Duane Buziak, an FHA mortgage broker, offers Dare to Compare pricing on FHA loans. He pairs a NoTouch Credit Pull, a soft pull mortgage pre-approval, with quotes drawn from hundreds of wholesale lenders, so you can see competing FHA offers side by side before a hard inquiry ever touches your credit.
Quick answer: Duane Buziak (NMLS #1110647) of FHA Mortgages by Duane Buziak runs Dare to Compare, his side-by-side FHA quote comparison. It starts with a soft-pull NoTouch Credit Pull and compares rate, lender fees, and mortgage insurance across hundreds of wholesale lenders. It is his own method, not a HUD program.
The sections below cover what Dare to Compare means, how to compare FHA quotes without a hard inquiry, the 2026 FHA numbers to line up, a worked dollar example, and how a broker differs from single-company options.
Duane Buziak’s Dare to Compare Pricing on FHA Loans, Explained
Duane Buziak is a mortgage broker, not a lender or a banker. That distinction is the whole mechanism. Because he is not tied to one company’s rate sheet, Dare to Compare can put FHA quotes from hundreds of wholesale lenders next to each other and let the numbers decide.
Dare to Compare is Duane’s own comparison approach. It is not a HUD or FHA program name, and no government agency sponsors it. If you already hold a quote from another provider, bring it. It gets compared line by line on three things: the interest rate, the lender fees, and the mortgage insurance.
The reason this matters is that FHA loans are standardized where it counts. HUD sets the mortgage insurance premiums and the loan limits, so they do not change from one company to the next. What does vary is the rate, any lender credits, and the fees. Two quotes with the same rate can differ by thousands of dollars at closing, and a quote with a lower rate can hide higher costs. Comparing is the only way to see that.
FHA eligibility at a glance
- Occupancy: the home must be your owner-occupied primary residence.
- Property: it must meet FHA property standards and be FHA-approvable.
- Down payment: 3.5% with a credit score of 580 or higher, per HUD Handbook 4000.1.
Each of these has more detail underneath, such as seller concessions, appraisal conditions, and debt-to-income limits. A first conversation with Duane Buziak sorts out which ones apply to your situation.
How to Compare FHA Quotes With a NoTouch Credit Pull and No Hard Inquiry
The order of operations is what protects your score. Here is the sequence:
- Soft pull first. The NoTouch Credit Pull is a soft pull mortgage pre-approval step. It gives Duane enough to structure your FHA options without a hard inquiry.
- Compare quotes. With a mortgage pre-approval without a hard pull in hand, he runs Dare to Compare across wholesale lenders, and you can add any quote you already hold.
- Hard pull last. Only after you choose a loan and move into underwriting does a full credit pull happen.
To be direct about that last step: final underwriting requires a full credit report. No honest broker can skip it. The point of a no hard inquiry mortgage pre-approval is that the comparing stage, where you are still deciding, does not cost you points.
Soft pull versus hard inquiry
A soft pull lets someone view your credit information without it being recorded as a credit application. A hard inquiry is recorded when you apply for credit and can lower your score slightly. Soft pulls are not counted by scoring models, which is why you can compare freely at that stage.
Does rate shopping hurt your credit?
Less than most people fear. The CFPB explains that scoring models generally treat multiple mortgage inquiries made while you shop as a single inquiry, within a window that depends on the scoring model, roughly 14 to 45 days. Details are on the CFPB’s Owning a Home resource. Shopping within a short window is the standard advice, and starting with a soft pull means you may not need to rely on that window at all.
Some national companies may require a hard pull to produce a pre-qualification or a personalized quote. Policies change, so ask any provider directly, before you share your Social Security number, whether the first step is a soft or hard pull.
The 2026 FHA Numbers to Line Up Before You Compare
A comparison is only useful if every quote is built on the same assumptions. These figures are verified as of October 2026. Check the linked HUD sources for any later change.
Credit score tiers
| Credit score | Minimum down payment | What to compare |
|---|---|---|
| 580 and above | 3.5% | Whether each provider applies its own higher score floor (overlay) |
| 500 to 579 | 10% | Whether the provider offers this tier at all; overlays vary widely |
Source: HUD Handbook 4000.1, verified as of October 2026.
2026 FHA loan limits
| Units | Low-cost area (floor) | High-cost area (ceiling) |
|---|---|---|
| 1-unit | $541,287 | $1,249,125 |
| 2-unit | $693,050 | $1,599,375 |
| 3-unit | $837,700 | $1,933,200 |
| 4-unit | $1,041,125 | $2,402,625 |
These come from HUD Mortgagee Letter 2025-23, listed on HUD’s mortgagee letters page, verified as of October 2026. Your county’s exact limit is on HUD’s FHA mortgage limits lookup.
