Your Path to Homeownership Starts Here - Expert Mortgage Assistance

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We know that many home loan officers have horrible reputations. Some brokers only see their clients as transactions, and a means to make quick money. They come off as impatient and pushy, failing to understand that this is a very big decision for you. At Mission One Mortgage, we take the opposite approach. We encourage our clients to take as much time as needed to ask us questions and review mortgage documents. We could say that our mission is to exceed your expectations, but we'd rather just show you. From assistance finding FHA, VA, or other loans to refinancing your current mortgage, Mission One is the team you can trust.

Here are just a few reasons why home buyers choose Mission One Mortgage:

No Additional Fees

No Additional Fees- Providing our client's services free of charge, using a mortgage broker like Mission One Mortgage can help you scout the best price on loans without a hefty price tag.

Access to 50 Lenders

Access to 50 Lenders- With access to a range of loans and interest rates available, Mission One Mortgage can shop for the best loans for your unique needs.

Accessible to Our Clients

Accessible to Our Clients- Providing a transparent and communicative service to all our clients, Mission One Mortgage ensures all phone calls are answered or returned in a timely manner.

Setting You Up for Success

Setting You Up for Success- Helping you prepare all your documents for pre-approval and the loan application, Mission One Mortgage will provide you with all the necessary information to secure the best loan.

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Free Consultation phone-number (843) 822-5685

To understand the benefits of working with a mortgage broker, you must first understand their role in the home-buying process.

What Does a Mortgage Broker Do?

Your mortgage broker is a third party that works to connect you with mortgage lenders. Essentially, a mortgage broker works as an intermediary between a person who wants to buy a home and the entities offering loans to buy a home. The mortgage broker works with both the borrower and lender to get the borrower approved. They also verify and collect paperwork from the borrower that the lender needs to finish a home purchase. Typically, mortgage brokers have relationships with several home loan lenders. Mission One Mortgage, for example, has access to 50 different lenders, which gives us a wide range of home loans in Sumter, SC, from which to choose.

In addition to finding a home loan lender, your mortgage broker will help you settle on the best loan options and interest rates for your budget. Ideally, your mortgage broker will take a great deal of stress and legwork off your plate while also potentially saving you money.

Help with the Pre-Approval Process

If you're ready to buy a home, getting pre-qualified is a great choice that will streamline the entire process. Your mortgage broker makes getting pre-approved easy by obtaining all the documents needed to get you pre-qualified. In taking a look at your application, they will determine if you're ready for the pre-approval process. If your application needs additional items, the mortgage company will help point you in the right direction to ensure your application is as strong as it can be. Your mortgage broker will also walk you through the different types of loans, from Conventional and FHA to VA and USDA.

In order to be pre-approved for a home in South Carolina, you must have the following:

  • Two Years of W2 Forms
  • 30 Days of Pay Stubs from Employer
  • 60 Days of Bank Statements
  • A Valid Driver's License

Conventional Mortgages

Conventional loans can be used to purchase a new home or refinance your current one. Conventional loans include fixed-rate mortgages and adjustable-rate mortgages. Generally, borrowers must put down a 3% down payment for owner-occupants, 10% for a vacation property, and 20% for an investment home. If you are able to pay 20% of the total cost of the home, you can avoid private mortgage insurance, which is otherwise required. Conventional mortgages are often preferred by buyers with good credit or people needing a non-owner-occupied mortgage.

Mortgage Company Sumter, SC
Mortgage Lending Service Sumter, SC

FHA Loans

FHA mortgages are issued by the U.S. government and backed by the Department of Housing & Urban Development (HUD). This loan is often preferred by first-time homebuyers because it only requires a 3.5% down payment and offers more flexibility with credit requirements and underwriting standards. FHA loans have several requirements you must meet to qualify. Contact Mission One Mortgage today to learn more about FHA loans and whether or not they're best for your financial situation.

USDA Loans

Also backed by the government, these loans are insured by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and don't require money down. These loans have lower insurance requirements when compared to FHA loans, offer 100% financing if you qualify, and allow for closing costs to be covered by the seller. In order to qualify for a USDA loan, you must live in a rural area, and your household income must meet certain standards. These loans are often preferred by low-income citizens who live in rural parts of South Carolina.

