Trusted by St. Louis Families and the Professionals Who Refer Them
Greg Aftayev, owner of Homestead Financial Mortgage, has built his practice on personally delivered service and honest communication. Read what homebuyers, homeowners, realtors, HR leaders, financial planners, and divorce attorneys say about working with him.
- 28+ Years Experience
- Owner at Homestead Financial Mortgage
- NMLS #230559
- BBB A+ Rated Parent Firm
- In-House Processing & Underwriting
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Content last reviewed: June 2026
What Clients and Partners Say About Greg
Homebuyers & Homeowners
From the first conversation to closing day, Greg was genuinely present in our file. He called us after every milestone without us having to ask, explained what was happening and why, and showed up to our closing to make sure everything went smoothly. I didn't expect that level of involvement from a lender.
Amanda Kowalski
First-Time Homebuyer - St. Louis, MO
Greg told me the refinance didn't make financial sense given where rates were and what I owed. That was not what I wanted to hear, but he walked through the numbers so I could understand it myself. He didn't push me toward a decision that would benefit him. That conversation made me trust him completely, and I came back when the timing was right.
Marcus Webb
Homeowner - Chesterfield, MO
As two self-employed business owners, we assumed getting approved would be a fight. Greg explained exactly what documentation mattered, how our income would be evaluated, and what to expect at each stage. He never made us feel like a problem to solve - he made us feel like clients he had done this for a hundred times.
Brian and Cynthia Okafor
Self-Employed Buyers - Clayton, MO
We were completely new to the homebuying process and had no idea what to expect. Greg walked us through every stage - what documents we needed, what the timeline would look like, and what questions to ask our agent. By the time we got to closing, nothing surprised us. That calm, clear guidance made what could have been a stressful experience feel manageable.
Natalie and Chris Ferreira
First-Time Buyers - Webster Groves, MO
I run my own consulting practice and had been told by two other lenders that my income was too complicated to work with. Greg asked different questions, looked at the full picture, and found a path that actually made sense for my situation. He explained every step clearly and never made me feel like my file was a burden. We closed without a single hiccup.
Sandra Obi
Self-Employed Homebuyer - Ladue, MO
Realtors
What separates Greg from other lenders I have worked with is that I never have to chase him. He sends updates before I think to ask, flags potential issues early, and always has a clear answer ready. In a transaction, that kind of reliability isn't a nice-to-have - it's everything. My clients trust him because I do.
Lauren Vasquez
REALTOR - Keller Williams, St. Louis
I have partnered with a lot of lenders over the years. What makes Greg different is that he communicates proactively - I hear from him before I have to ask. His pre-approvals are detailed and credible, and he has never missed a closing date on a file I sent him. My clients trust him, and that trust reflects on me.
Michael Reyes
REALTOR - Compass, St. Louis
Greg's pre-approvals are thorough. When I submit an offer with one of his letters, the other side knows it's solid. He turned around a same-day approval for a client with a tight timeline, and kept me updated throughout so I was never guessing where the file stood. That kind of reliability is what I need in a lending partner.
Jennifer Caldwell
REALTOR - Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices
I sent Greg a referral with a complicated situation - two properties, equity from a sale, and a compressed timeline. He kept me informed at every step without me having to follow up, caught a documentation issue before it became a problem, and we closed on time. That is the kind of lender I can build a business around.
Derek Malone
Listing Agent - RE/MAX Results
I have closed seven transactions with Greg over the past two years and have never had a late closing. Beyond that, my buyers consistently tell me how comfortable he made them feel throughout the process. When a lender takes care of your clients the way Greg does, you stop looking for alternatives.
Alyssa Park
Buyer's Agent - Coldwell Banker Realty
HR & Companies
Introducing Greg to our team required a single email from me. He handled all follow-up, scheduling, and communication directly with employees. HR gets the benefit without the overhead - it genuinely runs itself once the introduction is made. Our employees appreciated having a real person to talk to.
Diane Nguyen
VP of People Operations - Midwest Financial Group
We were relocating a team of twelve employees across three states. Greg coordinated with each person individually, explained how mortgage qualification works during a job transition, and made sure no one walked into a home search without understanding their options. The feedback from our employees was overwhelmingly positive.
Robert Hensley
HR Director - Cornerstone Distribution
After we introduced Greg at an employee Q&A, we received more questions from our team about homebuying than after any other benefit we have offered. Employees were grateful to have access to someone they could actually talk to - not a website or a phone tree. Several went on to work with him directly.
Tamara Jackson
Benefits Manager - Sentinel Healthcare Systems
Financial Planners
Greg never oversteps. He handles the mortgage and stays out of the broader financial plan - which is exactly what I need in a referral partner. My clients tell me he explained the mortgage piece clearly and referred everything else back to me. That kind of professional discipline is rare and genuinely valuable.
Patricia Owens
CFP - Owens Wealth Planning
Before I refer a client to Greg, I give him context on their full financial picture. He takes that information seriously - looks at cash flow implications, considers how the mortgage fits the plan, and checks in with me before making any recommendations. That level of collaboration makes the outcome better for the client.
Stephen Yuen
Financial Advisor - Sterling Ridge Advisors
I referred a client with a genuinely complicated situation - variable income, a business entity involved, and a timeline tied to a retirement milestone. Greg kept me in the loop throughout without me having to follow up. The file closed without any surprises. That is exactly what a good referral relationship looks like.
Karen Whitfield
Wealth Manager - Pinnacle Financial Partners
Workshops & Events
Greg ran a homebuying workshop for our agents and it was one of the most practical sessions we have done all year. Attendees left with a clear understanding of pre-approval, financing timelines, and how to have better conversations with their buyers. Several of them reached out to partner with him directly afterward.
Sarah Mitchell
Broker/Owner - Mitchell & Associates Realty
We brought Greg in for a lunch-and-learn and the feedback from employees was genuinely positive - which doesn't happen often with benefit programming. He explained the mortgage process in plain language with zero sales pressure. Multiple employees told me afterward it was the most useful thing we had offered all quarter.
James Parker
HR Director - Centrue Technologies
Our members were still talking about Greg's session two weeks after the event. He answered questions in a way that felt personal rather than scripted, and several attendees came up to me afterward asking when he could come back. That kind of engagement is rare for financial topics.
Melissa Turner
Events Director - St. Louis Young Professionals Network
Consultations
I went into the call expecting a sales pitch. Instead, Greg spent the whole time asking questions about our situation and explaining exactly what the process would look like for us. By the end I actually understood what we qualified for and what we needed to do next. No pressure at all.
Rachel M.
First-Time Homebuyer - Initial consultation
I had been told by another lender that refinancing didn't make sense for me. Greg walked through the numbers and explained why - and what would need to change before it did. It was a 15-minute conversation that saved me from making a decision too early. I'll go back to Greg when the timing is right.
David K.
Homeowner Considering Refinancing - Initial consultation
We were relocating across state lines with a compressed timeline and I didn't know where to start on the mortgage side. Greg knew exactly what questions to ask, explained what documentation mattered for our situation, and gave us a clear list of next steps. It felt like talking to someone who had done this a hundred times.
James and Priya T.
Relocating Buyers - Initial consultation
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