NMLS: 174457
Santa Fe Mortgage Advisor — Experience, Strategy, Clarity
WELCOME !
My name is Marita DeVargas. I am a loan officer with over 27 years of experience in the mortgage industry and over 1000 clients. I help buyers, homeowners, and Realtors navigate complex mortgage decisions across Santa Fe and Northern New Mexico. My personal approach is focused on thoughtful loan strategy, clear communication, and steady guidance in changing markets.
Not Just A Mortgage ~ The Right Mortgage
Anyone can provide mortgage answers straight from a mortgage training manual, but successful outcomes require more than quick responses. In markets like Santa Fe, Albuquerque and Northern New Mexico, where transactions can be complex and timing matters, experience and approach make the difference. Marita provides solutions, ideas and a logical approach.
Clarity
Clarity matters more than promises when it comes to mortgage financing. The process can involve detailed documentation, changing conditions, and moments that feel uncertain or even frustrating. An experienced loan consultant understands that setting realistic expectations from the beginning is far more valuable than offering easy answers that don’t hold up later. Marita DeVargas focuses on providing clear, honest guidance at every step, helping clients understand not just what to expect, but why each part of the process matters. Her goal is to remove confusion, reduce surprises, and ensure that buyers and homeowners move forward with confidence — even when the process requires patience.
Experience
Guidance in mortgage lending is less about reassurance and more about clarity at the right moments. The process involves multiple moving parts — documentation, underwriting conditions, timing, and coordination with other parties — and each step has consequences if handled incorrectly or too late. Marita’s approach is to provide direct, timely input on what matters next, what can wait, and where potential issues may arise. This keeps decisions grounded, reduces unnecessary back-and-forth, and helps ensure the loan progresses in a controlled, predictable way from application through closing.
And Always - Measurable Results
Measurable results in mortgage lending are reflected in execution — clean approvals, timelines that hold, and transactions that close without last-minute disruption. This requires more than qualification; it depends on how well the loan is structured, how accurately documentation aligns with underwriting expectations, and how consistently communication is maintained throughout the process. Marita’s focus is on outcomes that can be seen and tracked — files that move efficiently through underwriting, conditions that are addressed early, and closings that proceed as planned without avoidable delays or renegotiation.
Marita’s 12 Steps To Mortgage Success
A mortgage has to always go through its natural progress and this is where a professional like Marita keeps you on track and helps reduce the natural stress that the mortgage process can at times bring along with it. It is important to have clear and concise expectations right out of the gate.
Marita’s Areas of Mortgage Expertise
Large & Complex Loan Amounts
Purchases over one million dollars requiring strict underwriting and impeccable knowledge of all regulations and possible obstacles.
Equity Conversion Loans
Previously known as Reverse Mortgages, this type of loan is now completely restructured and provides great benefits under the right conditions.
Bank Statement Loans
Bank statement loans are a great option for borrowers whose income or other requirements have unusual circumstances that need special attention
First Time Home Buyer Loans
First-time home buyer transactions require more than basic qualification — they require preparation, clarity, and realistic expectations from the outset.
Everything Begins With A Conversation
Give Marita a call for a free consultation and determine right away, without any obligation how to begin the process.
CELL: 505-660-5044 | EMAIL: mdevargas@loandepot.com | Apply: LOAN DEPOT
VA Loans
VA loans are Marita’s expertise and she helps a lot of our amazing veterans maneuver through the maze of rules and requirements they present in order to be approved.
Loan Refinancing Done Right
Marita’s job doesn’t end at the closing table. She remains actively engaged by continuously monitoring market conditions for opportunities to improve her clients mortgage positioning.
Annuitized Assets Loan
For borrowers who may not have traditional income but hold substantial liquid or investment assets. Instead of relying on employment income, the lender calculates a qualifying income by “annuitizing” those assets.
Your Mortgage Questions, Answered.
-
Not necessarily - a pre approval is basically a letter of initial confidence that still has to undergo underwriting, documentation and approval. Funds sources, unexpected surprises, appraisals, inspections can all delay getting to the title company for closing. But I will guide you all the way and we will get there together.
-
The term “too good to be true” immediately comes to mind. Offers like that usually involve high down payments, rate buy downs and other conditions that in the end will cost more than a conventional rate - but that is not to say it can happen under very unique situations - I am transparent and I will tell you if you should go for it once I review it. I never want to force my services on you.
-
We combine a thoughtful, human-centered approach with clear communication and reliable results. It’s not just what we do—it’s how we do it that sets us apart.
-
You can reach us anytime via our contact page or email. We aim to respond quickly—usually within one business day.
-
We offer flexible pricing based on project type and complexity. After an initial conversation, we’ll provide a transparent quote with no hidden costs.
-
Collaborative, honest, and straightforward. We're here to guide the process, bring ideas to the table, and keep things moving.
You Need A Trusted Mortgage Lender in Santa Fe and Northern New Mexico On Your Side
Marita DeVargas is a mortgage advisor known for her deep local knowledge, calm problem-solving, and long-standing relationships with Santa Fe and Albuquerque Realtors. She is licensed in New Mexico, Colorado, California, and Hawaii, and provides service in both English and Spanish.
As Featured In Forbes
Selected to be featured in Barker Realty’s Forbes magazine publication, a distinction that reflects her reputation within the Santa Fe real estate community. Her inclusion was by invitation, recognizing her experience, consistency, and the level of trust she has earned among top-tier Realtors and clients. Being part of this high-end publication underscores her standing as a knowledgeable and reliable mortgage professional in a competitive and discerning market.
What Clients Say About Me
-
“Marita DeVargas is an excellent lender and always takes great care of our clients. She gets the deal done and she gets it done on time."
– Amanda Irwin
Barker Realty - Veritas Team and Santa Fe’s Top Realtor
-
“LoanDepot has the most professional, friendly staff. They made buying a home super easy. Thank you for taking such great care of us as we closed on our VA Loan!”
– Valene Lee
Meet Marita DeVargas
Marita DeVargas has spent more than two decades helping clients make confident mortgage decisions.
Recognized for her professionalism and market insight, she works closely with buyers and Realtors throughout Santa Fe, Albuquerque and Northern New Mexico to structure loans that support successful closings.
Marita is also licensed in the states of Hawaii, Colorado, Nevada and California.
Times Are Changing - Or Are They?
Despite all the hype, tools like ChatGPT, Google, and other AI systems are still in a surprisingly early stage of development. There’s a growing narrative that AI is on the verge of taking over everything, but the reality is much more grounded—they still make frequent mistakes, misinterpret context, and sometimes confidently deliver incorrect or incomplete information. They can process data quickly, but they don’t truly understand it the way people do.
More importantly, AI lacks what really matters in many situations: genuine human connection. It can’t read the room, pick up on subtle emotional cues, or build trust through lived experience. That’s where someone like Marita stands out—her people skills, intuition, and ability to connect with others on a human level are things AI simply can’t replicate. For all its capabilities, AI is still a tool… and it’s nowhere near replacing the value of real human relationships.