I’d already been doing mortgages for 20+ years alongside the fire service. When the job ended, the mortgage business became the mission.

Here’s what I learned from both careers: most lenders don’t know how first responders actually get paid. They see overtime and get nervous. They see shift differentials and average them wrong. They see a pension and don’t know what to do with it. And so a lot of qualified first responders either get told no, or get approved for the wrong thing, and end up in a loan that doesn’t hold up.

That’s the problem Maltese Mortgage exists to solve.

I’m not going to quote you a rate in the first conversation. I’m going to understand your income structure, your goals, and your timeline — and then show you the options that actually make sense. Rate comes after structure. Always.

I’ve done this for 20+ years. I’ve closed loans in every market condition. I’ve seen what works and what doesn’t. And I’ve been the person sitting across from a firefighter who just got told he doesn’t qualify — and then found a way to get it done correctly.

If you’re a first responder, veteran, or family in South Orange County and you want a straight answer about where you stand — that’s the conversation I want to have.

I'm Tyler Thrush, and I look forward to helping you!