Author

Dan Silva

Vice President, Marketplace Lending

Dan is the Vice President of Marketplace Lending at Own Up. Throughout his career, he has held executive leadership positions in the mortgage and banking industry.

Dan possesses a deep understanding of mortgages and residential lending. He leverages his expertise to help improve financial outcomes for homebuyers and supports the team of home advisors at Own Up.

He strongly believes in Own Up's mission to help people avoid overpaying for their mortgages and is dedicated to making mortgage shopping and comparison easy for all customers.

Dan earned a BA in Business Economics from Eastern Connecticut State University.

Articles by Dan Silva

First Home Loan

Monthly Housing Costs: Calculate True Homeownership Expenses

Know your true monthly housing costs: taxes, insurance, DTI, maintenance — build a budget to see what mortgage you can afford.

First Home Loan

Home Appraisals: Timing, Cost, and Impact on Mortgages

Understand appraisal timing, costs, and steps to prevent or resolve low valuations so your home purchase, sale, or refinance proceeds smoothly.

First Home Loan

For Sale By Owner (FSBO) Homes: Pros, Cons & How to Buy

FSBO homes can save you commission but require extra work—how to vet pricing, inspections, contingencies, and whether to hire a buyer's agent.

Mortgage Advisors

Crypto-Backed Mortgages: How They Work

How crypto-backed mortgages let you use digital assets as collateral to avoid selling holdings—plus the benefits, volatility and margin-call risks to weigh.

First Home Loan

Role of Real Estate Agents in Property Transactions

Agents streamline buying or selling—saving you time, reducing risk, and securing better deals through local market insight, networks & negotiation.

Mortgage Advisors

How Mortgage Calculators Work: Inputs & Uses

Understand how mortgage calculators use price, down payment, term, rate & fees to estimate monthly payments—so you can plan, compare, and lower costs.

Refinancing

When To Refinance Your Mortgage: Key Signs Explained

Find out whether refinancing will cut your mortgage costs - signs to act, break-even timing, fees and trade-offs to help you save.

Mortgage Advisors

How To Get Lower VA Loan Rates

Find practical steps to lower your VA loan rate—shop lenders, improve credit and DTI, understand loan types, and consider a larger down payment.

First Home Loan

How to Make an Offer on a House: Step-by-Step Guide

Clear, step-by-step guide to make a competitive offer, navigate counteroffers, and use contingencies to protect your home purchase.

First Home Loan

Florida First-Time Homebuyer Programs (19 Options)

Explore 19 Florida first-time buyer programs offering down-payment & closing-cost aid (up to $50K), eligibility tips and regional details to help qualify.