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Residential Mortgages·Dallas, TXFor homes

Maria Leach

First United Bank4.9342 Experience.com reviews

Home loans pre-underwritten up front, closing in 19 days on average

Senior mortgage consultant with First United Bank, Dallas Preston Center. Conventional, VA, FHA and construction loans with underwriting, closing and funding in-house.

In business
More than 23 years in mortgages
Team
Processing to funding under one roof
Service area
Dallas–Fort Worth; lending across Texas
Member
since 2004

What Maria does

  • Conventional Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac loans
  • VA and FHA loans
  • Construction loans, one- or two-time close
  • Grant programs and down payment assistance
  • Refinancing
  • Credit building before you qualify
All services →

Problems Maria solves

  • A buyer whose credit is not quite there yet
  • A contract closing date the lender cannot meet
  • A first-time buyer who does not know where to start
  • Building a home and dreading two closings
  • A loan the builder's lender turned down

Who should call

  • First-time home buyers
  • Friends or family buying a home or refinancing
  • Real estate agents and offices without an in-house lender
  • Builders with loans outside their lender's guidelines

The best introductionA real estate agent whose buyer was turned down by the builder's lender or needs to build credit first.

10 guides by Maria

Answers Maria gives clients every week

All residential mortgages guides
Residential Mortgages You want to buy a house but are not sure you qualify: from unsure to approved to closed Rent keeps rising, a friend just bought and you have a vague fear that your credit or savings will not pass. Here is what approval really depends on, what you can fix before applying, and how a clean loan process runs. 9 min read What questions should I ask a mortgage lender before I apply? Before you apply for a mortgage: the questions that show whether a lender will close 7 min read How does a construction loan work, and should I choose a one-time close or a two-time close? Building a home in Texas: one-time close or two-time close construction loan? 7 min read Do you really need 20 percent down to buy a house? Do you really need 20 percent down? Mortgage myths that keep buyers renting 7 min read FHA, conventional or VA loan: which home loan is right for me? FHA, conventional or VA: how to tell which home loan fits your situation 7 min read Can I fix my credit myself before applying for a mortgage? Fixing your credit before a mortgage: what you can do yourself and what to leave alone 7 min read How long does it take to close on a house with a mortgage? From signed contract to keys: how long a mortgage takes and what slows it down 7 min read How do I know if refinancing my mortgage makes sense? Is refinancing worth it for you? How to tell before you pay a dollar in closing costs 7 min read What determines my mortgage rate and closing costs in Texas? What actually sets your mortgage rate and closing costs, and which parts you control 7 min read Why did my mortgage payment go up after the first year? Your mortgage payment went up and the rate did not change: escrow, taxes and what to do 7 min read

Why clients choose Maria

Proof, not promises

  • Senior Mortgage Consultant, First United Bank (First United Mortgage Group)
  • NMLS 761972
  • More than 23 years in the mortgage industry
  • University of Texas at Arlington graduate
  • Top Producer's Club 2007–2012 and President's Club 2013 (per her Experience.com bio)
In business
more than 23 years
Team
Maria and her team, with processing, underwriting, closing, funding and servicing in-house

What clients say

Excerpts from public Experience.com reviews of Maria Leach. Read all 342 on Experience.com.

★★★★★October 2026

Maria provided frequent communication to keep me abreast of all aspects of the loan process. Jordan was also excellent to work with and provided great support

— Marisa V
★★★★★August 2026

Maria was so helpful and kind throughout this process. As a first-time home-buyer, I had a lot of questions! She talked me through everything and was fun to work with!

— Taylor V
★★★★★August 2026

Maria was great to work with, given a few challenges on our side she was constantly empathetic and responsive to our needs. We will use her excellent services again and highly recommend her to family and friends! Gratefully, Mike and Arlene

— Arlene R
Show 1 more review
★★★★★August 2026

Maria and her team are the best !! Always professional and move at a rapid pace.

