Charles County, Maryland · Hughesville Office · NMLS #2656628

Charles County Mortgage Lender — VA, First-Time Buyer, DSCR & Self-Employed Loans in Hughesville, La Plata, Waldorf & Beyond.

Ken's office is in Hughesville, right on the Charles / St. Mary's County line. Whether you're buying your first home in Waldorf, investing near Indian Head, or refinancing in White Plains, Ken is available to have a conversation with you, understand your vision, and help you obtain the loan that fits your real estate goals.

Find My Mortgage Path Send Me a Scenario →

Fast pre-approvals with complete docs Lives in Calvert County Retired U.S. Navy veteran Fairway Home Mortgage

Ken Powell

Mortgage Loan Officer · Fairway Home Mortgage

NMLS #2656628 · Equal Housing Lender

Why Ken Powell for Charles County

A Growing Southern Maryland Housing Market, and We're Already Here.

Charles County continues to attract buyers from across Southern Maryland and the DC corridor, with strong demand from DC commuters, government workers, and military families. Our office is in Hughesville, we're not a call center routing your loan to someone in another state.

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Hughesville Office

8307 Old Leonardtown Road, Hughesville, MD, right on the Charles / St. Mary's County line, about 12 miles from La Plata. Come in and sit down if you want. Most people prefer the phone, but the option is there.

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USDA-Eligible Communities

Outside of Waldorf's urban core, significant portions of Charles County qualify for USDA Rural Development, including Indian Head, Port Tobacco, and surrounding communities.

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DC Commuter Market

Charles County attracts DC government workers who need mortgage lenders who understand the federal employment income structure, security clearances, and GS-pay scales as qualifying income.

Why Buyers Choose Charles County

A Major Southern Maryland Homebuying Market.

Charles County attracts military families, veterans, federal employees, commuters, first-time home buyers, and real estate investors, and for good reason. Convenient access to Washington, DC, the Pentagon, the Washington Navy Yard, Joint Base Andrews, Naval Support Facility Indian Head, Fort Belvoir, and Northern Virginia makes the county an outstanding place to live while getting more home for your money.

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Affordability With a DC Paycheck

Housing remains genuinely affordable compared to much of the DC metro area. Buyers routinely trade a cramped closer-in condo budget for a full single-family home here.

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Military & Federal Careers

Thousands of residents work at the Navy Yard, the Pentagon, Joint Base Andrews, NSF Indian Head, Fort Belvoir, and federal agencies across the National Capital Region. VA loans and BAH-friendly payments are daily business here, and Ken speaks that language as a retired Navy veteran.

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New Construction & Family Living

Growing planned communities, expanding retail and dining, family-friendly neighborhoods, and parks, trails, and recreation throughout the county. New construction buyers should budget for the fair share school excise tax, which Ken prices in up front.

Long-term investment potential is strong too: population growth, stable government employment, continued commercial development, and high rental demand from military families and federal employees. DSCR loans help investors expand here without relying on personal income.

Loan Programs

Every Loan Type Available in Charles County.

Ken Powell and Fairway Home Mortgage offer every loan program available to Charles County home buyers, veterans, and investors.

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VA Loans

$0 down, no PMI for eligible veterans and active-duty service members in Charles County. As a retired Navy veteran, I've used this benefit personally.

$0 down · No PMI

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USDA Loans

Many areas of Charles County qualify for USDA Rural Development, 100% financing, low mortgage insurance. I check eligibility at no cost.

$0 down · Rural eligible

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Conventional Loans

3 to 20% down options. Competitive rates for Charles County home buyers with strong credit.

As low as 3% down

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DSCR Investor Loans

Qualify on rental cash flow, not your W-2. Perfect for Charles County buy-and-hold investors and landlords.

No W-2 required

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Bank Statement / 1099

Self-employed Charles County buyers and contractors qualify on deposits, not tax returns.

No tax returns

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Jumbo Loans

High-value homes above $832,750 in Charles County. Waterfront, estates, and luxury builds.

