When will I know my mortgage rate?

After you receive your pre-approval letter, you’ll have an idea of current rates based on your qualifications. However, your rate isn’t officially locked until you choose to lock it in – and that lock is only valid for a set number of days. I’ll help you monitor the market and decide the best time to lock your rate with confidence.

What does a mortgage calculator do?

A mortgage calculator gives you a clearer picture of what you can afford by estimating your monthly payment based on home price, down payment, interest rate, and more. It’s a great starting point to help you plan your budget and feel more prepared as you begin your home search.

What credit score do I need to qualify for a mortgage?

The credit score required to buy a home differs based on the type of loan you’re applying for. But in general, the higher your score is, the easier it will be to get a great mortgage loan and a better interest rate.

What documents do I need to apply for a mortgage?

You will generally need to provide proof of income (pay stubs, W-2s), two months of bank statements, tax returns (if self-employed), and a photo ID. These documents verify your financial standing for pre-approval.

Walter Cortes | Mortgage Loan Officer

Background Image with a decorative green wall inside a house, a couch, and two plants on each side of the couch.

Walter Cortes

Senior Loan Officer

NMLS: 2372599

The right home begins with the right person by your side. I'll be with you from pre-approval to the closing table.

Read full bio

Apply Now Call Walter

99%

Customer Satisfaction Score.

Awards

Proudly serving Indiana, Michigan

Meet our happy homeowners***

View All Testimonials

Marina G W.

Granger, IN, Aug 29, 2026, 12:28 AM

5.0

Great communication, help and fast responses to any questions/concerns. I felt everything was taken care of for us and it put us to ease with this whole process.

Edwin H W.

Granger, IN, Aug 28, 2026, 3:06 PM

5.0

Super nice. Quickly got us the info needed. Website tool also easy to track

Cora R.

Boswell, IN, Jul 27, 2026, 3:07 PM

5.0

Walter was an awesome communicator and answers all of our questions and was always fast to reply and keep us updated! He made the process stress -free!

Stephen Luke P.

Goshen, IN, Jun 24, 2026, 5:51 PM

5.0

Walter was very knowledgeable and helpful for us as first time homebuyers he walked us through the entire process and helped us with any of our questions

Jacob Wendel L.

Ligonier, IN, Jun 22, 2026, 1:44 PM

5.0

Walter was super knowledgeable and went the extra mile to make sure everything was approved and went smoothly .

Delmar V M.

Middlebury, IN, Mar 5, 2026, 4:08 PM

5.0

Walter was sure to listen to our needs and wants and figute out how to make it happen

Marina G W.

Granger, IN, Aug 29, 2026, 12:28 AM

5.0

Great communication, help and fast responses to any questions/concerns. I felt everything was taken care of for us and it put us to ease with this whole process.

Edwin H W.

Granger, IN, Aug 28, 2026, 3:06 PM

5.0

Super nice. Quickly got us the info needed. Website tool also easy to track

Cora R.

Boswell, IN, Jul 27, 2026, 3:07 PM

5.0

Walter was an awesome communicator and answers all of our questions and was always fast to reply and keep us updated! He made the process stress -free!

Stephen Luke P.

Goshen, IN, Jun 24, 2026, 5:51 PM

5.0

Walter was very knowledgeable and helpful for us as first time homebuyers he walked us through the entire process and helped us with any of our questions

Jacob Wendel L.

Ligonier, IN, Jun 22, 2026, 1:44 PM

5.0

Walter was super knowledgeable and went the extra mile to make sure everything was approved and went smoothly .

Delmar V M.

Middlebury, IN, Mar 5, 2026, 4:08 PM

5.0

Walter was sure to listen to our needs and wants and figute out how to make it happen

Amber N H.

Wakarusa, IN, Jan 22, 2026, 4:18 PM

5.0

Walter was so great to work with. Kept me up to date and answered all questions I had.

Michael C.

Elkhart, IN, Oct 23, 2025, 5:01 PM

5.0

Everything went smooth and according to plan Great job

Leslie A C.

Elkhart, IN, Oct 20, 2025, 7:48 PM

5.0

Walter was great!