Refinancing Sumter, SC
Refinances Sumter, SC

Veteran Mortgages

Also known as VA or Veteran's Affairs loans, these mortgages are reserved for the brave men and women who served in the military. VA loans help provide our military members, veterans, and their families with favorable loan terms and an easy home ownership experience. Often, those who qualify are not required to make a down payment on their home. Additionally, these loans often include less expensive closing costs.

If you are a veteran or the family member of a veteran, contact Mission One Mortgage today to speak with our Vetted VA Professional, Debbie Haberny. Debbie helps our military members, veterans, and their family members obtain home loans utilizing veteran benefits and would be happy to help as you search for a home.

Q. I was talking to my spouse about mortgage brokers, and they mentioned the phrase home loan originator. What's the difference between a broker and a loan originator?

A. The mortgage industry is full of confusing jobs and titles, making it easy to confuse roles and responsibilities. Such is the case with mortgage brokers and home loan originators. Though their roles share similarities, a home loan originator in Sumter, SC, works for a bank or credit union, while a mortgage broker works for a brokerage company. Home loan originators and mortgage brokers are both licensed by the Nationwide Multistate Licensing System (NMLS).

Q. I've heard from everyone that you must have mortgage insurance to buy a home. What is mortgage insurance?

A. Essentially, mortgage insurance helps protect lenders if a borrower forecloses on the home they bought. One advantage of mortgage insurance is that when borrowers pay it, lenders can often grant loans to buyers when they might not have otherwise. Though not always required to buy a home, mortgage insurance is often needed for down payments of less than 20%.

Q. I have just been pre-approved to buy a beautiful home in South Carolina. Is there anything I shouldn't do now that I'm pre-qualified?

A. Mortgage companies like Mission One Mortgage, make getting pre-qualified for a home easy. However, as your loan process continues, your lender is required to run a new credit report before closing on a home. For that reason, it's to avoid any activity that might affect your credit score, such as:

  • Do not become a co-signer on a loan with someone else.
  • Do not quit or change your job.
  • Do not apply for new credit cards, automobile loans, or any other lines of credit.
  • Do not use your credit card to pay for large purchases, like furniture for your new house.
  • Do not avoid payments on current lines of credit, loans, or utility bills.

Q. My brother-in-law recently refinanced his home in South Carolina. What is refinancing, and should I consider refinancing my home too?

A. Refinancing your home basically means you're swapping your current mortgage for a new one, most often with a lower interest rate. If you would like to reduce the term of your loan, lower your monthly mortgage payments, or consolidate debt, refinancing may be a smart option. Many homeowners also choose to refinance if they want to switch from adjustable-rate mortgages to fixed-rate mortgages or to get cash back for home renovations. To learn whether refinancing is a viable option for your situation, contact Mission One Mortgage ASAP, as loan rates change frequently.

Mission One Mortgage: Turning Dreams into Reality, One Mortgage at a Time

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Here at Mission One Mortgage, we believe that the best communities begin with the dream of home ownership. Our mission is to make those dreams come true, with personalized service, expert guidance, and good old-fashioned hard work. As one of the most trusted mortgage companies in Sumter, SC, we have years of experience working with a diverse range of clients, from first-time buyers and investors to self-employed borrowers and non-native English speakers.

Though every mortgage situation is different, one thing never changes: our commitment to clients. Contact our office today to get started on an exceptional home-buying experience.

Contact Us For Service !

phone-number (843) 822-5685
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Latest News Near Me Sumter, SC

Sumter fire officials still investigating cause of construction site fire; no damage estimate yet

The fire sent smoke over Alice Drive and Harper Street Saturday. Officials said they don’t yet know what caused it.Credit: Mich DeLorme, special to WLTXCOLUMBIA, S.C. — Fire investigators in Sumter County are still trying to determine what caused building materials to catch fire at a construction site in Sumter on Saturday afternoon.Charred pieces of wood, tar paper, and foam littered the area where a ...

The fire sent smoke over Alice Drive and Harper Street Saturday. Officials said they don’t yet know what caused it.

