Michael Wolff
Mortgage Broker — Go Rascal, Inc. I help buyers, homeowners, Veterans, investors, and real estate partners make better mortgage decisions by walking through the numbers, the tradeoffs, and the strategy before things get stressful.
Over 20 years in mortgage lending
I have been originating purchase loans for over 20 years. Before the 2008 financial crisis. Through it. Through the recovery, the rate run-up, and every market cycle since. I have seen enough to know what actually matters in a mortgage transaction — and what is mostly noise.
In 2020, my family and I packed up after two decades in Los Angeles and moved to Apex, North Carolina. Best decision we ever made.
Education first. Strategy before sales.
I have a background in engineering, which probably explains why I approach a mortgage the way I do. I work through the numbers, I do not shy away from complicated situations, and I give people a straight answer about what is actually possible.
I am a broker, not a bank. That distinction matters. Banks can only offer their own products. As a broker, I have access to multiple wholesale lenders, which means I can look for the right fit instead of forcing every buyer into one institution’s product lineup.
Most of the people I work with are making one of the largest financial commitments of their lives. They deserve to understand the loan type, rate structure, closing costs, timeline, and long-term implications before they commit.
🎖️ VA Loans
VA purchase, entitlement, multiple-use scenarios, appraisal issues, and lender overlays.
🏠 First-Time Buyers
Budget, pre-approval, offer strategy, closing costs, and what happens from contract to keys.
📋 Self-Employed Borrowers
Tax returns, add-backs, bank statement loans, P&L programs, and income that does not fit a W-2 box.
🔨 Construction & Renovation
FHA 203(k), Fannie Mae HomeStyle, and construction-to-permanent financing.
📈 Investors & Builders
DSCR loans, non-owner-occupied scenarios, new construction, and fix-and-hold strategies.
😶 Complicated Files
Job changes, unusual income, high debt-to-income, credit events, or a prior lender saying no.
Licensed states and primary market
I am personally licensed in North Carolina, California, Florida, Georgia, Tennessee, and Virginia. My primary local market is the NC Triangle — Raleigh, Apex, Cary, Durham, and Chapel Hill.
A bit more about me
I moved to Apex in 2020 with my wife and two kids after 20 years in Los Angeles. North Carolina delivered on what we were looking for: better schools, more space, a slower pace, and a community that felt like one.
I have been in mortgage since before the 2008 crisis. I survived it, watched a lot of colleagues leave the industry, and came out with a much clearer sense of what responsible lending looks like. I do not put people in loans they cannot sustain. I do not maximize loan size for the sake of a larger commission.
Outside of work: two kids, one dog, a commute-free lifestyle, and the best decision I ever made living in the Peak City.
Ready to talk through your situation?
No pressure and no pitch. We can walk through your goals, timing, numbers, and which mortgage path makes sense.
Michael Wolff · NMLS #239403 · Go Rascal, Inc. NMLS #2072896