Author: Kevin Martini

Kevin Martini (NMLS 143962) is a Certified Mortgage Advisor and Producing Branch Manager at Martini Mortgage Group at Rate in Raleigh, North Carolina. Since 2006, he has originated more than $1 billion in home loans and helped families across Raleigh, the Triangle and North Carolina use their mortgage as a tool to build long-term wealth. Kevin's philosophy is simple: any mortgage company will tell you what you CAN do, but very few will help you understand what you SHOULD do. That's why he built Martini Mortgage Group on a Strategy Before Structure approach. Every home loan is designed around the client's full financial picture, short- and long-term goals, and total cost of borrowing, not just today's rate. Because the team's Certified Mortgage Advisors and Mortgage Strategists are paid a salary rather than 100% commission, their fiduciary-style advice focuses on what's best for the client before, during and long after closing, with the goal of helping families grow their wealth, reduce debt and plan for a debt-free retirement. Kevin holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and Management from Nova Southeastern University's Huizenga School of Business & Entrepreneurship. He hosts the Martini Mortgage Podcast, with more than 250 episodes, and shares mortgage strategy and market news on Instagram (@KevinMartiniLive) and YouTube (@MartiniMortgage).

FHA vs Conventional 680 Credit Score: The Real Answer
ByKevin Martini August 25, 2026August 25, 2026

FHA vs conventional 680 credit score comparisons rarely come down to approval odds since both minimums are cleared easily at that score. The real difference is mortgage insurance structure: FHA’s fixed 0.55 percent rate versus conventional’s tiered PMI pricing. Kevin Martini of Martini Mortgage Group run this exact math for Raleigh and Wake County buyers weekly, finding FHA often wins with low down payments while conventional pulls ahead near 10 percent down or a fast path to 20 percent equity.

Read More FHA vs Conventional 680 Credit Score: The Real Answer
Income Needed for a 500K House in Raleigh: The Real Number
ByKevin Martini August 23, 2026August 23, 2026

Income needed for a 500K house in Raleigh is not a single number pulled from a national calculator. It ranges from about $134,000 to $165,000 a year depending on down payment size, existing debt, and the mortgage rate locked at closing. Kevin Martini of Martini Mortgage Group built this breakdown using Wake County’s actual combined property tax rate and Freddie Mac’s current 30-year average, not a generic estimate. A buyer putting 20 percent down needs meaningfully less income than one putting 5 percent down, even on the identical Raleigh house. The real number is decided at the closing table, not by the price tag alone.

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620 Credit Score to Buy a House in Raleigh? Real Answer
ByKevin Martini August 20, 2026August 21, 2026

620 credit score to buy a house in Raleigh is enough to qualify for both FHA and conventional financing, according to Logan Martini of Martini Mortgage Group. FHA opens at 580, conventional pricing typically starts at 620, and debt-to-income ratio and reserves often matter as much as the score itself. On a $350,000 Raleigh purchase, the difference between FHA and conventional cash-to-close runs about $5,250. Rate pricing tracks Freddie Mac’s national average, currently 6.67 per

Read More 620 Credit Score to Buy a House in Raleigh? Real Answer

Author: Kevin Martini

FHA vs Conventional 680 Credit Score: The Real Answer

Income Needed for a 500K House in Raleigh: The Real Number

620 Credit Score to Buy a House in Raleigh? Real Answer

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