Fred ChiltonMortgage strategy

Austin & Orange County mortgage broker

Clear mortgage options for your next move.

Buying a home Refinancing Using home equity

I compare lenders for you and show the payment, cash to close, and tradeoffs side by side—then tell you which option I would choose and why.

Review my options

No credit pull. No obligation. Or text Fred · (949) 345-0201

Fred ChiltonFred ChiltonLicensed mortgage broker · NMLS #1810817
Austin & Orange County
4.99/594 reviews across platforms, collected on Experience.com as of September 13, 2026
750+families helped buy, refinance, and invest
150+lenders to compare for your situation

Start with your move

What are you
planning?

Each path explains the options, the numbers that matter, and what to have ready when we talk.

Fred Chilton, licensed mortgage brokerFred Chilton
NMLS #1810817

A real person in your corner

You work with me.
Directly.

I’ve spent more than a decade helping over 750 families buy, refinance, and invest in real estate.

As a broker and Branch Manager with West Capital Lending, I compare lender options around your income, property, and plans.

What I look at first

  • The full payment. Taxes, insurance, HOA, and mortgage insurance—not just the rate.
  • Cash to close, and what’s left. The reserves you keep after closing matter too.
  • How long you’ll keep the loan. It decides whether paying more upfront ever breaks even.
  • Which lender fits. Your income, property, and timing, compared across 150+ lenders.
10+ years25 licensed statesForbes Advisor Advisory Board member
Text Fred →More about Fred ↗Watch Fred explain it ↗

Client experiences

Good guidance.
In their words.

4.99/ 594 reviews across platformsCollected on Experience.com
As of September 13, 2026
Client review
“Fred came in and got me closed and funded in a week!! Definitely recommend Fred!”
Mehak K.★★★★★
Read on Google
Client review
“Everything went great!! Fred and Deanna were incredibly helpful! They both kept me informed at every step, grateful for all the help 😊”
Ann B.★★★★★
View on Experience.com
Client review
“He was very knowledgeable about the process, and walked us through every step.”
Mike B.★★★★★
Read on Google
Client review
“Fred was quick to respond to any questions we had, and he provided very competitive rates. Very satisfied with the outcome!”
Jon L.★★★★★
Read on Google

Selected client reviews. Some are excerpted; each links to its source. Individual experiences vary.

Explore all reviews

What you get back

A Mortgage Decision Brief.

Your options side by side: the monthly payment, cash to close, the cash you keep, the break-even point, and my recommendation.

Review my options Already have a Loan Estimate?
See a sample comparisonIllustrative purchase decision · two options
FRED CHILTON
MORTGAGE DECISION BRIEF
Illustrative sample
Purchase decisionOne move. Two possibilities.
OPTION A

Preserve
more cash.

Est. full payment / month
$4,780
Est. cash to close
$112,400
Cash retained
$62,600
OPTION B

Lower the
payment.

Est. full payment / month
$4,610
Est. cash to close
$119,200
Cash retained
$55,800

A little more cash today, or a little less each month. Compare both.

Break-evenAbout 40 months

Option B uses $6,800 more upfront to save about $170 per month.

Fred’s recommendation

Choose Option B if you expect to keep the loan beyond 40 months and $55,800 still clears your reserve target. Otherwise, Option A protects more cash.

Illustrative example only—not a rate quote, Loan Estimate, approval, or commitment to lend.

Private Mortgage Snapshot

Start with
what you know.

This is not an application. Estimates are fine, there is no credit pull, and there is no obligation.

  1. 01 Share your goal and a few estimated numbers
  2. 02 Fred personally reviews your options
  3. 03 Fred replies by text, call, or email—your choice
Private Mortgage Snapshot Step 1 of 3

Your goal

What are you planning?

Choose the decision you want to solve.

No credit pull. No contact information yet.

West Capital Lending · Digital home equity

5-Day HELOC.
Keep your first mortgage.

Access your equity with funding in as few as five business days for eligible loans. Start online, with Fred available to help you compare the fit.

  • Online application through West Capital Lending
  • Options that can leave your current first mortgage in place
  • Third-lien option up to 70% combined loan-to-value, subject to eligibility
Start my HELOC application Read the third-lien guide

How this product funds: The full line is drawn at origination, less the origination fee. The initial draw has a fixed rate; later draws, as principal is repaid, receive their own fixed rates under the agreement. Compare the total borrowing cost with the way you plan to use the money.

Timing: Five-business-day funding assumes remote online notarization. Required verification, property condition, recording rules, in-person closing, and waiting periods can extend timing. Approval and terms are not guaranteed. The home secures the loan; failure to make required payments can put it at risk.

Try the numbers for yourself

Run the numbers.
Then talk it through.

No email gate. No manufactured “rate.” Change the assumptions yourself, then bring me the result you want priced.

Explore all 10 calculators
Free guides by FredBefore the offer. Before the big decision.Your first home or your first rental, with the numbers on paper. Get a free 11-page guide with budget worksheets, a worked example, and a plan for your next conversation.Explore the free guides

Mortgage Insights

Plain answers
to common questions.

Read Mortgage Insights

Your next move

Bring me the decision.
I’ll bring the options.

Share your goal and a few estimated numbers. Fred will review your options and reply the way you prefer.

Review my options →Text Fred