Buying a first home felt intimidating until it didn’t — Amillya called working with Cole knowledgeable, educational, and supportive, and said the process ended up far easier than her family expected.
Amillya K. · Forest Lake, MNFirst-time buyer
🤝 Your friend in the mortgage industry
The one question every buyer asks: “what’s my payment?”
I’m Cole Thimsen — a Certified Mortgage Advisor who’s been answering that question since 2005. No jargon, no pressure, no dumb questions. Just a friend who happens to know mortgages inside and out.
5.0 from 431 verified reviews · NMLS #197735
Cole Thimsen
Your Mortgage Friend
Hey Cole, what’s my payment? 👀
Hey! My favorite question 😄 What price are you looking at?
Around…
With 5% down, you’d be around$2,610/moest. all-in · taxes & insurance included*See the full breakdown →
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Average rating
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Verified reviews
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Years in mortgages
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On-time closings since 2015
Since 2005helping buyers say yes with confidence
Meet your mortgage friend
Everyone should have a friend in the mortgage business.
That’s the whole idea. A friend picks up when you call. A friend explains things until they actually make sense. A friend tells you the truth about what you can afford — even when it’s not what you hoped to hear — and then helps you build a plan to get there.
Cole has spent 21 years doing exactly that, guiding thousands of buyers through FHA, VA, USDA, conventional, jumbo, and down payment assistance loans. He’s a longtime Twin Cities local, a Certified Mortgage Advisor, and the person your friends probably already texted before they bought their house.
First-time buyers, this is for you
You don’t need to know mortgages.
You just need a friend who does.
Most first-time buyers are more ready than they think. Here’s the honest version of how it works.
💬
The 15-minute chat
Tell Cole where you’re at — credit, savings, timeline. No documents, no commitment, no judgment.
✅Get truly pre-approved
Not a soft “pre-qual.” A real pre-approval that makes sellers take your offer seriously.
💰Find your down payment
Minnesota has real down payment help — and 20% down is a myth. Some buyers put down 3% or less.
🔑Close & get the keys
Cole has closed 100% of his loans on time since 2015. Your moving truck won’t be waiting around.
All things mortgage
Whatever your situation, there’s a loan for it.
Cole works across every major program — and his job is matching you to the right one, not the easy one.
Conventional Loans
The workhorse of home financing — flexible terms, competitive costs, and down payments as low as 3% for first-time buyers.
Learn more →FHA Loans
The first-time buyer favorite — 3.5% down, friendlier credit requirements, and forgiving guidelines for real-life finances.
Learn more →VA Loans
For those who served — $0 down, no monthly mortgage insurance, and some of the strongest terms in all of lending.
Learn more →USDA Loans
$0 down for homes in eligible smaller communities — many Twin Cities exurbs qualify, and most buyers have no idea.
Learn more →Jumbo Loans
Financing above conforming loan limits for higher-priced homes — with the same guidance and straight answers.
Learn more →Down Payment Assistance
Minnesota has real down payment help — Minnesota Housing programs can put thousands toward your down payment and closing costs.
Learn more →Refinancing
Lower the payment, drop mortgage insurance, tap equity, or shorten the term — when the math works, Cole will show you. When it doesn’t, he’ll tell you.
Learn more →Real clients, real reviews
Five stars.5.0 across 431 verified reviews
Pulled from Experience.com, Google, Zillow & Facebook — every word verified, every buyer real.
A repeat client across a first home, a refinance, and now a dream home — Jessica says Cole takes the time to break everything down so an unfamiliar industry actually makes sense.
Jessica T. · Buffalo, MNRepeat client
Tim describes himself as very cautious with finances. Cole answered every question thoroughly — and often answered the next one before Tim could ask it.
Tim P. · Saint Paul, MNCautious by nature
As first-time buyers, Laura and her partner had a lot of questions. She calls Cole communicative, attentive, and reassuring — “in good hands” from start to finish.
Laura M. · Minneapolis, MNFirst-time buyer
Ashlee describes true five-star service — professional, responsive, and organized — with Cole removing the uncertainty from a process that could have been stressful.
Ashlee S. · Superior, WIFive-star service
Cole went above and beyond to close in time for Aaron’s wedding — responsive throughout, with Aaron’s best interest in mind the whole way. His verdict: 10/10.
Aaron E. · Maplewood, MNClosed on a deadline
Buying a first home felt intimidating until it didn’t — Amillya called working with Cole knowledgeable, educational, and supportive, and said the process ended up far easier than her family expected.
Amillya K. · Forest Lake, MNFirst-time buyer
A repeat client across a first home, a refinance, and now a dream home — Jessica says Cole takes the time to break everything down so an unfamiliar industry actually makes sense.
Jessica T. · Buffalo, MNRepeat client
Tim describes himself as very cautious with finances. Cole answered every question thoroughly — and often answered the next one before Tim could ask it.
Tim P. · Saint Paul, MNCautious by nature
As first-time buyers, Laura and her partner had a lot of questions. She calls Cole communicative, attentive, and reassuring — “in good hands” from start to finish.
Laura M. · Minneapolis, MNFirst-time buyer
Ashlee describes true five-star service — professional, responsive, and organized — with Cole removing the uncertainty from a process that could have been stressful.
Ashlee S. · Superior, WIFive-star service
Cole went above and beyond to close in time for Aaron’s wedding — responsive throughout, with Aaron’s best interest in mind the whole way. His verdict: 10/10.
Aaron E. · Maplewood, MNClosed on a deadline
Educated > sold
Understand your mortgage. Don’t just sign it.
The mortgage industry runs on people nodding along to things they don’t understand. Cole’s approach is the opposite: explain everything in plain English until you could explain it to your friends.
Rate vs. APR. Points. Escrow. PMI. Why your credit score matters less than you fear and your debt-to-income ratio matters more than you think. It’s all in the learning hub — free, no email required.
Open the learning hubok honest question… what even IS escrow 😅
Honest answer: it’s an account your lender manages so your property taxes & insurance get paid automatically. That’s it. That’s the mystery. 😄
wait that’s actually simple
Most of this stuff is — once someone bothers to explain it. Ask me anything.
Have a question? Just ask your friend.
No pressure, no jargon, no obligation — just a straight answer from someone who’s been doing this since 2005. Text, call, or apply whenever you’re ready.