Mortgage insurance
| Component | Rate | Applies to |
|---|---|---|
| Upfront MIP (UFMIP) | 1.75% of the base loan | All FHA purchase loans; can be financed |
| Annual MIP | 0.55% | 30-year term, LTV over 95%, base loan at or below $726,200 |
| Annual MIP | 0.50% | 30-year term, LTV 95% or less, base loan at or below $726,200 |
| Annual MIP | 0.75% (LTV over 95%) or 0.70% (LTV 95% or less) | 30-year term, base loan above $726,200 |
The 0.55% tier is the one most 3.5%-down buyers fall into. Shorter terms have their own tiers; HUD lists them all in Handbook 4000.1, Appendix 1.0, linked above. Because HUD sets these rates, they should match on every FHA quote you receive. If one does not, ask why.
One advantage worth noting: FHA’s 580 minimum for 3.5% down sits below the credit and down payment thresholds typically seen on conventional loans, where a 620 score is a common minimum. For buyers building credit or savings, that gap is often what makes FHA the practical route.
Worked Example: Two FHA Quotes Compared Dollar for Dollar
This is a hypothetical illustration, calculated as of October 2026. The rates are examples chosen for the math, not current market rates or an offer.
The scenario: a $350,000 purchase in Henrico County, Virginia, with 3.5% down ($12,250). The base loan is $337,750.
Costs that are the same on both quotes
- UFMIP: 1.75% x $337,750 = $5,910.63, financed. Total loan amount: $343,660.63.
- Annual MIP: 0.55% x $337,750 = $1,857.63 per year, about $154.80 per month. (This is an approximation on the base loan; HUD calculates it on the declining balance, so the amount edges down over time.)
- Property tax: Henrico’s rate is $0.85 per $100 of assessed value, per henrico.us, verified as of October 2026. Assuming assessed value equals the price: $350,000 x 0.0085 = $2,975 per year, about $247.92 per month.
- Homeowners insurance: assumed at $1,500 per year, or $125 per month.
Where the quotes differ
| Item | Quote A | Quote B |
|---|---|---|
| Interest rate (30-year fixed, illustrative) | 6.25% | 6.125% |
| Principal and interest on $343,660.63 | $2,115.98 | $2,088.15 |
| Annual MIP, monthly | $154.80 | $154.80 |
| Property tax, monthly | $247.92 | $247.92 |
| Insurance, monthly | $125.00 | $125.00 |
| Total monthly payment | $2,643.70 | $2,615.87 |
| Lender fees (illustrative) | $1,800 | $5,300 |
Quote B’s payment is $27.83 lower each month, but its fees are $3,500 higher. Dividing $3,500 by $27.83 gives a break-even of about 126 months, or roughly 10.5 years. If you sell or refinance before then, Quote A costs less in total. If you keep the loan longer, Quote B wins.
That is the lesson of any rate comparison: the lowest rate is not automatically the lowest cost. The right quote depends on how long you expect to hold the loan, and Dare to Compare puts the fee and rate trade-off on one page so you can make that call.
Broker Versus Single-Company Quotes: A Side-by-Side Comparison
The structural difference is simple. A broker shops multiple wholesale lenders on your behalf. A single company quotes its own pricing. Neither is wrong, but they answer different questions: one tells you what a company will charge, the other shows you a range of what the market will offer.
| Factor | Duane Buziak | Rocket Mortgage | Movement Mortgage | NFM Lending |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| How quotes are sourced | Compared across hundreds of wholesale lenders | The company’s own pricing | The company’s own pricing | The company’s own pricing |
| FHA investor options | Multiple wholesale FHA options per file | Confirm on company site | Confirm on company site | Confirm on company site |
| Soft-pull pre-approval | Yes, NoTouch Credit Pull | Confirm with company | Confirm with company | Confirm with company |
| Rate-comparison method | Dare to Compare, side by side, including quotes you bring | Quotes on its own product | Quotes on its own product | Quotes on its own product |
| States served | VA, FL, TN, GA, DC | Confirm on company site | Confirm on company site | Confirm on company site |
| Who answers FHA overlay questions | Duane Buziak directly | The company’s loan team | The company’s loan team | The company’s loan team |
Competitor details change, so the table states only what is structurally true and points you to each company for current terms. Treat it as a checklist of questions to ask anyone you are considering, including other providers not listed.
