How Ela Knapp Stands Out on Social Media (and Why She Listens Before She Sells)

How Ela Knapp Stands Out on Social Media (and Why She Listens Before She Sells)

Ela Knapp of the Danielle Seifert Real Estate Team at RE/MAX Concepts shares how she built a unique social media presence, why she listens before she sells, and the home age she thinks is the sweet sp... ...more

The Lofty Lender

October 09, 2026•6 min read

Temporary Rate Buydowns Explained: How a 2-1 Buydown Can Lower Your Mortgage Payment | Lofty Lender

Temporary Rate Buydowns Explained: How a 2-1 Buydown Can Lower Your Mortgage Payment | Lofty Lender

Meta description: What is a temporary rate buydown? Kyle Guldenpfennig and Charlie Chedester break down how a 2-1 buydown works, who pays for it, and why it can beat a price cut for Des Moines homebuy... ...more

Lofty Lender

October 02, 2026•7 min read

Why Consistency Beats a Perfect Budget Every Time | The Lofty Lender

Why Consistency Beats a Perfect Budget Every Time | The Lofty Lender

Mortgage loan officer Kyle Guldenpfennig and Charlie Chedester talk budgeting habits that actually stick, the real cost of going over budget on a home purchase, and why automation beats willpower. ...more

The Lofty Lender

September 25, 2026•5 min read

Making the Mortgage Process Easier: What Charlie and I Actually Ask For (and Why)

Making the Mortgage Process Easier: What Charlie and I Actually Ask For (and Why)

Kyle Guldenpfennig and Charlie Chedester break down why the mortgage process feels overwhelming, and the specific things (a document checklist, a secure upload portal, knowing underwriting will ask qu... ...more

The Lofty Lender

September 18, 2026•4 min read

Success Stories: What Actually Separates a Good Outcome From a Lucky One | Lofty Lender

Success Stories: What Actually Separates a Good Outcome From a Lucky One | Lofty Lender

Kyle Guldenpfennig shares real client success stories from The Lofty Lender podcast, and breaks down what actually separates a lucky outcome from a good one in the mortgage process. ...more

The Lofty Lender

September 11, 2026•8 min read

Expectation vs. Reality: Why the Real Stress in Buying a Home Isn't the Process, It's the Surprise

Expectation vs. Reality: Why the Real Stress in Buying a Home Isn't the Process, It's the Surprise

Kyle Guldenpfennig and Charlie Chedester break down why the gap between what you expect and what actually happens is the real source of stress in the mortgage process, straight from The Lofty Lender p... ...more

The Lofty Lender

September 04, 2026•8 min read

Rent or Buy in 2026? Why the Real Question Isn't the Price Tag

Rent or Buy in 2026? Why the Real Question Isn't the Price Tag

Is it cheaper to rent or buy right now? Kyle Guldenpfennig and Charlie Chedester break down the real math behind the rent-vs-buy decision, straight from The Lofty Lender podcast. ...more

The Lofty Lender

August 28, 2026•6 min read

Your Mortgage Rate Isn't the Only Rate That Matters: Understanding Your "Household Interest Rate"

Your Mortgage Rate Isn't the Only Rate That Matters: Understanding Your "Household Interest Rate"

Locked into a low mortgage rate but still carrying high-interest debt? Kyle Guldenpfennig and Charlie Chedester break down the "household interest rate" and how home equity can help you pay it down, s... ...more

The Lofty Lender

August 21, 2026•5 min read

Why Did My Mortgage Payment Go Up? Escrow Shortages Explained

Why Did My Mortgage Payment Go Up? Escrow Shortages Explained

Mortgage payment went up without a refinance? Des Moines lenders Kyle Guldenpfennig and Charlie Chedester explain escrow shortages and how to fix them. ...more

The Lofty Lender

August 07, 2026•6 min read

Why Everyone Seems to Be Moving to the Des Moines Metro Right Now | The Lofty Lender

Why Everyone Seems to Be Moving to the Des Moines Metro Right Now | The Lofty Lender

Out-of-state buyers are flooding Waukee, Ankeny & the Des Moines metro. See why affordability, remote work & new tax law are driving the surge. ...more

Lofty Lender

July 31, 2026•5 min read

Wire Fraud in Home Buying: How to Protect Your Closing Funds from Scammers

Wire Fraud in Home Buying: How to Protect Your Closing Funds from Scammers

Wire fraud costs home buyers millions every year. Learn how mortgage wire fraud scams work and the exact steps to protect your closing funds, straight from The Lofty Lender podcast. ...more

The Lofty Lender

July 24, 2026•5 min read

What Ankeny Sellers Get Wrong (And How Allison Hart Fixes It)

What Ankeny Sellers Get Wrong (And How Allison Hart Fixes It)

Ankeny real estate agent Allison Hart shares what sellers get wrong, how emotional intelligence closes deals, and tips for scaling a local business. ...more

The Lofty Lender

June 19, 2026•7 min read

Contact Us

2753 99th St, Urbandale, IA 50322

Charles: (515) 229-6564

Kyle: (319) 850-2435

Fax: (866) 424-0683

[email protected]

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Midwest Family Lending Corporations NMLS #4622

Individual NMLS: Charles #8636, Kyle #1504981, Jess #1550797, Kristi #2234329

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