time buyer
- Real estate investor
- Lists First-time buyer on lender page (lender page, verified 2026-10-09)
- Licensed in MT (listed on lender page, verified 2026-10-09)
- 13 years experience (stated on lender page, 2026-10-09)
- No disciplinary actions on file at LenDb
- 11
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 MT (listed on lender page, verified 2026-10-09)
- 9 years licensed
- No disciplinary actions on file at LenDb
- 12
Jay GarvensNMLS 368259
Churchill Mortgage · Colorado Springs, CO · licensed in 11 states
- First-time buyer
- FHA loan
- VA loan
- Lists First-time buyer on lender page (lender page, verified 2026-10-09)
- Licensed in MT (listed on lender page, verified 2026-10-09)
- 8 years licensed
- No disciplinary actions on file at LenDb
- 13
Rob BriggsNMLS 1627558
CrossCountry Mortgage · Snohomish, WA · licensed in 3 states
- First-time buyer
- Down payment assistance
- Lists First-time buyer on lender page (lender page, verified 2026-10-09)
- Licensed in MT (listed on lender page, verified 2026-10-09)
- 9 years experience (stated on lender page, 2026-10-09)
- No disciplinary actions on file at LenDb
- 14
Lexie WilliamsNMLS 1235492
Guild Mortgage · Billings, MT
- First-time buyer
- Real estate investor
- Lists First-time buyer on lender page (lender page, verified 2026-10-09)
- Licensed in MT (listed on lender page, verified 2026-10-09)
- Branch in Montana
- No disciplinary actions on file at LenDb
- 15
Camille OlsonNMLS 474281
Barrett Financial Group · Chandler, AZ · licensed in 11 states
- First-time buyer
- Down payment assistance
- VA loan
- Real estate investor
- Lists First-time buyer on lender page (lender page, verified 2026-10-09)
- Licensed in MT (listed on lender page, verified 2026-10-09)
- 2 years licensed
- No disciplinary actions on file at LenDb
- 16
Julie JohnsonNMLS 302214
CrossCountry Mortgage · Seattle, WA · licensed in 28 states
- First-time buyer
- Lists First-time buyer on lender page (lender page, verified 2026-10-09)
- Licensed in MT (listed on lender page, verified 2026-10-09)
- 1 years licensed
- No disciplinary actions on file at LenDb
- 17
Sandi Ann MilohovNMLS 114287
Guild Mortgage · Vancouver, WA · licensed in 4 states
- First-time buyer
- Down payment assistance
- FHA loan
- Self-employed
- Lists First-time buyer on lender page (lender page, verified 2026-10-09)
- Licensed in MT (listed on lender page, verified 2026-10-09)
- No disciplinary actions on file at LenDb
- 18
Stacey DowlingNMLS 196631
Xpert Home Lending · licensed in 23 states
- First-time buyer
- Real estate investor
- Lists First-time buyer on lender page (lender page, verified 2026-10-09)
- Licensed in MT (listed on lender page, verified 2026-10-09)
- 1 years licensed
- No disciplinary actions on file at LenDb
- 19
Greg PopaNMLS 214366
Union Home Mortgage · Strongsville, OH · licensed in 50 states
- First-time buyer
- Lists First-time buyer on lender page (lender page, verified 2026-10-09)
- Licensed in MT (listed on lender page, verified 2026-10-09)
- 8 years licensed
- No disciplinary actions on file at LenDb
- 20
Mike OgnissantiNMLS 236053
Churchill Mortgage · Roseville, CA · licensed in 19 states
- First-time buyer
- VA loan
- Lists First-time buyer on lender page (lender page, verified 2026-10-09)
- Licensed in MT (listed on lender page, verified 2026-10-09)
- 4 years licensed
- No disciplinary actions on file at LenDb
- 21
Jeff EdwardsNMLS 404522
Churchill Mortgage · Coeur d'Alene, ID · licensed in 5 states
- First-time buyer
- Construction loan
- FHA loan
- VA loan
- Lists First-time buyer on lender page (lender page, verified 2026-10-09)
- Licensed in MT (listed on lender page, verified 2026-10-09)
- 32 years experience (stated on lender page, 2026-10-09)
- No disciplinary actions on file at LenDb
- 22
Melissa BergrenNMLS 931932
Guild Mortgage · Ellensburg, WA · licensed in 3 states
- First-time buyer
- Construction loan
- Vacation home
- VA loan
- Lists First-time buyer on lender page (lender page, verified 2026-10-09)
- Licensed in MT (listed on lender page, verified 2026-10-09)
- No disciplinary actions on file at LenDb
- 23
Megan WallNMLS 2179279
Guild Mortgage · Reno, NV · licensed in 4 states
- First-time buyer
- Lists First-time buyer on lender page (lender page, verified 2026-10-09)
- Licensed in MT (listed on lender page, verified 2026-10-09)
- No disciplinary actions on file at LenDb
- 24
Casey Sean OinessNMLS 265169
Guild Mortgage · Bellevue, WA · licensed in 18 states
- First-time buyer
- Jumbo loan
- Real estate investor
- Lists First-time buyer on lender page (lender page, verified 2026-10-09)
- Licensed in MT (listed on lender page, verified 2026-10-09)
- 3 years licensed
- No disciplinary actions on file at LenDb
- 25
Denise WiltsNMLS 1793715
Xpert Home Lending · licensed in 8 states
- First-time buyer
- Lists First-time buyer on lender page (lender page, verified 2026-10-09)
- Licensed in MT (listed on lender page, verified 2026-10-09)
- No disciplinary actions on file at LenDb
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 MT 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=MT. Not a lender. Not a referral service. Verify licenses at NMLS Consumer Access.