Jeffrey A H.

Goshen, IN, Sep 25, 2025, 3:43 PM

5.0

Constant updates

Taylar Marie M.

South Bend, IN, Mar 7, 2025, 6:29 PM

5.0

answered any questions that we had, and made the entire homebuying process, super easy, and stress-free, which is major and super appreciated!

Kinsey L P.

Mishawaka, IN, Feb 26, 2025, 4:41 PM

5.0

Walter was very knowledgeable, responsive, and made sure to update me on the status of my loan throughout the process. He even came to look at houses and do the final walkthrough before closing to make himself available as an invaluable resource. Thanks Walter!

Amber N H.

Wakarusa, IN, Jan 22, 2026, 4:18 PM

5.0

Walter was so great to work with. Kept me up to date and answered all questions I had.

Michael C.

Elkhart, IN, Oct 23, 2025, 5:01 PM

5.0

Everything went smooth and according to plan Great job

Leslie A C.

Elkhart, IN, Oct 20, 2025, 7:48 PM

5.0

Walter was great!

Jeffrey A H.

Goshen, IN, Sep 25, 2025, 3:43 PM

5.0

Constant updates

Taylar Marie M.

South Bend, IN, Mar 7, 2025, 6:29 PM

5.0

answered any questions that we had, and made the entire homebuying process, super easy, and stress-free, which is major and super appreciated!

Kinsey L P.

Mishawaka, IN, Feb 26, 2025, 4:41 PM

5.0

Calculate Based on Your Individual Needs

Purchase Calculator

Property Costs

Home Price

Down Payment

Property State

Property Tax

/mo.

Homeowners Insurance

/mo.

HOA Fees

/mo.

Loan Details

Loan Type

Length of Loan

Credit Score Range††

Interest Rate

Est. Monthly Payment†

$770.00

Principal & Interest

$770.00

Property Tax

$0.00

Homeowners Insurance

$0.00

HOA Fees

$0.00

PMI

$0.00

Total Monthly

$770.00

Apply Now

A Bit About Me

Walter Cortes is a Senior Loan Officer with Ruoff Mortgage who proudly serves homebuyers and homeowners throughout Northern Indiana and Southwest Michigan. As a bilingual English- and Spanish-speaking mortgage professional, Walter is passionate about helping clients understand their financing options and feel confident throughout the homebuying journey. He specializes in helping first-time homebuyers, families, investors, and those using FHA and VA financing. With a relationship-driven approach, Walter believes in providing honest guidance, clear communication, and exceptional service. His goal is to make the mortgage process as smooth and stress-free as possible while building lasting relationships based on trust and results.

Awards & Achievements

Top Mortgage Lenders

The Scotsman Guide’s list of Top Mortgage Lenders, a ranking of the nation’s top-producing mortgage companies.

Experience the Ruoff Advantage

We've worked hard to earn our A+ BBB rating, and we're committed to maintaining it. Our team puts your needs first and takes pride in guiding you through the mortgage process.

42

Years of helping homeowners like you

We are excited to announce that for the ninth year in a row we have made The Scotsman Guide’s list of Top Mortgage Lenders, a ranking of the nation’s top-producing mortgage companies. We are ranked #31 in Retail Units, #48 in Retail Volume, and #59 on the Overall Lender list.

15 DAY

Average Clear to Close**

Ruoff Mortgage has earned a top spot on Experience.com’s Top Performers list for the third year in a row, being recognized as a top 10 Mortgage Company in the Jumbo Division for customer satisfaction. This competition ranks loan officers and their organizations based on millions of customer reviews, survey completion rates, and star ratings submitted to the Experience.com platform.

98.5%

Customer satisfaction rating*

42

Years of helping homeowners like you

15 DAY

Average Clear to Close**

98.5%

Customer satisfaction rating*

At Ruoff Mortgage, customer satisfaction is at the core of everything we do. We are the experts, so you don't have to be.*

Meet our happy homeowners***

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Calculate Based on Your Individual Needs

A Bit About Me

Awards & Achievements

Experience the Ruoff Advantage

42

15 DAY

98.5%

42

15 DAY

98.5%