Bryden M.
4 weeks ago
If you’re carrying significant credit card debt draining your monthly cash flow, and your home has equity, there may be a path your bank never showed you — one that doesn’t require giving up your first mortgage rate to access it.
A Watermark specialist will review and reach out.
The Scenario: You are carrying $68,000 in high-interest credit card debt across multiple accounts, costing you about $1,730 a month in minimum payments. Here is how the math breaks down when you consolidate.
*Illustrative example only. Based on a $75,000 loan at 7.99% initial note rate (Tier 2 pricing). APR 10.157%. The rate is variable during the 60-month interest-only period. Payment increases after month 60 when principal repayment begins. Actual loan terms depend on individual creditworthiness, property eligibility, income verification, and underwriting approval. This is not a commitment to lend.
Your existing first mortgage stays exactly where it is — your rate, term, payment, everything. This is a separate second mortgage that sits behind your first loan. You keep what you spent years protecting. Debt consolidation through a mortgage loan may convert unsecured debt into secured debt by using your home.
Most automated underwriting systems evaluate a point-in-time snapshot. They can’t account for the fact that the debt causing your high DTI is exactly what the loan would consolidate into a single payment. Manual underwriting means your full picture gets read by a person.
For qualified borrowers with 720+ FICO, we can go to 100% of your home’s current value. For 660–719, up to 90% for primary residences. Either way, past the 80% ceiling that stops most traditional lenders. AVM accepted in many cases — no physical appraisal required.
No. The Expanded Access loan is a second mortgage that sits behind your first loan in a separate position. Your first mortgage’s rate, term, balance, and monthly payment are completely unaffected. You’ll have two separate payments — your existing first mortgage and this second mortgage — but your first mortgage is untouched.
That’s actually one of the most common situations we see. Automated underwriting systems evaluate your debt-to-income ratio at a point in time — they can’t account for the fact that the debt causing your high DTI is exactly what this loan would eliminate after consolidation. Manual underwriting means a human being reviews your complete financial picture and can see what the algorithm couldn’t. It doesn’t guarantee approval, but it means your application gets a fair and complete review.
Your home is collateral for this loan, just as it is for your first mortgage. If payments aren’t made, there is a risk of foreclosure — that’s true of any mortgage product and we won’t minimize it. The product makes sense for borrowers who have a clear understanding of the payment structure, including that the monthly payment increases after the 5-year interest-only period ends. Our job in the first conversation is to make sure you understand exactly what you’re considering before moving forward.
The loan is structured as a 5/20 hybrid ARM. For the first 60 months, your required payment covers interest only — keeping the monthly obligation lower. During this period, the rate is variable, indexed to the WSJ Prime Rate with defined caps and a 5.99% floor. After month 60, the loan converts to a fully amortizing fixed-rate loan for the remaining 20-year term. Your payment increases at month 61 because principal repayment begins. A Watermark specialist will walk you through specific payment illustrations based on your loan amount and credit profile.
The most common limitation is the 80–90% Combined Loan-to-Value (CLTV) cap imposed by conforming lenders. The Expanded Access loan was designed to reach beyond that ceiling for qualified borrowers, and it is manually underwritten, so a person reviews your full picture instead of a single automated cutoff. If you’ve been declined or limited by a traditional lender’s CLTV cap, your situation may look different here.
No hard credit pull. No application required. No pressure to move forward. Just a short conversation with a Watermark loan specialist who will look at your specific numbers and tell you honestly what’s possible.
This page is provided for informational purposes only and is not an offer of credit or a commitment to lend. All loan examples shown are illustrative only and do not represent actual loan terms. The Expanded Access Home Equity Loan is available for primary residences only in states where Watermark Home Loans is licensed. Not available in Texas or West Virginia. Debt consolidation through a mortgage loan may convert unsecured debt into secured debt by your home. The Expanded Access loan is a 5/20 hybrid ARM — the rate is variable during the 60-month interest-only period and converts to a fixed rate for the remaining term. Monthly payment will increase after the interest-only period ends. Loan approval is subject to creditworthiness, income verification, property eligibility, and underwriting review. Your home is collateral — failure to repay could result in foreclosure. Nick Joutz, Individual MLO NMLS #9220. Watermark Home Loans NMLS #1838. Equal Housing Lender. © 2026 Watermark Capital, Inc. All rights reserved.
