Disclosures & Legal Information

Who I Am & How I Work

Carlos Palomino (NMLS #1227188) is a licensed mortgage broker in the states of Illinois and Indiana operating under Team USA Mortgage LLC (NMLS #9908). As a mortgage broker, I do not make loans — I work with multiple wholesale lenders to find the best available terms for your situation. This means I shop on your behalf rather than offering a single institution's products. Loan terms, rates, and programs are provided by third-party lenders and are subject to their approval and underwriting requirements.

Tools & Calculators Are for Education Only

All tools, calculators, and analyses on this website are for educational purposes only and do not constitute an offer to extend credit, a commitment to lend, or a guarantee of any specific terms. Rate and payment examples shown are simplified, hypothetical estimates based on national averages and user-provided inputs — they are not quotes, APRs, or guarantees of future results.

Actual loan terms will be based on a full application, verified financial information, current market pricing, and official disclosures provided by a licensed mortgage professional.

About the Rates Shown on This Site

Mortgage rates displayed on this site are weekly national averages sourced from the Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey (PMMS). These are not rates being offered to you, are not APRs, and do not constitute an offer to extend credit or a commitment to lend. Your actual rate will depend on your credit score, loan type, down payment, property type, loan amount, debt-to-income ratio, occupancy, and other factors.

Rates change frequently and the rates shown may not be available at the time of application.

Rate Display Methodology

The 30-year and 15-year fixed conventional rates displayed on this site (in the city-page rate banner, affordability tables, loan-options cards, and form-results pages) are pulled from the Freddie Mac PMMS, which Freddie Mac publishes every Thursday at approximately 12:00 PM ET. Our system updates these values weekly.

FHA and VA rate estimates shown on loan-options cards and form-results pages are not part of the PMMS. We source these from Mortgage News Daily, a publicly available rate-tracking publication, and they are presented for educational comparison only. FHA and VA pricing varies significantly by lender, credit profile, and loan scenario.

The affordability tables and city comparison tables on this site compute an estimated monthly payment using the current PMMS 30-year rate, a 20% down payment assumption (for comparison tables) or a ~28% front-end DTI assumption (for affordability tables), property taxes at each city's effective tax rate from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023), and an approximate $1,400/year homeowners insurance estimate. These figures are for educational comparison only and will differ from any quote you receive.

APR vs. Interest Rate

Interest rate (also called the “note rate”) is the rate used to calculate the principal-and-interest portion of your monthly mortgage payment. It does not include lender fees, points, or mortgage insurance.

Annual Percentage Rate (APR) is a broader measure of the cost of borrowing. It includes the interest rate plus certain finance charges — typically origination fees, discount points, mortgage insurance premiums (where applicable), and other prepaid finance charges — expressed as an annualized rate. APR is required by the federal Truth in Lending Act (Regulation Z) so consumers can compare loan offers on an apples-to-apples basis.

APR is almost always higher than the note rate. Two loans with the same note rate can have very different APRs depending on the fees involved. When shopping for a mortgage, always compare loans on APR — not the note rate alone — using the official Loan Estimate disclosure that each lender is required to provide you within three business days of a complete application.

The rates shown on this website are note rates (interest rates), not APRs. Your APR will be calculated and disclosed on your personal Loan Estimate once you apply with a specific lender.

Confirm I’m Who I Say I Am

Federal and state law require every licensed mortgage loan originator to be registered with the Nationwide Multistate Licensing System (NMLS). Before you work with any mortgage professional — including me — you can independently verify their license status, employment history, and any public disciplinary actions for free at the official consumer-facing NMLS portal.

NMLS Consumer Access is a free public service of the Conference of State Bank Supervisors and the American Association of Residential Mortgage Regulators. It is the authoritative source for verifying mortgage-professional licensing in the United States.

Equal Housing Commitment

We are committed to the letter and spirit of the federal Fair Housing Act and the Equal Credit Opportunity Act. We do not discriminate based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex, familial status, disability, marital status, age, receipt of public assistance, or any other characteristic protected by law. All applicants will be considered based on their qualifications and ability to repay.

How We Handle Your Information

Your information is collected solely for the purpose of providing you with a mortgage analysis and, if you choose, connecting you with lending services. We do not sell your personal information to third parties. Your data is stored securely using industry-standard encryption.

You may request deletion of your information at any time by contacting Carlos Palomino at carlos@mylendingadvisors.com. For full details, see our Privacy Policy.

License & Registration

You can verify the licensing status, history, and any complaints or disciplinary actions for Carlos Palomino or any mortgage professional through the NMLS Consumer Access database, a free public service of state financial regulators.

Independent Resources for Homebuyers

Before making any mortgage decision, explore these free, unbiased government and regulatory resources. They are independent of me and exist to protect you.

• Know Before You Owe

  CFPB — Consumer Financial Protection Bureau

  Official guide to understanding your Loan Estimate and Closing Disclosure forms — your key rights in any mortgage transaction.
• File a Complaint

  CFPB — Consumer Financial Protection Bureau

  If something goes wrong with your mortgage or lending experience, the CFPB will investigate and help resolve the issue.
• Free HUD Housing Counseling

  U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development

  Find a HUD-approved housing counselor in Illinois for free, unbiased advice on buying a home, foreclosure prevention, and more.
• Illinois Mortgage Complaint Resources

  Illinois Attorney General

  File a complaint with the Illinois Attorney General regarding mortgage fraud, predatory lending, or other consumer protection concerns.
• Verify Any Loan Officer's License

  NMLS Consumer Access

  Look up licensing status, employment history, and public complaints for any mortgage professional in the country — including me.