Real Reviews from Real Homebuyers

Deonna

Lexington, SC

"Merrell was not only responsive and knowledgeable but also proactive in addressing potentional challenges before they became obstacles."
Melissa C

Columbia, SC

"Merrell was a pleasure to deal with!. He did whatever he could to make things go as smoothly as possible. I highly recommend Merrell."
Christopher Anthony

Columbia, SC

"Merrell was amazing to deal with. The team we were with was second to non. Will gladly refer people to deal with this group."
Hampton

Sumter, SC

"Very clear communication, really felt like Merrell cared about me achiving my goal in buying a home"
Madison

Sumter, SC

"Made it very easy for us to get a house and helped us out a lot especially with us being first time buyers"
Heather

Lexington, SC

"Absolutely amazing! I love recommending my clients to Merrell."
Kayla Palmer

"Great job, great lender experience! Thank you!"
Kayla

Anderson, SC

"Merrell saved the day with a loan program we had not heard of before! Thank you for saving the transaction & being such a great lender!"
Earl

Dalzell, SC

"Very professional and timely service. Highly recommended to all clients."
Justin Malik

Dalzell, SC

"It was fast paced, simple, and explained everything I needed to do."
Dominique

Columbia, SC

"Merell was professional and he also worked hard to get the job done"
Sylvia

Sumter, SC

"Communication and responsiveness to all questions in a timely manner."
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Crunch The Numbers!
Estimate Your Payment

Get an idea of what your monthly payment may look like. For a full estimate, call me, your mortgage expert!

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$

5%

1%

6%

0%

$
$

$1421

Monthly Payment

Principal & Interest $1421

Monthly Taxes $1421

Monthly HOA $1421

Insurance $1421

Monthly PMI $0

Legal Disclosures

The AFG mortgage calculator is for estimation purposes only. Results do not reflect all loan programs and are subject to individual program loan limits. Qualification, rates and payments will vary based on timing and individual circumstances. This is not a commitment to lend.

Here’s a payment example based on an average home price and the most common loan type:

Loan amount: $300,000
Loan type: 30-year Fixed-Rate Loan
Interest rate/APR: 7.375% (7.692% APR)
Monthly payment: $2,072.03
Points: 1.875 points, costs due at closing
Loan-to-value (LTV): 80.00%

One point is equal to one percent of your loan amount. Payment does not include taxes and insurance. The actual payment amount will be greater. Some state and county maximum loan amount restrictions may apply. Rates shown are valid on publication date of April 18, 2024.

1If you didn’t enter taxes and insurance amounts, an estimate of your taxes is based on the state selected. This does not include all fees.

Resources

Downloadable Guides

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About Merrell

Merrell Johnson (The Cheer Lender) is a Loan Officer for Assurance Financial at the Columbia, South Carolina branch.

Merrell Johnson is a Loan Officer for Assurance Financial at the Columbia, South Carolina branch. Born a military brat, he has traveled the world and chosen the Heart of South Carolina as his home, where he has been selected by Experience Columbia as an Ambassador for the City. An Alum of the University of South Carolina and LSU-Shreveport, He started as a loan officer in 2021 after working with he homeless, where he assisted in fundraising and marketing,  he looks forward to helping you secure your home loan.

When Merrell isn’t securing loans for his clients, you can find him in the community advocating for mental health awareness, homelessness, and education. He has an extensive volunteer background, serving organizations such as Beginnings SC, Turning Pages, Mental Illness Recovery Center Inc. (MIRCI), and the American Advertising Federation. He currently serves as President of the Columbia Museum of Art’s – Columbia Design League. His hobbies include all things family, food, and cars.

Merrell has been recognized as the National Association of Social Workers – South Carolina Public Citizen of the Year, The State’s Top 20 under 40, Columbia Business Monthly Best and Brightest 35 and under, and the SC Black Pages Top 20 under 40. Sally R. Brasley Foundation’s Trailblazer Award, and the South Carolina Counselors Association’s Humanitarian of the Year, Donald-Harding Service Award, and has been recognized by the Combat Veterans of America. Merrell was selected as Rookie of the Year, recognized for having the company’s 2nd highest customer satisfaction ratings, and a member of the 2024 President’s Club.

He is licensed through the National Mortgage Licensing System in South Carolina, North Carolina, and Georgia.

Whether a new home purchase, refinance of an existing loan, renovating, or construction of a new home, Merrell can help homebuyers in any stage of life achieve their dreams of homeownership.

 

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My Services
  • New Home Purchase Loans
  • Refinance Loans
  • FHA and Rural Development Loans
  • Veteran (VA) Loans
  • Construction and Renovation Loans

Send Merrell a message

2222 Devine Street
Columbia, SC 29205

(803) 200-2615

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Free Realtor Tools

My Realtor partners get free access to marketing tools such as single property websites, open house flyers, database management software, and more! Email me to get started.

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Realtor Resources

Downloadable Guide for Realtors

This helpful mortgage guide is a great resource for our partners. Check it out!