For Real Estate Agents

Your buyers deserve a lender who approves them before they fall in love with a house.

Kim Dobyns takes buyers through full underwriting before they write an offer — so when you find the home, we need the address, contract, appraisal, and title. The borrower side is already done.

Connect With Kim ☎ (630) 660-3539
30
Years Experience
2,000+
Families Helped
4
States Licensed
IL·IN·TN·AL
Service Area

What most lenders do vs. what I do

Most preapprovals are just a starting point. Mine is a finish line — with only the property details left to add.

Most Lenders

A letter and a hope

  • Pull credit, glance at income, issue a letter
  • Real underwriting happens after contract is signed
  • Income surprises surface mid-transaction
  • Student loans calculated incorrectly at start
  • DPA rules not fully checked upfront
  • Agents and buyers find out about problems too late
  • Earnest money at risk when files fall apart
Kim Dobyns

Fully reviewed before offer one

  • Full underwriting completed before house hunting begins
  • Income fully calculated and documented upfront
  • Assets verified and sourced before the search starts
  • Student loans reviewed under the correct loan program
  • DPA eligibility confirmed before you write the offer
  • You know the real numbers before showing one house
  • Earnest money protected by a real approval

How my approval process works

Four steps. Buyer fully approved before they write a single offer.

1
Full Review

Complete File Review

Credit, income, assets, employment, debts, and loan program — all reviewed and documented before the search begins.

2
Underwriting

Upfront Underwriting

The buyer's file goes through underwriting before they find a home. Not a quick glance — a real review.

3
Approved

Buyer Is Approved

Approval is subject only to the property — address, contract, appraisal, and title. The borrower side is done.

4
You Shop

Now You Find the Home

Your buyer shops with real confidence. You write offers backed by a genuine approval — not a hope and a letter.

What "fully approved" actually means

When I say a buyer is fully approved, I mean their file has been through underwriting. Not a surface-level review. Not a quick credit pull and a letter. Underwriting.

That means every income source has been calculated and documented. Assets have been verified and sourced. Debts have been reviewed under the correct loan program guidelines. Down payment assistance eligibility has been confirmed if applicable.

When you find the home, here is all we need to close:

  • The property address
  • Executed purchase contract
  • Acceptable appraisal
  • Clear title
  • Final homeowners insurance
  • Any standard final verification conditions

The borrower side is already done. That is what fully approved means.

The borrower file is complete on:

  • Credit — full report reviewed, all issues addressed
  • Income — fully calculated, documented, and verified
  • Assets — sourced, documented, and acceptable
  • Employment — history verified and qualifying
  • Debts — all obligations calculated under the correct program
  • Student loans — reviewed under actual program guidelines
  • Down payment assistance — eligibility confirmed if applicable
  • Loan program — the right fit identified and confirmed
  • Red flags — identified and resolved before offer one

The buyers I specialize in

I work across the full spectrum — and I am especially strong with buyers other lenders turn away.

First-Time Buyers

Buyers who need guidance on how much house they can afford, what cash to close looks like, and which loan program — including down payment assistance — is the right fit. I walk them through everything before they ever see a house.

Credit-Challenged Buyers

Buyers with imperfect credit, collections, past bankruptcy, or limited credit history. I review the full file and either build a path to approval or give an honest timeline for when they will be ready — so you are not chasing a dead end.

Complex Income Buyers

Self-employed borrowers, commission earners, multiple job holders, variable hours workers, and buyers with student loans. I calculate qualifying income correctly upfront — before anyone wastes time on a file that will not close.

Down Payment Assistance Buyers

Buyers using IHDA in Illinois, IHCDA in Indiana, THDA in Tennessee, or AHFA in Alabama. I confirm program eligibility, income limits, and purchase price limits before the offer is written — not after the contract is signed.

Move-Up Buyers

Buyers selling their current home and purchasing a new one. I manage the timing, contingencies, and overlapping obligations carefully so the transaction works from both ends without surprises.

Renovation Loan Buyers

Buyers purchasing homes that need work — using FHA 203(k) or conventional renovation financing. I specialize in renovation loans including complex files others decline. This opens inventory your buyer might otherwise overlook.

What agents say about working with Kim

★★★★★
"Kim told me upfront what my buyer could actually afford and exactly what was needed to close. No surprises at the table. That is rare."
Real Estate Agent
Illinois
★★★★★
"I had a buyer who was told no by two other lenders. Kim reviewed the file, found the right program, and we closed. I send everyone to her now."
Real Estate Agent
Illinois
★★★★★
"The communication alone sets Kim apart. I always know where we stand. My clients feel taken care of and that reflects on me."
Real Estate Agent
Indiana

Questions agents ask

How fast can you turn around a preapproval?
For straightforward files with complete documentation, I can typically turn around an initial review very quickly. The full upfront underwriting process takes longer than a basic preapproval letter — because it is doing more. The tradeoff is that when we are done, the buyer is genuinely approved, not just estimated. That is worth the investment of time upfront.
What happens if a buyer comes to you without a real estate agent?
When a buyer comes to me without an agent, I connect them with professionals I know and trust in their area. I maintain relationships with experienced agents across my licensed states and I am always happy to make those introductions when the fit makes sense.
Do you work with buyers using FHA loans and down payment assistance?
Yes — and this is a specialty, not an exception. Many agents avoid buyers with FHA or DPA because they have had deals fall apart. The difference is usually the lender, not the buyer. I confirm program eligibility, income limits, and purchase price limits before the offer is written. When it is structured correctly from the start, these transactions close.
Can you handle renovation loans?
Yes. FHA 203(k) and conventional renovation financing are specialties of mine. Renovation loans are more complex than standard mortgages and require a lender who has actually closed them — not one who has heard of them. I have closed complex renovation files that other lenders declined.
What states are you licensed in?
I am licensed in Illinois, Indiana, Tennessee, and Alabama. If you work across state lines or refer clients in any of these markets, I can help.
How do you communicate during a transaction?
Proactively. You should never have to chase me for an update. I keep agents informed throughout the process so you can set expectations with your clients and sellers. If something changes, you hear from me before your client does.

Ready to work together?

Whether you have a buyer right now or just want to learn more about how I work, I am glad to connect. Send me a message and I will follow up within one business day.

Licensed in IL · IN · TN · AL

Kim Dobyns, NMLS #204859 · Union Home Mortgage Corp., NMLS #2229 · Equal Housing Lender. This page is intended for licensed real estate professionals. Nothing on this page constitutes a commitment to lend or an offer of compensation.

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