Question 1

Is Dan licensed to originate mortgages in Northern Virginia?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Dan Ardis holds Virginia mortgage license MLO-79811VA and is authorized to originate purchase and refinance loans for properties throughout Virginia, including all Northern Virginia jurisdictions: Fairfax County, Arlington, Alexandria, Loudoun County, Prince William County, and the independent cities in the region. His license is verifiable at NMLSConsumerAccess.org under NMLS# 1412272.

Question 2

What is the jumbo loan threshold in Northern Virginia?

Accepted Answer

The 2026 conventional conforming loan limit is $766,550 for a single-family home in most Northern Virginia counties. Loans above this amount require jumbo financing, which has different underwriting standards and rate pricing. Some high-cost areas may qualify for high-balance conforming limits, which sit between the baseline conforming limit and the jumbo threshold. Given NoVA's median prices, many buyers encounter jumbo loan territory. Dan works with multiple jumbo lenders and can find the most competitive program for loan amounts in the $800,000 to $3,000,000+ range.

Question 3

Can Dan help with Amazon HQ2 employees buying in Arlington?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Amazon relocated significant operations to the National Landing area in Arlington, bringing thousands of high-income employees who are active buyers in the NoVA market. Income documentation for tech company employees, particularly those with RSU (restricted stock unit) compensation, can be complex. RSU income has specific treatment under mortgage guidelines. Dan's background as a former specialty underwriter means he can structure the income analysis before submission to avoid surprises. He has access to lenders who handle RSU income competitively.

Question 4

How competitive is pre-approval in the Northern Virginia market?

Accepted Answer

Very. In NoVA, a pre-qualification letter is largely irrelevant. Sellers and listing agents in competitive areas want to see a fully underwritten pre-approval from a lender or broker who has actually reviewed income, asset, and credit documentation. Dan issues pre-approval letters after reviewing full documentation, which gives his clients a credible, defensible pre-approval that can compete against other offers. In a market where homes regularly attract multiple offers within days, the strength of your financing letter can be a deciding factor.

Question 5

Does Dan work with federal government employees in NoVA?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Federal government employees have straightforward, predictable income, which makes them strong mortgage candidates. However, there are specific situations that come up: civilian federal employees who are in a probationary period, employees transitioning from contractor to federal employment, those using their TSP (Thrift Savings Plan) for down payment funds, and employees on temporary promotions. Dan can work through all of these situations and identify which lenders handle each scenario most cleanly.

Mortgage Broker in Northern Virginia, VA

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