Above conforming limits

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FHA Loans

3.5% down with 580 plus credit and flexible debt-to-income limits. The realistic path for Charles County buyers when credit or savings block conventional approval. FHA details →

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Reverse Mortgage (HECM)

For Charles County homeowners 62 and better: convert home equity into cash or a growing line of credit with no required monthly principal and interest mortgage payment, or buy your next home with H4P. Borrowers must still pay taxes, insurance, and upkeep. Reverse details →

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Construction to Permanent

Building in Charles County? One closing covers the build and automatically converts to your permanent mortgage, with the rate locked before construction starts. VA construction offers $0 down for eligible veterans. Construction details →

Fairway has a loan program for almost any mortgage scenario. Contact Ken to determine which loan program best fits your needs.

Charles County Exclusive

SELP: Up to $6,000 Toward Your Settlement Costs.

Charles County's Settlement Expense Loan Program gives eligible first-time buyers purchasing existing homes in the county a deferred second mortgage of $1,000 to $6,000 for closing costs, with no monthly payments. Income limits apply, and the county requires the lender to submit your file at least 15 business days before closing, so it pays to work with a loan officer who plans for the SELP timeline from day one.

See SELP eligibility, income limits, and terms →

Our Process

Simple. Transparent. From Goal to Closing.

Find Your Path

Start with your goal, timeline, property, and financial picture before choosing a loan program.

Review the Scenario

Compare the financing paths worth exploring and understand the tradeoffs before applying.

Get Pre-Approved

Complete the secure application and submit the documents needed for underwriting when you are ready.

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Close With Confidence

Stay informed through underwriting, appraisal, rate lock, and closing.

Know Before You Shop

Every Charles County Community, Mapped to a Loan Strategy.

Waldorf, La Plata, St. Charles, White Plains, Bryans Road, Indian Head, Hughesville, and the rural east each close on different loan types. Waldorf and St. Charles are first-time buyer and investor country, La Plata blends the historic county seat with acreage, White Plains leans new construction, Hughesville and Charlotte Hall sit on the St. Mary's County line with a more rural feel, and the Route 210 corridor near NSF Indian Head is VA territory with real affordability.

Explore the Charles County Neighborhood Guide →

City pages: Hughesville · Charlotte Hall · La Plata · Waldorf

Frequently Asked Questions

Mortgage Questions from Local Buyers, Answered.

What cities in Charles County does Ken Powell serve?+

All of Charles County, Waldorf, La Plata, White Plains, Bryans Road, Indian Head, Port Tobacco, Newburg, Hughesville, Pomfret, and all surrounding communities.

Do USDA loans work in Waldorf or La Plata?+

Waldorf's urban core is typically not USDA-eligible, but many surrounding Charles County communities are. La Plata itself may partially qualify. I check your specific address at no cost.

Can I get a VA loan for a home in Charles County?+

Yes, VA loans are available throughout Charles County. Many military families from NAS Patuxent River purchase in Charles County for the commute access and strong schools.

What's the average home price in Charles County?+

Charles County median home prices have been in the $380,000 to $450,000 range, with many new construction communities pushing higher. Conventional and FHA loans handle most of this range, with some buyers qualifying for USDA.

How do I start the home buying process in Charles County?+

Start with a financing review before you shop. I review your full financial picture, show you side-by-side loan scenarios, and strive to provide a pre-approval within 24 hours of receiving the required documents and information. Timing varies by file and underwriting requirements.

For Investors

Why Waldorf Belongs on an Investor's Short List.

The Waldorf area is ideal for investors because of its growing population. Demand from DC commuters, government workers, and military families keeps the rental pool deep, and there are real opportunities here for both flipping and buy and hold strategies.

Buy and hold

A growing population means consistent tenant demand and long-term appreciation potential. DSCR loans let you qualify on the property's rental income rather than your tax returns, and they work for LLC ownership. Ken invests in rentals himself and will run the numbers on any Waldorf deal with you before you write an offer.

Flipping

Older housing stock in an appreciating market creates value-add opportunities. Whether you plan to flip for profit or refinance and rent after the rehab (the BRRRR approach), the exit financing matters as much as the purchase. Ken helps you plan the cash-out or DSCR refinance before you buy, so your capital comes back out on schedule.