Letter 01
Dear Derek,
Derek was very informative, responsive, and easy to work with!
With gratitude,
Brianna
Derek Harjes
Derek Harjes.
Loan Officer · 4 states licensed · 10 client reviews
TitleLoan Officer
OfficeWest Des Moines, IA
Licensed inIA · IL · MN · MO
Photo
NMLS ID#508753
4
States licensed
4.9/5
Client rating
10+
Client reviews
No. 01 · About Derek
Loan Officer, working files directly.
Profile sourced from LHFS’s public officer directory. NMLS #508753 — verify at nmlsconsumeraccess.org.
With over 18 years of expertise in mortgage loan origination, I have a proven track record of success. Recognized as the consistent top performer for Land Home Financial Services’ elite President’s Club from 2019 to 2023, and earning the distinction of being one of the Top 10 Preferred Lenders in the State for the Iowa Finance Authority, I take pride in building trust and transparency with both the agents I work with and the customers I service. Having a background in Mathematics and Analytics, I approach challenges with a distinct viewpoint. I thrive on finding creative cost-saving solutions for every customer’s unique situation. My commitment to excellence allows me to approach everything with a fresh perspective and out-of-the-box thinking. Let’s set up some time to talk. I’m dedicated to winning you and your customers over with hard work, tailored attention to individual needs, and an easy approach. I make the loan process fun!
TitleLoan Officer
NMLS#508753
Branch6919 Vista Drive — West Des Moines, IA
States4 licensed
LinkedInView profile
No. 02 · The Approach
Direct lender, same person on every call.
LHFS’s service rhythm isn’t a tagline — it’s how files actually move. Discovery before pricing, in-house underwriting, one named human from intro to close.
01 · Consultant
Discovery first, math second
Your situation drives the recommendation, not the rate sheet. Expect a real conversation before any rates are quoted — income type, timeline, credit posture, and goals all shape what the right loan actually is.
02 · Local
Direct lender, not a broker
Files are underwritten in-house at LHFS, not shopped out. Your loan officer is the same person from first call through close — no handoffs to a call-center mid-process. That's how 21-day closes happen.
03 · Advocate
Long-term relationship
From first home to refi to the next move, LHFS LOs tend to stay with their borrowers. Around two-thirds of business each year is repeat or referral — the strongest signal that the service actually delivered.
Typical lender
Order-taker model
- Hands you off to a processor after the first call
- Quotes rates before understanding the file
- Calls back in 2–3 days when conditions come up
- Treats every loan type as roughly the same product
- Generic CD walkthrough, "anything questions?" close
- Disappears after close — different LO at your next refi
LHFS model
Consultant + advocate
- Same loan officer from intro through funding
- Discovery conversation first, rate quote after
- Conditions get a same-day response in business hours
- Program selection driven by your specifics, not the spread
- Closing Disclosure walked line-by-line, every time
- In your contacts for the rest of your homeownership
No. 03 · Licensing
Where Derek is licensed to lend.
State-level mortgage licensing is per-state. Verify at nmlsconsumeraccess.org using NMLS #508753.
4
States Active
Individual NMLS-tracked licensure
50 + DC
via LHFS Corporate
Co-licensed partner network (NMLS #1796)
Licensed In4 states
IAIowa
ILIllinois
MNMinnesota
MOMissouri
Outside Derek’s footprint? A co-licensed LHFS partner LO can handle your file — same direct-lender service, no broker hand-off.
Browse all LOsView per-state credentials4 entries · NMLS-verifiable
StateFull NameVerificationStatus
IAIowaSee NMLS Consumer AccessActive
ILIllinoisSee NMLS Consumer AccessActive
MNMinnesotaSee NMLS Consumer AccessActive
MOMissouriSee NMLS Consumer AccessActive
No. 04 · The Process
From hello to keys, step by step.
The LHFS service process. No surprises, no "just submit and we'll see" black boxes.Typical purchase closes in 30–42 days; refis and streamlines run 20–35.
01
Discovery call (30 min, free)
Loan type, timeline, income posture, credit range. No SSN, no hard pull, no commitment. By the end you’ll know whether you’re even talking to the right program — sometimes the answer is "wait" or "different lender."
02
Pre-approval and document plan
Soft credit pull, income and asset review, document checklist scoped to your file. Pre-approval letter within 1–3 business days. You’ll see exactly what you qualify for, not a sales target.
03
Offer support through close
For purchase files: realtor coordination, offer-letter language, seller-side reassurance when needed. For refis: rate lock window, payoff-statement timing. The boring part — done correctly.
04
Application, processing, underwriting
Full application filed, appraisal ordered, file enters underwriting. Your LO stays on the file — calls when conditions come up, escalates when needed, gives you a real ETA at every stage instead of "we’ll let you know."
