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The First Merchants Next Horizon Mortgage and up to $5,000 in down payment assistance, makes affordable homeownership possible.

Home is a place where you can find comfort and rest, where you can build a family, and where you lay the foundations for your future. At First Merchants, we know the impact owning your own home can have. It’s why we created a different kind of home loan – one that makes homeownership more affordable, so you can focus on making your dreams a reality.

Our First Merchants Next Horizon Mortgage program is built with first-time homebuyers in mind and is attentively designed to make the homebuying process simple, affordable, and worry-free.

Perks of working with First Merchants:

  • A welcoming and attentive Community Home Lender you can count on to help you through the mortgage process.
  • Alternate means used to establish credit -- including rent and utility payments.
  • First time home buyer credit with up to $5,000 in down payment assistance - Community Home Grant can cover closing costs, down payment funds or principal reduction for qualified applicants
Are you ready to talk? We'll be your listening ear, your support, and your friend as you start this new journey.



David Lopez and his familyDAVID, FIRST-TIME HOME BUYER

We appreciate everything you have done since first meeting you. You have always thought out the experience of buying a house and helped with any questions we have. We appreciate our questions being answered with the most professional level of how to go about this process of buying a house. You are truly a blessing to my family.

David Lopez and Armandina Moreno
East Chicago, Illinois





We're Here For You


Next Horizons Benefit Local Bankers Icon

Local Bank, Local Bankers

Our Community Home Lending Officers live in the local community. These welcoming bankers are passionate about their towns, cities, and neighborhoods. We encourage all our team members to share local resources, support local non-profits, and volunteer their time with community organizations.

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Access to Safe and Affordable Housing

Everyone deserves a place to call home. It's the foundation of long-term financial stability. That's why we created Next Horizon, and partner with non-profits and state and local organizations to provide grants up to $5,000 that help qualified home buyers build wealth to help their families prosper for generations to come.

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Helping You Prosper: More Than Banking

First Merchants is about more than offering dependable banking services. We're about paying attention to the needs of our communities and being people you can count on for financial education, resources, and support.




Meet Our Home Lending Team


First-Merchants-Mortgage-Tonjola-Cole

Tonjola D Cole

NMLS #658375

Phone: 313.205.7487

Southeast Michigan - Detroit


First-Merchants-Mortgage-Sean-Murnane

Sean Murnane

NMLS #740031

Phone: 740.475.9898

Ohio


First Merchant Bank Marlena Tabor

Marlena Tabor

NMLS #141303

Phone: 313.530.7700

Michigan


First Merchants Bank Shirlonda Taylor

Shirlonda Taylor

NMLS #416953

Phone: 219.614.0773

Indiana - NW/Lakeshore


First-Merchants-Mortgage-Teri-Todd

Teri Todd

NMLS #446110

Phone: 317.523.4320

Indiana




Ready for an Attentive Banker to Help Guide the Way to Home Ownership?

Let's get a little more personal. Complete the form below and one of our Community Home Lending Officers will contact you.


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