Credit: Mich DeLorme, special to WLTX

COLUMBIA, S.C. — Fire investigators in Sumter County are still trying to determine what caused building materials to catch fire at a construction site in Sumter on Saturday afternoon.

Charred pieces of wood, tar paper, and foam littered the area where a fire broke out at a future B.J.'s Wholesale Club site at Alice Drive and Harper Street in Sumter.

Sumter County Fire Battalion Chief Jeffrey Shirley said crews began responding to the fire around 12:15 Saturday. At one point, 40 firefighters and 11 apparatus were on the scene. Many of those firefighters remained at the site until 4:30 p.m. Saturday.

Sunday afternoon, charred pieces of debris still littered the sidewalk and streets near the site of the blaze.

Fire officials say they don’t believe the smoke from the burning materials, which included insulation and other items, posed a concern to the public since it rose directly above and did not stay low to the ground.

Bobby Riley lives across from the site and described what he saw.

“The air was filled with black, heavy smoke," Riley said. "And by the time I got out to see what was going on, they had the road blocked off and you couldn’t really see [anything]. The firefighters had a heck of a job to do.”

Bonnie Wallace’s mother also lives nearby. She described how the fire impacted her mother's neighbors.

“From what I understand the area was heavy with like a smog. It wasn’t really, really strong, but it was enough to definitely impact you," she said. “For a brand-new building, it’s not even up yet and it’s burned, I don’t know if I’m ever going to go into that building.”

Sunday afternoon, Chief Shirley said the department still does not have an estimate for the damages caused by this fire.

Ticket for SC’s largest-ever rolling jackpot was just sold. Check your numbers

Check your tickets.Someone recently bought a record-breaking game, South Carolina Education Lottery officials said Tuesday in a news release.The person who bought a Palmetto Cash 5 ticket in Sumter won a $1,132,000 grand prize, which is the largest-ever rolling jackpot for a South Carolina lottery game, according to the release.Now a search is underway for the winner.What turned out to be the seven-figure winning Palmetto Cash 5 ...

Check your tickets.

Someone recently bought a record-breaking game, South Carolina Education Lottery officials said Tuesday in a news release.

The person who bought a Palmetto Cash 5 ticket in Sumter won a $1,132,000 grand prize, which is the largest-ever rolling jackpot for a South Carolina lottery game, according to the release.

Now a search is underway for the winner.

What turned out to be the seven-figure winning Palmetto Cash 5 ticket was sold at the Kwik Mart gas station/convenience store at 2350 Peach Orchard Road in Sumter, officials said.

The winning numbers from Monday’s drawing were 4, 7, 10, 20 and 30.

The Palmetto Cash 5 ticket matched all five numbers drawn to win the game’s top prize, officials said.

The winner has 180 days to claim the six-figure prize, according to lottery officials.

The winner will be allowed to retain some privacy, as South Carolina is one of 11 states — along with Arizona, Delaware, Georgia, Kansas, Maryland, New Jersey, North Dakota, Ohio, Texas and Virginia — that allow lottery winners to remain anonymous.

“Sign the back of your ticket and put it in a safe location until you’re ready to come forward to claim the prize,” lottery officials said.

For complete information on claiming prizes, go to sceducationlottery.com.

The jackpot rolled 44 times before Monday’s win, according to the release.

The odds of winning $1,132,000 playing Palmetto Cash 5 are 850,668-to-1, officials said.

The Kwik Mart will receive a commission for selling the winning ticket when it is turned into lottery officials.

The Palmetto Cash 5 jackpot for Tuesday night’s drawing is reset at $100,000.

It costs $2 to purchase a Palmetto Cash 5 ticket, and drawings are held on a daily basis at 6:59 p.m., officials said.

Proposed zoning for White Palmetto Solar Farm in Sumter denied

SUMTER, S.C. (WIS) - Plans for a solar farm project coming to Sumter County have been halted for now.Sumter’s Board of Zoning Appeals unanimously denied a special exception to zone the White Palmetto Solar Farm on Wednesday.The proposed solar farm would’ve stretched over more than 1700 acres across rural parts of Sumter County.More than 100 people came out b...

