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  1. Authors
  2. John Stearns

John Stearns

Senior mortgage loan originator, American Fidelity Mortgage

John Stearns, CMC, CRMS is a Senior Mortgage Loan Originator with American Fidelity Mortgage located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and has been in the residential mortgage business since 1993. John is a member of the National Association of Mortgage Brokers (NAMB). He is the only person in Wisconsin who has earned both the Certified Mortgage Consultant (CMC) and Certified Residential Mortgage Specialist (CRMS) designations. The CMC & CRMS are national designations signifying the highest level of professionalism in the mortgage industry. A CMC/CRMS designation is gained only once the candidate has met certain requirements of experience and knowledge and has passed a written examination.

John has a demonstrated commitment to licensing and professionalism of mortgage brokers and teaches courses across the Midwest. Among the courses John has taught are Mortgage Broker Business Ethics, RESPA, The ABC’s of FHA, NMLS Federal Test Review, Credit Scoring, Introduction to Appraisal Underwriting, Fraud, Wisconsin State Law, The Truth in Lending Act, Identity Theft and Loan Originator 101. John also believes in educating the public about mortgage issues and frequently offers public seminars such as Credit Scoring, First Time Home Buyers and Home Equity loans.

In addition to originating mortgage loans, John has served on the NAMB Certification Committee since 2004.

He holds Mortgage Loan Originator licenses in both Wisconsin and Illinois and was the Wisconsin Mortgage Professionals Association Broker of the Year in 2002. He is frequently quoted for mortgage articles in the USA Today, CBS.NEWS.com, The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, CNBC.com, The Huffington Post and The Washington Post among others. You can follow him on Twitter @JohnLStearns, LinkedIn and Facebook.

John graduated from the University of Minnesota Carlson School of Management in 1986 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business and a minor in Economics.

John's latest articles

  • A person uses an illustrated red watering can to water an illustrated flower. The water can has white text that reads "on time payments."

    What debt should you pay off first?

    The decision of which debt to start paying off first is a personal one, but starting with high-interest debt is generally considered the most beneficial. This includes credit cards, which often have the [...]

    3 min read Oct 21, 2025
  • Best mortgage lenders of October 2025

    Here are the best mortgage lenders for October 2025.

    4 min read Oct 01, 2025
  • A home on a corner lot

    Mortgage application: What’s included and tips to prepare

    A mortgage application includes everything the lender needs to know to approve or deny your loan.

    5 min read Sep 26, 2025
  • A young couple is standing together in their unfinished living room.

    Does homeowners insurance cover renovations?

    A home renovation can change your insurance needs.

    8 min read Sep 15, 2025
  • young woman standing in kitchen and looking at her phone

    What you need to know about your credit score

    Which factors matter the most for your credit score? Here’s our guide.

    8 min read Sep 12, 2025
  • Imagine of a house on a lake

    What is a cash-out refinance?

    A cash-out refi lets you tap your home equity in cash. See if it’s right for you.

    7 min read Sep 12, 2025
  • Illustrated collage featuring a house with colorful graphics behind it

    Private mortgage insurance (PMI): What it is and how it works

    Hard to avoid it if your down payment is low. But must you pay this extra fee forever?

    7 min read Sep 11, 2025
  • How to buy a second home

    Eyeing a beach bungalow or a mountain lodge? Read these tips first.

    6 min read Sep 10, 2025
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