Mortgage Broker in Celina, TX | Wayne Wallace NMLS #745186
Local expertise. Competitive rates. From a broker who actually lives here.
A Broker With Real Roots in Celina
My connection to Celina goes back to 1982, when my family moved here and I grew up attending Celina schools. I graduated from Celina High School in 1989 — in a class of 52 — back when the town population was a fraction of what it is today. I left for college, built a 27-year career in the mortgage industry, and in 2024 made the decision to move back.
Why? Because I believe in what Celina is becoming — and I wanted my two youngest children to grow up in the same community I did, with the same tight-knit values and that well-earned winning tradition that Celina ISD is known for.
That history gives me context that no out-of-state lender or call center loan officer can replicate. I know the difference between the original townsite and the new master-planned communities on the north side. I know which areas still have USDA-eligible addresses and which have crossed the line into conventional-only territory. I understand how fast things are changing — because I’m watching it happen from my front porch.
The Celina, TX Real Estate Market
In 2025, the U.S. Census Bureau confirmed what anyone driving through Celina already knew: this city grew 24.6% in a single year, making it the fastest-growing city in the United States among cities with a population over 20,000. From a rural town of a few thousand in the 1980s, Celina has expanded to over 64,000 residents — and the buildout master plan projects room for approximately 378,000.
Median home prices in Celina currently range from approximately $450,000–$520,000, reflecting a buyer-favorable correction from the peak years of 2021–2023. Inventory has expanded significantly, days on market have lengthened, and sellers are negotiating — which means today’s buyers have real leverage. For buyers who’ve been waiting on the sidelines, this is the window.
New construction dominates the Celina market, with builders active across dozens of master-planned communities. Major retail infrastructure is arriving fast: Costco, a 190-acre Walmart mixed-use development, Home Depot, and Lowe’s are all either open or under construction. Celina ISD continues expanding its school capacity to keep pace with population growth.
Loan Programs for Celina Home Buyers
USDA Rural Development Loans
Parts of Celina — particularly older addresses and properties on the rural fringes — remain eligible for USDA Rural Development financing, which means zero down payment and no private mortgage insurance. This is one of the most underutilized loan programs in North Texas, and eligibility is changing as Celina grows. If you’re looking at a property outside the core development corridors, it’s worth checking USDA eligibility before assuming you need a conventional loan.
Conventional Loans
The majority of Celina purchases fall into conventional loan territory. With median prices in the $450K–$520K range, most buyers are well within conforming loan limits and have access to strong conventional programs with down payments as low as 3–5%. I work with multiple wholesale investors to find the best rate and fee combination for your specific profile.
New Construction Financing
With Celina dominated by new construction, understanding your financing options before you walk into a builder’s sales office is critical. Builder-preferred lenders often offer attractive incentives — but those incentives sometimes come with higher interest rates that cost more over the life of the loan. I’ll give you a transparent side-by-side comparison so you can make an informed decision before committing.
FHA Loans
For first-time buyers or those with limited down payment savings, FHA financing remains a strong entry point into the Celina market. FHA loans allow as little as 3.5% down, carry flexible qualification guidelines, and are well-suited for buyers entering this market for the first time.
VA Loans
Veterans and active-duty service members purchasing in Celina can use their VA loan benefit for zero down payment and no PMI. There is no county loan limit for borrowers with full VA entitlement, making this an excellent tool in a market where prices have come down from recent peaks.
Acreage & Rural Property Loans
Celina still has a meaningful supply of larger rural lots and acreage properties, particularly on the Collin and Denton County fringes. These properties can require specialized financing — conventional loans on rural acreage have different underwriting considerations than standard subdivision homes. I have experience with these transactions and know which investors handle them well.
Why Work with a Local Mortgage Broker in Celina?
Celina is not a generic suburb. It’s a community in the middle of a historic transformation — and the financing decisions you make here require someone who understands that context. Which addresses are still USDA-eligible? Which communities have HOA structures that affect loan qualification? Which builders have the most competitive outside-lender policies?
As a Celina resident and independent mortgage broker with access to multiple wholesale investors, I’m not limited to one lender’s rate sheet. I shop your loan across lenders to find the best combination of rate, fees, and terms — and I stay personally involved from application through closing. No hand-offs. No call centers. Just straightforward answers from someone who lives in your community.
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Homewood Mortgage, LLC | NMLS #294974 | Wayne Wallace NMLS #745186 | Licensed in Texas | This is not a commitment to lend.