SUMTER, S.C. (WIS) - Plans for a solar farm project coming to Sumter County have been halted for now.

Sumter’s Board of Zoning Appeals unanimously denied a special exception to zone the White Palmetto Solar Farm on Wednesday.

The proposed solar farm would’ve stretched over more than 1700 acres across rural parts of Sumter County.

More than 100 people came out before the Sumter City Council Board of Zoning Appeals to express why they didn’t want this solar farm project to come to their community.

Many folks are concerned about the environmental impacts the project will pose in rural parts of Sumter County, saying it will hurt wildlife like woodpeckers and wild turkeys that call those areas home.

“Will I have to tell my wife stories of how beautiful the birds were, and of how their songs would wake you in the morning or put you to sleep at night?” One Sumter County resident who spoke at the public hearing said, “Will I have to tell my kids stories of how I would hunt on the hills just behind my home?”

“Why aren’t we putting these solar farms in the parking lot of Continental?” another resident said at the public hearing, “Why are we not putting these solar panels in large, industrial parking lots? ”Daniel Cook was a Sumter County resident from Rember, overjoyed to see the currently zoned proposal denied.

He felt repurposing the project on industrial land at a smaller scale would be a much better alternative than the current zoning for where the project will go.

“If we’re going to do solar energy, we can do smaller parcels instead of this large, expensive project,” Cook said, “If we need solar energy, then let’s do smaller tracks of land and in areas where we’re not messing with this much habitat; put them on rooftops, put them in empty parking lots of empty businesses.”Representatives from Treaty Oak Clean Energy expressed at the hearing how the project will bring jobs and a renewable energy source to the community.

WIS asked representatives from Treaty Oak Clean Energy about what their plans are going forward, but they declined to comment.

Sumter Planning Director Helen Roodman says they’ll be a board order drafted that will be sent to the applicants before entering an appeals period.

Feel more informed, prepared, and connected with WIS. For more free content like this, subscribe to our email newsletter, and download our apps. Have feedback that can help us improve? Click here.

Copyright 2025 WIS. All rights reserved.

Highest-rated Southern restaurants in Sumter by diners

When you travel below the Mason-Dixon Line, you'll find some of the most mouthwatering, comforting cuisine in the U.S.: Southern food.Southern dishes are a vital part of American cuisine, from hushpuppies to ham hocks and beignets to barbecue. It's impossible to define a classic Southern meal, but a solid one starts with the sharp savory flavor of pimento cheese dip, followed by the delicious crunchiness of fried chicken or a spicy Louisiana étouffée, culminating with a sugary slice of chess pie that's best washed down w...

When you travel below the Mason-Dixon Line, you'll find some of the most mouthwatering, comforting cuisine in the U.S.: Southern food.

Southern dishes are a vital part of American cuisine, from hushpuppies to ham hocks and beignets to barbecue. It's impossible to define a classic Southern meal, but a solid one starts with the sharp savory flavor of pimento cheese dip, followed by the delicious crunchiness of fried chicken or a spicy Louisiana étouffée, culminating with a sugary slice of chess pie that's best washed down with a tall glass of sweet tea.

What's unique about Southern fare is that multiple ethnic and cultural groups have influenced it. Spanish staples, such as potatoes and cocoa, are in many Southern dishes; the Acadians, who traveled to Louisiana from Nova Scotia and later became Louisiana Creoles, contributed their seafood to many Southern meals; African ingredients—okra, sorghum (an ancient grain), and black-eyed peas—became a part of the cuisine through the forced labor of enslaved people; French cooking methods, like braising and sautéing, are used for many Southern recipes; and Native Americans introduced corn to Southern recipes, yielding dishes like succotash and grits.

The Southern culinary scene is an explosion of cultures. To find out where you can sample some Southern offerings, Stacker compiled a list of the highest-rated Southern restaurants in the Sumter area using data from Yelp as of May 2, 2025. Businesses were selected using Yelp's ranking system, which calculates an adjusted rating value that takes into account the number of ratings as well as the rating score itself. Only restaurants with at least 20 reviews tagged as "southern" on Yelp within a 10-kilometer radius of Sumter were included. As a result, some restaurants featured may serve other food items.

