Your   homeownership journey starts here

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

Professional portrait of James Bochnovic, a financial expert at Preferred Rate, smiling confidently.
James Bochnovic, a financial expert at Preferred Rate, smiling confidently in a professional portrait. Focuses on trust and expertise.
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A happy family of four sitting on sandy dunes, smiling and enjoying nature, highlighting family financial planning and stability.

NMLS: #1892655

James Bochnovic

Sr. Mortgage Advisor

Awards

(4)

Top Producer (2025)

Most Improved Loan Officer (2022)

Community Fundraising Support

Community Engagement and Service

James brings a unique background to the mortgage industry as a former 6th grade teacher who believes that there are no silly questions. He is passionate about guiding homebuyers through the mortgage process with clear communication, education, and a strong focus on making sure every client fully understands their options.

Before becoming a loan officer, James also competed as a UFC fighter, an experience that shaped his determination and work ethic. Today he uses that same mindset to advocate for his clients, working hard to secure the best loan terms and navigate even the toughest deals.

Outside of work, James enjoys spending time with his wife and children, staying active, fishing, and continuing to train in Brazilian jiu jitsu and mixed martial arts.

Licensed in:

IL, WI, IN and FL

Specialties:

First-Time Homebuyers

VA Loans

FHA Loans

Conventional Loans

Down Payment Assistance

Investment Property Loans

Lending Specialties

First-Time Homebuyers

VA Loans

FHA Loans

Conventional Loans

Down Payment Assistance

Investment Property Loans

James Bochnovic's
Awards and Recognition

Top Producer (2025)

Most Improved Loan Officer (2022)

Community Fundraising Support

Community Engagement and Service

Why work with me?

5.0/5 Rating

44 reviews

500+

Families helped

23 Days

Average close time

7 years

Of experience

Real clients. Real results.

Awesome experience, Happened fast and always available when needed help or questions,Very happy with my process , Will refer to friends and family

Loren S

James and his team were timely, professional, and made first-time home buying feel incredibly easy. There was never a moment where I misunderstood any of the steps in the process.

Zachary Z

James was there for every question and every concern, always keeping us on the path forward. Refinancing was easy because of his knowledge and experience. Thank you, James, you will be part of our future financial needs with our mortgage when the need comes up again.

Randy J

A++++ great knowledge agent top tier

Joseph L

James was incredible to work with. He was patient with us and got us great deals for our refinancing process to help on our monthly payment. He was very clear about what was needed and made us feel great about our decision to refinance, going over multiple options for term and rate before we made a final decision. Additionally he is thorough and really cares about who he helps, highly recommend him to anyone looking for a mortgage/refinance

Tyler Van N

Easy to work with and answered every question I had.

Kyle D

Was very professional upfront and helpful appreciate all the help would highly recommend thanks James and the team !

Seth L

James is extremely professional and a great guy to work with. He helped us finance our first home and walked us through the process. I recommend James to everyone looking to finance a home!

Garrett A

Working with James was easy and stress free. He stayed on top of the financial process and made it as smooth as possible.

Alex L

James and the team were so helpful for our first home buying experience! They were always available for any questions we had, and took the time to explain everything throughly. A lot of people warned us against using a private lender, but they assisted us quicker and got us a better rate than our credit union would have. Can’t wait to work with James again when the rates drop (fingers crossed)!

Taylor H

Best lending experience! James and Kayley made a stressful process so seamless and I would recommend them to anyone looking to buy a house with minimal headaches!! Go team!

Kristin K

A fantastic team that kept us in the loop and helped us get through the loan process!

Jordan K

James has been a true partner throughout both my initial mortgage and refi - he's knowledgable, provides guidance, and is consistently available when you need him. Highly recommend.

Heather G

James was very helpful in answering any questions and was always super attentive. He made this process feel smooth and easy, as I was a first time home buyer. Appreciate all of the time and texts and calls he was able to juggle. Great experience! So happy with my purchase!

Isabel K

James and his team were amazing! He never gave up on us and continued to fight with us and for us! We will definitely throw his name around and recommend him to anyone who is looking to buy a house!

Scott T

Friendly service!

Sandra W

James did a great job. Answered all my questions and was available at all times of the day

Anthony M

James was always available. He made the process as easy as possible. Highly recommend him.

jamie l

James was a pleasure to work with throughout the whole loan process!! He was always ready answers any of our questions via text or call. Highly recommend him to anyone who are looking for their next home. Five stars!!!

Bilal S

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

$50k $2M+

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Estimated Monthly Payment

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Principal & Interest Mortgge Loan
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Property Tax Estimated
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Home Insurance Estimated
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HOA & PMI Fees
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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

With short and easy to understand answers.

Couldn’t find your answer?

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Home Loan Guides
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next step?

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

  • Competitive rates
  • Expert support
  • Easy process