05
Clear to close and signing
Closing Disclosure walked line by line, every figure explained. Keys handed over. Your LO stays in your contacts — for the IRRRL when rates drop, for the next move, for the kid’s first house.
No. 05 · Client Stories
In their own words.
Real letters from real borrowers — no edits, no curation. Pulled directly from LHFS’s public officer directory.
Note from our editorial team: Showing the 6 most recent of 10 reviews on file · aggregate rating 4.9/5. Names used with permission.
Letter 02
Dear Derek,
Derek and all the members of his team made this an amazing experience from start to finish. They were there every step of the way to help and answer any questions I had.
With gratitude,
Kenneth
Letter 03
Dear Derek,
Incredibly helpful, knowledgeable, and communicative
With gratitude,
Natalie
Letter 04
Dear Derek,
When we were looking into buying our first home, I spoke with several loan officers before finding Derek. He immediately stood out with his patience and willingness to walk me through every step. No matter what questions I threw at him, he explained everything in a way I could actually understand. He genuinely stands out from the rest, and I can't recommend him enough!
With gratitude,
Abigail
Letter 05
Dear Derek,
We loved how hwlpful he was at asking all of our questions and helping us make the best decisio!
With gratitude,
Kendra
Letter 06
Dear Derek,
Derek was great to work with. He explained everything to us to make sure we knew exactly what we were doing!
With gratitude,
Kimberly
Reviews are sourced directly from LHFS’s public officer directory. Loan details accurate to borrower’s experience.Read more stories
No. 06 · Run the Numbers Yourself
Tools Derek actually uses.
The same calculators Derek runs during your discovery call. Plug in your real numbers, see the math, bring questions to the conversation.
Mortgage Calculator
Real amortization with taxes, insurance, and PMI built in. The full PITI picture, not a fake teaser payment.
Open calculatorAffordability Estimator
DTI-based budget. What you can actually support comfortably, not what you can stretch to.
Estimate budgetRefi Calculator
Break-even math without shortcuts. Does refinancing your current loan actually pay off, and when?
Run break-evenNo. 07 · Common Questions
What to expect, answered honestly.
Eight questions LHFS LOs hear most often. If you have a different one, just ask— the discovery call is for exactly this.
01Do I have to commit to anything to schedule a call?
No. The discovery call is free, with no obligation. No SSN, no hard credit pull, no application. If a different lender or a different program is actually your best option, you’ll be told that — sometimes the honest answer is "wait six months and try again."
02How does LHFS compare to a bank or online-only lender?
LHFS is a direct lender — we underwrite in-house, not via a broker network. That means decisions on your file happen in the same building as your loan officer, and conditions are resolved with one phone call instead of three days of email tag.
Compared to banks: we’re mortgage-specialist, not a generalist with a mortgage desk. Compared to online-only: you have a named human on every file, not a tracking number.
03How long does a typical loan take to close?
The LHFS network averages closing inside 21–42 days depending on loan type. Purchases run 30–42, conventional refis 25–35, FHA streamlines and VA IRRRLs as fast as 20–28. Outliers exist on either end — cash deals close faster, complex jumbo files slower.
04What documents will I need?
Standard mortgage documentation: two years of W-2s or 1099s, two months of bank statements, two recent pay stubs, government ID, and the address of the subject property. Self-employed borrowers add two years of tax returns plus P&L statements. Bank-statement loans use 12–24 months of business deposits instead of tax returns.
Your LO will scope the exact checklist after the discovery call — not before.
05What credit score do I need?
Conventional loans typically require 620+. FHA goes down to 580 (sometimes 500 with 10% down). VA and USDA are flexible — VA has no hard minimum, lender overlays vary. Bank-statement, ITIN, and DSCR programs have their own thresholds.
A 740+ score generally unlocks the best pricing tiers across most products.
06Will you be the one I deal with the whole time?
Yes. Your loan officer stays on the file from first call through funding. Processors, underwriters, and the closing team work alongside the LO, not as replacements. When conditions come up, the same person who walked you through the rate quote is the one calling you about them.
07Can I refinance with you if my current loan is with another lender?
Yes — refinances move the loan to LHFS regardless of where the existing one lives. Common moves: rate-and-term refi (lower rate), cash-out refi (pull equity), term-shortening (15-year from a 30-year), or PMI-removal at the 20% equity mark.
The refi calculator in tools will run the break-even math.
08What happens after closing?
Your LO stays in your contacts — not your spam folder. Annual portfolio check-in when rates move, proactive reach-out for IRRRL or streamline opportunities, and a familiar voice when the next purchase or refi comes around. Mortgage relationships work best on multi-decade horizons.
Ready to talk?
Three ways to start a conversation.
Pick whichever fits. The 15-minute discovery call is free, no SSN, no commitment.