Read on to find the perfect spot to get a taste of the South near you.

You may also like: Highest-rated barbecue restaurants in the Sumter area by diners

#4. Susie's Chicken & Fries

- Rating: 4.1/5 (20 reviews)- Address: 303 Manning Ave. Sumter, South Carolina - Categories: Chicken Wings, Southern, Food Trucks- Read more on Yelp

#3. Jeffrey Lampkin"s Country Boy Kitchen

- Rating: 4.1/5 (46 reviews)- Address: 5642 Broad St. Sumter, South Carolina - Categories: Soul Food, Breakfast & Brunch, Southern- Read more on Yelp

#2. Sidebar On Main

- Rating: 4.1/5 (139 reviews)- Price level: $$- Address: 30 North Main St. Sumter, South Carolina - Categories: Bars, Southern- Read more on Yelp

Sumter's Next Generation, presented by TheLINK: Miss Sumter Madisen Galiano uses pageant platform for year-round education on assault prevention

Before she ever stepped onto a pageant stage in heels and rhinestones, Madisen Galiano wore running spikes and carried a shotgun.From a four-time state champion in sporting clays, former track runner and colorful theater kid during her time at Wilson Hall to a first-generation college student and now Miss Sumter, Madisen is multidimensional. But beneath the titles and talent lies something deeper: a calling. And she's using her crown to answer it.When Madisen entered her first pageant at Charleston Southern University in Januar...

Before she ever stepped onto a pageant stage in heels and rhinestones, Madisen Galiano wore running spikes and carried a shotgun.

From a four-time state champion in sporting clays, former track runner and colorful theater kid during her time at Wilson Hall to a first-generation college student and now Miss Sumter, Madisen is multidimensional. But beneath the titles and talent lies something deeper: a calling. And she's using her crown to answer it.

When Madisen entered her first pageant at Charleston Southern University in January 2024, she had no training and no idea what to expect. Her pageant walk was not the best, and she became emotional as she spoke about her platform. For her talent portion, she did what came naturally-she shared the gospel.

"That was the only thing I knew [how to do] at the time," she said with laughter.

She struggled to get her footing in the pageant world and wondered if it was for her. But someone in South Carolina Collegiate America saw through the nerves to a light worth nurturing in Madisen. That moment led her to compete again in January 2025- this time prepared, poised and walking in her purpose. She walked away with the Miss Sumter title and a plan to use it for far bigger than pageant glory.

Going into the Miss South Carolina competition this June, her platform, Brave Boundaries, aims to educate children, teens and adults on sexual assault prevention and personal boundaries - a subject she approaches not from a place of pity, but of personal experience and empowerment.

In third grade, Madisen was sexually assaulted. It took years before she felt comfortable enough to open up to her family. And a few more would go by before she had the conversation with friends.

"I think it is very important to have a face for the matter because every six to eight seconds, someone is sexually assaulted, and every nine minutes, a child is sexually assaulted," she explained. "Education starts within the classrooms and then with the parents."

But Madisen isn't waiting for the state title to start doing the work. Since being crowned, she's met with Wilson Hall Headmaster Brent Kaneft to discuss how schools can implement boundary and assault education at every level. She's planning to speak at council meetings and preparing to volunteer with Pathways to Healing, working a 12-hour shift answering hotline calls to be a voice on the end of the line when someone needs it most.

This kind of service runs in her blood. She admires the work of her grandfather, the late Sumter City Councilman Robert "Bob" Galiano, and is studying South Carolina legislation, building fluency in law and policy to make her advocacy more than just words on stage.

"I have educated myself so much on what is happening in South Carolina. I feel more empowered to create change and to speak about what I think should change," she expressed. "The Miss South Carolina [pageant] system is about empowering young leaders and creating us to lead the future generations."

Madisen doesn't see Sumter as a city defined by its struggles but rather a place of promise, full of small businesses carving their path, neighbors lifting each other up and young people daring to lead. Whether she takes home the crown or not this June, she wants her try at it to be the sign young people need to speak boldly, lead with empathy and know that healing and hope can go hand in hand.

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