Your   homeownership journey starts here

The mortgage process simplified.
Fast approvals, local experts, trusted results.

Headshot of Blake Brown, a professional associated with Preferred Rate, showcasing confidence and ex.
Professional headshot of Blake Brown for Preferred Rate, highlighting trust and credibility in financial services.
Beautiful modern craftsman house with landscaped front yard and double garage.
A stunning modern craftsman-style house featuring a landscaped front yard, large windows, and a spacious double garage.

NMLS: #1525629

Blake Brown

VP of Mortgage Lending

Blake’s family journey in real estate began in the 1970s when his grandmother took her first steps into the industry as a Realtor®, laying the groundwork for a tradition that has spanned generations. In the early 1990s, his father joined the world of real estate as a mortgage loan officer, expanding his family’s expertise and deepening his connection to the industry.

Inspired by their dedication and passion, he began his own career in the mortgage field about a decade ago. Today, he and his siblings proudly carry the torch, blending their family’s legacy with modern innovation, technology, and a fresh perspective to navigate today’s ever-evolving real estate landscape.

They are passionate about bringing an infectious energy into the mortgage world and curating meaningful relationships with their clients.

Licensed in:

IL

Why work with me?

4.9/5 Rating

19 reviews

Real clients. Real results.

Blake was fantastic to work with while buying our first home!!! He was always quick to respond when help or confirmation was needed and always answered phone calls. He worked diligently to make our closing happen in a short time period and was confident in his work always. He made sure that we had as little worry as possible throughout the process as well- would recommend working with him to anyone! 

Anna K

Did everything they could to help.

Bradley R

I honestly don’t even have the words to describe how amazing Blake and Brooke were throughout our first home-buying experience. From day one, they made us feel cared for, supported, and at ease. They went above and beyond in every way — late-night calls, weekend check-ins, answering every single question (big or small) with so much patience and kindness. We had a very short closing and they knocked it out of the park! Going into this, I had no idea what to expect, but they made the entire process feel so much less overwhelming. I can’t recommend the Brown Team enough. If you’re looking for a team that is knowledgeable, kind, quick to respond, and genuinely invested in you, they’re everything you could hope for. They helped us buy our dream home, and we will forever be grateful for them!

Taylor M

I honestly don’t even have the words to describe how amazing Blake and Brooke were throughout our first home-buying experience. From day one, they made us feel cared for, supported, and at ease. They went above and beyond in every way — late-night calls, weekend check-ins, answering every single question (big or small) with so much patience and kindness. We had a very short closing and they knocked it out of the park!  Going into this, I had no idea what to expect, but they made the entire process feel so much less overwhelming. I can’t recommend the Brown Team enough. If you’re looking for a team that is knowledgeable, kind, quick to respond, and genuinely invested in you, they’re everything you could hope for.  They helped us buy our dream home, and we will forever be grateful for them! 

Taylor M

Friendly, professional and very helpful throughout our process, wouldn’t have been able to close as quick as we did without Blake and his team.

Michael R

Blake and the team were phenomenal to work with! The whole process was smooth and any questions I had were answered quickly and thoroughly.

Lance B

Blake always puts his clients first, and makes them feel like they are his number one concern.

Sarah E

The Brown team was phenomenal to work with. They are beyond knowledgeable and helped in every way possible to create a less confusing process for homebuying as a first time homebuyer. Blake Brown was the representative I worked with most and the experience I had with him was second to none in the entire process. All in all, I would love the chance to work with them in the future.

Jason M

Blake and his team were great to work with through the whole mortgage process. They were quick to work through any issues that arose and super fast responding to email/text!

Pamela B

Blake and the Brown family provided us with an amazing experience by being very communicative during our entire home-buying process. They were always a call or text away!

Connor J

My husband and I struggled for many years trying to find the right team for us to get a home after a long road Blake Brown's team was absolutely fantastic they came to bat for us at every moment and did everything right honestly I can't say one bad thing about them if you were looking to buy a home with any struggle you have they can point you in any direction that you need and help you every step of the way I'm definitely going to be recommending them to anyone that is trying to buy a home

Heather & Jonathan J

Such a great team to work with! Blake and his team was able to assist me in obtaining a home loan within my previous loan fell through. He and his team were able to get me to closing within the closing time frame. Thank you so much for all your help!

Sabrina F

Blake and his team were able to assist me in buying my new home when my previous Lender fell through. They were able to help me close within the time frame of closing. There was constant communication from him and his team. Such an amazing team!

Sabrina F

Loan Programs

Spacious living room with comfortable seating, large windows, and stylish decor.
A bright, inviting living room featuring a blue sofa, wooden chairs, and a fireplace with logs, perfect for relaxing or entertaining.
DSCR Loans (Investment Loans)

Featured

Beautiful modern craftsman-style house with a landscaped front yard and garage.
A stunning craftsman-style home featuring a welcoming porch, modern design, and the 1% Home Loan Program.
1% Home Loan Program

Featured

Man using smartphone at home, exploring conventional loan options.
Man reviewing mortgage options on his phone in a cozy living room setting.
Conventional Loans

Featured

Comfortable living room featuring a fireplace, wall-mounted TV, and stylish decor for a welcoming ho.
A welcoming living room with a fireplace, wall-mounted TV, and elegant decor, ideal for relaxing and entertaining in a cozy home setting.
Down Payment Assistance (DPA)

