Mortgage Matters

Roland Daniels and Heidi Griffith teach homebuyer education classes across Nevada every month. This episode of Mortgage Matters covers what they're hearing and seeing right now.

They spend real time on the Worker Advantage Program, Nevada Housing Division's $20,000 down payment assistance for essential workers in healthcare, education, construction, and public safety. With roughly 600 loans remaining statewide, they walk through how the funds work, how to use them to buy down your interest rate, and why the current rate environment makes the buy-down option worth a serious look.

They also cover Rural Rocks 20K, Nevada Rural Housing Authority's $20,000 program with buy-down options, and explain which parts of the Las Vegas Valley (Whitney, Winchester, Summerlin South) actually qualify as rural, which catches most people off guard.

They talk through the WISH Fund, a 4-to-1 match program through CPLC (Chicanos Por La Causa) returning in April, and how it can be layered with Nevada Housing Division and Nevada Rural Housing down payment programs for maximum assistance.

The episode also previews the upcoming Path to Homeownership Workshop on Saturday, March 7, 2026 from 8:30 AM to 3:00 PM, a free full-day homebuyer education class in Las Vegas offered in partnership with CPLC, covering credit, budgeting, homeowners insurance, real estate representation, new home sales, and down payment assistance programs.

The episode closes with a reminder about the Silver State Fair Housing Council's housing tester program and how to get involved in the fight against housing discrimination in Nevada.

📅 Path to Homeownership Workshop: Saturday, March 7, 2026 | 8:30 AM – 3:00 PM 📞 Register or ask questions: 702-210-2057 

Roland Daniels NMLS #355859 | Heidi Griffith NMLS #2247754 | Geneva Financial NMLS #42056

Roland and Heidi sit down with Meg Pike, Coordinator of Title I HOPE (Homeless Outreach Program for Education) at Clark County School District.

Meg explains how the Title I HOPE Program supports students experiencing homelessness in Southern Nevada, including the federal protections that allow for immediate school enrollment, transportation assistance, and access to essential resources such as school supplies and academic support. The conversation highlights the real challenges housing instability creates for families and how schools play a critical role in maintaining consistency and opportunity for children.

Roland and Heidi also talk about their upcoming online Home Is Possible Down Payment Assistance class with the State of Nevada Housing Division and highlight the new $20,000 Worker Advantage Program. 

Because stable housing impacts every part of a family’s life, including education, the episode connects student support with long-term housing opportunities. 

Roland and Heidi are joined by Kathi Thomas, Chief Housing Officer at Southern Nevada Regional Housing Authority, and Kate Zook, Executive Director at Silver State Fair Housing Council. They discuss the redevelopment of Marble Manor, a historic public housing site in Las Vegas, which received a $50 million Choice Neighborhood Initiative Grant. The project will transform the 235 cinder block units into 625, with 235 households returning. The redevelopment includes green space, childcare, and resident-run retail. Kathi Thomas and Kate Zook emphasize the importance of community involvement and accessibility, noting the project's alignment with the city's 100 Plan. They also highlight the need for housing discrimination testers to ensure compliance with the Fair Housing Act.

Roland and Heidi were joined by Kathi Thomas from the Southern Nevada Regional Housing Authority and Kate Zook from the Silver State Fair Housing Council. Kathi oversees public housing and the Housing Choice Voucher program, which has 13,000 vouchers in Southern Nevada. Kate focuses on fair housing laws and discrimination. They highlight the need for 80,000 affordable housing units in Nevada and the importance of training for landlords and housing providers. Upcoming events include a Path to Homeownership workshop on February 7.

Roland and Heidi discuss the importance of homeownership readiness and the emotional aspects of buying a home. They emphasize the need to prepare financially by saving for future mortgage payments and building reserves for home improvements and emergencies. They highlight the significance of credit checks, noting common errors like name spellings and duplicate student loans. They explain the concept of debt-to-income ratio (DTI) and its impact on mortgage approval. Additionally, they stress the importance of understanding lender overlays, such as minimum credit scores, and the benefits of working with HUD-certified credit counselors. The program also touches on fair housing laws and the role of the Silver State Fair Housing Council.

Roland and Heidi discuss housing options and the importance of fair housing. They highlight the upcoming 44th annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. birthday parade and the role of the National Association of Real Estate Brokers (NAREB) in promoting fair housing. They emphasize the importance of budgeting, including saving for a mortgage, and checking credit reports for errors. They explain VA loans, FHA loans, and conventional loans, noting VA loans offer no down payment and no mortgage insurance for veterans, while FHA loans require a minimum credit score of 500 with a 10% down payment or 580 for 3.5%. Conventional loans have varying credit score requirements and loan level price adjustments.

A lot of people want to buy a home someday - but many wait too long to start preparing because they think they need to be “ready” first.

In this conversation, Heidi Griffith and Roland Daniels talk about what mortgage readiness actually looks like, why waiting can sometimes make the process harder, and the small financial habits that can help future homeowners feel more confident long before they start house hunting.

They discuss down payment assistance programs in Nevada, homebuyer education classes, budgeting strategies, improving credit, tracking spending habits, common misconceptions about qualifying for a mortgage, and why trying to “fix” your credit alone can sometimes backfire.

The conversation also covers Nevada Housing Division programs, mortgage readiness savings plans, HUD-certified housing counseling, and why understanding your credit report early is one of the smartest things future homeowners can do.

Questions about buying a home or getting pre-approved?
Call or text: 702-540-0420

Heidi Griffith (NMLS 2247754) and Roland Daniels (NMLS355859) are licensed mortgage advisors with Geneva Financial (NMLS 42056) based in Las Vegas, Nevada, and the hosts of Mortgage Matters on KUNV 91.5 FM.

Roland and Heidi discuss homeownership opportunities and resources for 2026. They highlight the Nevada Housing Division's $20,000 Worker Advantage program, available to healthcare, construction, education, and public safety workers, offering down payment assistance and interest rate reduction options. They also mention the First Time Home Buyer program and the HIP DPA, which can provide up to 5% down payment assistance. Additionally, they discuss refinancing options, including HELOCs and cash-out refinancing, emphasizing the importance of understanding one's financial goals and long-term implications.

Roland and Heidi discuss the Worker Advantage Program in Nevada, which offers $20,000 down payment assistance to essential workers in healthcare, education, public safety, and construction. The program has already reserved 50 of the 900 available loans. They highlight the importance of credit and financial preparation for homeownership, noting that 68% of people cite a lack of down payment as the primary barrier. They also emphasize the role of fair housing and the Silver State Fair Housing Council's housing tester program in promoting equal opportunities. Upcoming Home is Possible home buyer education class with the Nevada Housing Division is scheduled for January 7.

Heidi discusses the challenges of home ownership, particularly the down payment, which takes an average of six years to save. She and her guest, Josie Hatem, Homebuyer Programs Specialist with Nevada Housing Division, highlight the new Worker Advantage Program. The program offers $20,000 in down payment assistance with the potential to buy down the interest rate. This program is available to essential workers in healthcare, education, public safety, and construction. The Nevada Housing Division programs have helped over 31,000 families since 2014. They also talk about other programs like the HIP DPA and the Teachers Program, which offer varying levels of assistance.