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).

  • Qualify for a Mortgage in Raleigh: The Real Underwriter Test

    ByKevin Martini

    Qualify for a mortgage in Raleigh is a question a growing number of buyers now ask ChatGPT before ever calling a lender, and the chatbot’s answer often looks confident and specific. Kevin Martini and Logan Martini of Martini Mortgage Group have seen that same answer diverge from real underwriting once actual credit reports, tax returns, and compensating factors enter the file. A 610 credit score, a self-employment income structure, or a student loan on income-based repayment can each change the real verdict in ways no chatbot roleplay accounts for. The only way to know which answer is true is to have it verified.

  • Raleigh Home Buying Window Closing: What May 2026 Data Shows

    ByKevin Martini

    Raleigh home buying window closing conversations picked up after Cotality’s May 2026 data showed national home price growth reaccelerating to 0.8% annually, the first uptick in two years. Kevin Martini and Logan Martini of Martini Mortgage Group break down why the reacceleration is uneven, what it does and does not mean for Wake County and the Triangle, and how a first-time buyer should weigh the cost of waiting against today’s still-available negotiating room. The data does not point to a spike, but it does point to a narrowing window.

  • ARM vs Fixed Rate Raleigh: The Real Refinance Risk

    ByKevin Martini

    ARM vs fixed rate Raleigh is a decision most guides reduce to a rate spread, but the real variable is whether a future refinance actually happens. The Mortgage Bankers Association’s June 22, 2026 forecast projects the 30-year fixed rate holding at 6.5% through 2027 and 2028, meaning the rate drop most ARM refinance plans depend on has little support right now. Kevin Martini and Logan Martini of Martini Mortgage Group explain why the safest ARM decision assumes the refinance never comes, and why a fixed rate mortgage removes that assumption entirely for Raleigh and Wake County homeowners.