Featured

Refinance Loan
Child on Veteran's shoulders with American flag, symbolizing VA loan benefits.
Supporting veterans and families with VA home loan options and resources.
VA Loans
USDA loan approval process for rural home financing.
A couple stands outside a new house, symbolizing rural homeownership with USDA loans.
USDA Loans
FHA loan approval process with Preferred Rate for homebuyers.
Happy couple discussing FHA loan options at home.
FHA Loans
Beautiful blue house with landscaped yard, ideal for low down payment mortgage options.
Charming blue home surrounded by lush greenery, perfect for those seeking low down payment loan solutions.
Low Down Payment Loans
Beautiful house exterior with porch, windows, and landscaped yard.
A charming two-story house featuring a spacious front porch, large windows, and a well-maintained lawn, ideal for HELOC loan considerations.
HELOC Loans
Happy couple working on home renovation inside a room with construction tools.
A smiling couple during a home renovation project, standing on stairs with construction supplies around them.
Home Renovation
Luxury home with a spacious driveway and well-maintained landscaping for jumbo loan financing.
Explore jumbo loan options for financing high-value homes like this beautiful property.
Jumbo Loans
Man using a laptop on a bean bag chair, promoting flexible bank statement loans.
Comfortable man working on a laptop at home, highlighting flexible bank statement loan options for homebuyers.
Bank Statement Loans
Construction financing solutions for building your dream home or project. Expert guidance for seamle.
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Construction Financing
Beautiful manufactured home with a welcoming porch and landscaped yard.
A charming manufactured home featuring a spacious porch and lush landscaping, ideal for comfortable living.
Manufactured Home Loans
Colorful Victorian-style condominiums with detailed architecture and lush greenery.
Beautiful Victorian-style condominiums with intricate details and vibrant colors, perfect for condominium loan options.
Condominium Loans
Healthcare professional loan options for doctors and medical staff. Secure funding to grow your medi.
Image of a smiling doctor holding a clipboard in a medical office setting. Perfect for promoting medical professional loan services.
Medical Professional Loans
Nurse smiling with tablet, promoting first responder loan programs.
A nurse smiling while holding a tablet, highlighting loan options for first responders, teachers, and nurses.
First Responders | Nurses | Teacher Loans
Affordable community lending options for homebuyers.
Aerial view of a new residential property in a friendly neighborhood.
Community Lending
Buydown mortgage rates with temporary payment reductions.
Learn how temporary buydowns can lower your mortgage payments during the initial years of homeownership.
Temporary Buydowns
Modern two-story house with garage, ideal for bridge loan financing.
A contemporary two-story home with a spacious garage, perfect for real estate bridge loans and investment opportunities.
Bridge Loans
Expanded Income Loans for Home Improvements.
Modern house with landscaped yard and garden.
Expanded Income Loans
Loan options for international clients seeking financial solutions.
A smiling woman using a tablet near a window, representing accessible loan services for foreign nationals.
Loans for Foreign Nationals
Home loan options for quick approval and competitive rates.
Simplify your home buying process with Preferred Rate's SmartBuy program.
Click n’ Close SmartBuy National DPA
Expanded Credit Loans living room with modern furniture and cozy decor.
Comfortable living room featuring yellow armchairs, a fireplace, and a flat-screen TV, ideal for home improvement financing options.
Expanded Credit Loans
Senior couple exploring reverse mortgage options on laptop.
Elderly couple discussing reverse mortgage benefits using a laptop at home.
Reverse Mortgages
Seller PreLock Program for homeowners to secure home sale options.
A woman reviews her home sale options on a tablet in a bright, modern kitchen, highlighting the Seller PreLock Program benefits.
Seller PreLock Program
Preferred Rate Pathway DPA Program interior design.
Spacious living room with contemporary furniture and a sleek kitchen setup.
Pathway DPA Program
Rhyze HELOC
Secure lock program for home safety and security.
Beautiful blue house featuring a secure lock program for enhanced home safety.
Secure Lock Program

Refinance With Purpose

Every refinance starts with a goal. Whether you want to lower your payment, shorten your term, or access equity, we’ll build a strategy around
what matters most to you.

Consolidate Debt

Simplify what you owe. Use your home’s equity to combine high-interest debt into one  payment.

Lower Payments

Improve monthly cash flow. Even a small rate adjustment can create  savings over time.

Get Cash Out

Access equity with intention. Turn your home’s value into funds for renovations, education, retirement, or financial goals.

Change to Fixed Rate

Stabilize your payment. Move from a variable rate to predictable payments built for long-term planning.

Refinance VA Loan

Use a VA refinance program to improve your terms, access cash, or reduce your monthly payment.

Discover your home’s value instantly.

Get a personalized home value report powered by real market data. Track equity, explore trends, and stay informed about your property and mortgage loan.

Home loan approval process with competitive rates at Preferred Rate. Secure your mortgage today with.
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Preferred Rate logo with financial graph and rate drop notification.
A logo for Preferred Rate featuring a financial graph and a notification about interest rate drops.

We'll watch the market for you

Set your target interest rate and we’ll notify you when it hits. No spam, just smart alerts.

Mortgage Loan Calculator

Estimate your monthly payment in seconds.

$400,000

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Information and interactive calculators are made available to you as self-help tools for your independent use and are not intended to provide investment advice. We cannot and do not guarantee their applicability or accuracy in regard to your individual circumstances. All examples are hypothetical and are for illustrative purposes.

Frequently asked
questions

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Home Loan Guides
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next step?

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  • Competitive rates
  • Expert support
  • Easy process