— Jenifer G

How it works

What happens after you reach out

  1. Consultation and education Maria reviews the buyer's goals, income and credit and explains the loan options in plain terms.
  2. Pre-underwriting The file is underwritten up front, in-house, so the approval is real before the contract is signed.
  3. Processing, closing and funding under one roof Processing, underwriting, closing and funding are all in-house, which is how the team averages 19 days to close.
  4. Servicing stays in-house Loan servicing remains with First United after closing.

In Maria's words

Situations Maria handles every week

A buyer whose credit is not quite there yet

Maria's team helps clients build credit when needed instead of turning them away. In-house underwriting with no overlays on Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac loans means the guidelines are the agency's own, not a stricter in-house version.

A contract with a closing date the lender cannot meet

Files are pre-underwritten, and processing, underwriting, closing and funding all sit in the same building. The company average is 19 days to close, and loans can close sooner.

A first-time buyer who does not know where to start

Maria educates and advises first, so what could be a stressful experience becomes a clear process. Grant programs and down payment assistance are part of the toolkit for buyers short on cash to close.

Building a home and dreading two closings

Construction financing is offered as a one-time close or a two-time close, so the borrower can choose a single closing that converts to the permanent loan.

A loan that does not fit the builder's preferred lender

When a borrower falls outside a builder's in-house underwriting guidelines, Maria's team can often help with less stringent guidelines and credit assistance.

A veteran or FHA borrower who wants a lender that knows the programs

Conventional, VA and FHA loans are all handled by the same team, with more than two decades of experience anticipating the problems each program raises.

Services

Everything Maria offers

Conventional loansConforming Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac loans with no in-house overlays.
VA loansHome loans for eligible veterans and service members.
FHA loansGovernment-insured loans for buyers with smaller down payments or newer credit.
Construction loansOne-time close and two-time close construction financing.
Grant programs and down payment assistancePrograms that help buyers with funds to close.
RefinancingRate, term and cash-out refinances for existing homeowners.
Credit building guidanceHelp for clients who need to strengthen credit before qualifying.
First-time buyer educationStep-by-step guidance for buyers purchasing their first home.

Service area: Dallas, Preston Center, Dallas–Fort Worth, Texas

About

Maria Leach

Maria Leach is a senior mortgage consultant with First United Bank at its Dallas Preston Center office, with more than 23 years in the mortgage industry. Her team handles conventional Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac loans, FHA and VA loans, construction financing with a one-time or two-time close, refinances, and grant and down payment assistance programs, and helps clients build credit when that blocks approval.

Processing, underwriting, closing and funding all sit under one roof at the bank, with no overlays added to agency guidelines. Files are pre-underwritten, which is how the company averages 19 days to close. Maria educates and advises first.

Why clients choose Maria

  • More than 23 years anticipating problems before they stall a loan
  • Everything in-house, from processing to funding, with a 19-day average close
  • No overlays on Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac loans, plus credit building and down payment assistance

Works alongside: Works alongside real estate agents and offices without an in-house lender, speaking at their meetings, and with builders such as Drees who need a lender for loans that fall outside their underwriting guidelines.

Member of BNI Preston Center since 2004.

FAQ

Questions people ask Maria

How fast can we close?

The company average is 19 days, and loans can close sooner because files are pre-underwritten and processing, underwriting, closing and funding are all in-house.

My credit needs work. Can you still help?

Yes. Maria's team helps clients build credit when needed, and underwrites Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac loans with no overlays.

What loan programs do you offer?

Conventional, VA and FHA loans, one-time close and two-time close construction loans, and grant and down payment assistance programs.

Is there help with the down payment?

Grant programs and down payment assistance are available for qualified buyers.

Does she quote rates on this page?

No. Rates depend on the borrower, the program and the market on the day of the lock, and are only quoted in a loan estimate after an application. Nothing here is a rate or approval promise.

Contact

Reach Maria

CompanyFirst United Bank
Office8411 Preston Rd., Suite 112, Dallas, TX 75225
Experience.comReviews

Email goes through the referral form so the chapter can record the introduction.

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