Homebuying in Huntsville—how to land a lender you trust

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When Tuscaloosa-born architect Zach Ward was ready to navigate homebuying in Huntsville, he needed a lender he could trust. He immediately called Bryant Bank, his hometown bank and client for whom his team designed a downtown Huntsville office.

During that project, completed in 2017, Ward fell in love with Huntsville and decided to relocate here, joining many other young professionals in the city’s dynamic landscape of growth and opportunity. In 2018, he began establishing his firm’s Huntsville office.

Read on to learn more about why Ward chose the Rocket City and how his bank of choice has been central to building his life and business here.

Ward’s story + why young professionals choose Huntsville

After graduating from Auburn University in 2011, Ward initially worked for the firm his father founded in 1983, Ward Scott Morris Architecture, for a couple of years, then left to work for a large firm in Nashville.

Ward returned to the Alabama firm in 2016, and the downtown Huntsville Bryant Bank building was his first major local project.

During those visits, Ward felt right at home, especially as a young professional with so much to do here, including the outdoors, sports, restaurants and nightlife. It wasn’t long before he pitched the idea to open a Huntsville office and move.

He now serves as the firm’s president and has grown the Huntsville office into the largest of their five.

From renting to homebuying in Huntsville

Initially, Ward and another of the firm’s principal architects rented an apartment to maintain flexibility between cities as they established the Huntsville office. That decision proved to be a huge win, far beyond professional logistics: In 2020, his neighbor introduced him to his future wife when she was visiting from Michigan on a business trip for Mazda Toyota Manufacturing. The pair married in 2023.

Beyond that personal good fortune, Ward added that for many young professionals and newcomers, renting short term can be helpful in the greater plan to buy, allowing the time to build relationships, decide exactly where you want to be and plan accordingly.

“As you’re making those decisions, start talks early on with lenders about what you really want, what you can afford and what goal you need to set.”
_{– Zach Ward, President, Ward Scott Morris Architecture}

Thanks to responsive and quick work by the Bryant Bank team, Ward and his wife have recently moved into their second home in the area, which they were able to do on an “unheard of” deadline.

Learn more about Bryant Bank’s mortgage services.

Why relationships matter in home buying

While Ward had been a Bryant Bank client long before his move, he shared that the way the bank takes care in building relationships and trust stands apart for anyone considering homebuying in Huntsville.

“The team at Bryant Bank has always bent over backwards to make things happen and are so responsive. I just sent an email this week about a project I am interested in, and they responded in five minutes. I really love them for that.”
_{– Zach Ward, President, Ward Scott Morris Architecture}

Ward’s primary Bryant Bank contact for his residential investments is Bryant Bank Vice President and Mortgage Officer Scott Ellis, a third-generation Huntsvillian with a strong network of Realtors, closing attorneys, inspectors and other professionals.

“We are still a true relationship bank. I’ve had clients call me in the evenings and on weekends many times, and I am always happy to pick up. When something unexpected arises during a transaction, and answers are needed right away, the personal accessibility can be invaluable—especially for first-time buyers who are navigating the process for the first time.”
_{– Scott Ellis, Bryant Bank VP & Mortgage Officer}

Top-level tips for homebuying in Huntsville

Are you interested in homebuying in Huntsville?

Ellis shared these tips for local buyers to win competitive offers and close smoothly:

• ✔ Work with a local Realtor + local lender who understands the fast-moving Huntsville market.
• ✔ Solid pre-qualification letters are essential to determining realistic homebuying options.
• ✔ Be ready to make an offer the moment the right home appears.

“We enjoy guiding newcomers and young professionals through every step of the process with confidence, and we can support clients not just with their first home, but as their needs evolve.”
_{– Scott Ellis, Bryant Bank VP & Mortgage Officer}

Ready to start your own Huntsville home search? Contact Bryant Bank’s Huntsville team and ask about a pre-qualification letter.

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