Your   homeownership journey starts here

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

Logo of Preferred Rate, a financial service provider for mortgage and loan solutions.
Preferred Rate's logo representing trusted mortgage and loan services for homebuyers.
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: #223445

Ken A. McGaha

Mortgage Advisor

I have more than 30 years of experience in lending and customer service. As a Preferred Rate Mortgage Advisor, I am committed to helping my clients understand their options for real estate financing and assisting them to make solid home loan decisions that meet their needs. I’m here to help you identify the home loan options that are best suited for your situation. Whether you’re looking to purchase a home, refinance for a lower interest rate, a shorter term, or take equity out of your home for home renovation, paying off outstanding debt, or to take that well-deserved vacation, I have mortgage solutions that will work for you.

Licensed in:

IL and IN

Why work with me?

5.0/5 Rating

29 reviews

Real clients. Real results.

the best

Fari S

the best

Fari S

the best

Fari S

the best

Fari S

the best

Fari S

Very helpful and straightforward.

Adil s

Very helpful and straightforward.

Adil s

Very helpful and straightforward.

Adil s

Very helpful and straightforward.

Adil s

Very helpful and straightforward.

Adil s

A few months back I decided to get some info and look into refinancing my home (not as easy as I thought) lucky for me kenn from preferred rate provided the guidance and all the help necessary to make this process as easy as possible 10 out of 10 I would recommend preferred Rate big thank you again to Kenneth McGaha

Sergio Medina N

Ken is the man!!! He really went above and beyond

Joseph R

Kenneth was always available to take any questions or quell any concerns I had throughout the home buying process. As a first time buyer, he communicated the entire process from offer to closing in a very concise and easy to understand manner. He made everything so comfortable, seamless and secure. I wholeheartly recommend his expertise to any and all considering him as a loan facilitator !

Amman W

Had a great experience with Roland, very knowledgeable and helpful through the whole process.

Nichelle M

Roland was extremely helpful throughout the entire process. Highly recommend his services!

Patrick O

Excellent person always in communication A+

jorge v

Paul was great to work with. He answered all questions we had and made the process effortless for us. Would definitely recommend him to anyone looking for a 1:1 hands on experience.

Ashley S

Ken was amazing! Everything was so easy with him. I will definitely work with him again.

Carleen C

Paul of Preferred Rate was absolutely wonderful! He kept us well-informed, was responsive, and was a pleasure to work with throughout the entire process. He was very patient, and I would recommend him to anyone.

Julia S

I found him exceptionally helpful, responds quickly to your SMS, calls or emails, patient and honest. I highly recommend him.

Adil s

Ken was referred to me by a friend who spoke highly of him. As a first time home buyer I depended on his guidance and advice and he provided the best assistance.He was very patient with me all through my search for a house and was highly available to answer questions regarding financing or other related questions.I would love to work with him again and recommend him to all my friends/family.

Adil S

For a first time home buyer, Ken made the process as easy as possible. He made me feel safe and comfortable during a time I had no idea what I was doing. Him and his team did an excellent job answering all my question and was always available no matter what time of day it was. I will forever recommend and work with Ken and Preferred Rate for any purchases moving forward.

Alex G

We had a great experience working with Ken at Preferred Rate. He was extremely helpful and answered all of our questions. He was always easy to get in touch with if we needed anything. Everything was completed in a timely manner, which helped to make our new home purchase go very smooth. We would not hesitate to highly recommend Ken at Preferred Rate to any of our friends and family!!

Kristen N

Exceptional service! As first time homebuyers, we were clueless. Ken did a fantastic job educating, informing and guiding us throughout the process. Ken is professional, highly knowledgeable, honest and trustworthy!

Jessica B

Ken was awesome

Pablo Vargas N

Very good and very professional. All obstacles were handled swiftly and diligently. Everything was handled to our satisfaction.

John Del C

It was a pleasure working with Ken.No surprises. Very professional.I would definitely recommend Ken McGaha

Kenneth B

Ken was very helpful and informative. He kept me aware of what was happening in every step along the way. Ken made sure I understood what I needed to do next. Since I am legally blind, he was able to find ways to the whole process easy for me to complete, even coming to my home to take pictures of the paperwork he needed. Through phone calls and emails I feel he went far beyond and above what other loan officers and banks would normally do for clients. I would highly recommend him to other people looking to take out a loan.

Christine M

Ken was wonderful and helped us every step of the way

Darci J

Everything was great. From start to finish and following up after process was complete. All done via the web

Cornelia D

I wish I could give more stars. Ken McGaha goes above and beyond. His transparency is amazing, and he was excellent with everything from start to finish.

Eric M

I wish I could give more stars. Ken McGaha goes above and beyond. His transparency is amazing, and he was excellent with everything from start to finish.

Eric M

First time homeowners and Ken made the experience go as smooth as possible! We truly felt he had our best interest at heart. It was great to work with him and I've already referred him to a coworker!

Kelly K

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.
Two workers in safety helmets working on a construction site, focusing on woodwork and project progress.
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.
Beautiful suburban house at sunset, showcasing a cozy home with a well-maintained lawn and welcoming entrance.
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+

Customize taxes, insurance & HOA

Not required (Down payment ≥ 20%)
Estimated Monthly Payment

$0

Principal & Interest Mortgge Loan
$0
Property Tax Estimated
$0
Home Insurance Estimated
$0
HOA & PMI Fees
$0
Apply now
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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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