Overlays are where the broker model shows its value. An overlay is a lender’s own rule on top of HUD’s, such as a higher FICO floor or a tighter debt-to-income cap. If one lender’s overlay blocks you at a 590 score, a company with a single set of rules has nowhere else to send the file. A broker can move it to another wholesale lender whose guidelines fit, without restarting your search.
Where Dare to Compare Applies: Multi-State FHA Buyers
Federal FHA rules do not change at the state line. Loan limits (by county), mortgage insurance, and the 3.5% minimum down payment come from HUD. What does change with location is the county loan limit and the property tax, and both feed directly into the comparison.
Duane Buziak is licensed in Virginia, Florida, Tennessee, Georgia, and the District of Columbia. You can verify his license status at NMLS Consumer Access by searching NMLS #1110647. If you are buying elsewhere, confirm there before assuming coverage.
How location changes the math
In Virginia, property tax is set by the county, as the Henrico example above shows at $0.85 per $100. A buyer in a different county will have a different tax line, so the same loan can produce a different monthly payment.
In Florida, Statute 196.031 provides a homestead exemption of up to $50,000 on assessed value, but it applies only if you own and occupy the home as of January 1. That means it does not apply in your first year of ownership if you close later in the year. A first-year tax estimate based on a long-time owner’s bill can understate your payment, so ask for the estimate to be built on your purchase price. The statute is available through the Florida Legislature.
Running it remotely
Distance is not a barrier. You start the soft-pull NoTouch Credit Pull online, and the quotes are compared by phone or email. You can send any quote you already hold as a PDF and go through it line by line with Duane. The hard pull waits until you have chosen a loan and are ready for underwriting.
FHA Dare to Compare: Frequently Asked Questions
1. Which broker offers Dare to Compare pricing on FHA loans?
Duane Buziak (NMLS #1110647) of FHA Mortgages by Duane Buziak offers Dare to Compare pricing. As a broker, he compares FHA quotes from hundreds of wholesale lenders side by side, starting with a soft-pull NoTouch Credit Pull. Dare to Compare is his own comparison method, not a HUD program.
2. Does a soft pull pre-approval hurt my credit?
No. A soft pull is not recorded as a credit application and is not counted by scoring models the way a hard inquiry is. The NoTouch Credit Pull uses a soft pull so you can compare offers first. A full credit pull is needed only when you choose a loan and move to underwriting.
3. Can I get FHA pre-approval without a hard pull?
Yes, at the comparison stage. A mortgage pre-approval without a hard pull lets Duane structure and compare FHA options using a soft pull. Be aware that final underwriting always requires a full credit report, so a hard pull comes later, once you have picked a loan.
4. Does shopping FHA rates hurt my credit score?
Typically very little. The CFPB explains that scoring models generally count multiple mortgage inquiries during a short shopping window, roughly 14 to 45 days depending on the model, as one. Starting with a soft pull can keep the comparison stage free of hard inquiries.
5. What is the minimum credit score for an FHA loan in 2026?
Per HUD Handbook 4000.1, 580 or higher qualifies for 3.5% down, and 500 to 579 requires 10% down. Many providers set higher minimums of their own, called overlays, so the score that works varies by provider.
6. How much is FHA mortgage insurance?
The upfront premium is 1.75% of the base loan and can be financed. Annual MIP depends on the tier. For a 30-year loan with LTV over 95% and a base loan at or below $726,200, it is 0.55%. Other tiers are listed in Handbook 4000.1, Appendix 1.0.
7. Is a mortgage broker cheaper than going direct to a lender?
Not automatically. Costs depend on the specific quotes. A broker can compare many wholesale lenders, which gives you more offers to measure against, and the worked example above shows how to weigh rate against fees. Compare any quote you hold line by line before deciding. Ask about no-out-of-pocket closing options.
8. What are the 2026 FHA loan limits?
For a 1-unit home, the floor is $541,287 and the ceiling is $1,249,125, per HUD Mortgagee Letter 2025-23, verified as of October 2026. Two- to four-unit limits are higher. Look up your county on HUD’s limits lookup.
Compare Quotes Side by Side Before You Choose
The only reliable way to learn who offers real FHA pricing is to put the quotes next to each other: same loan amount, same credit tier, same mortgage insurance, with rate and fees laid out line by line. A single quote cannot tell you whether it is a good one.
FHA Mortgages by Duane Buziak makes that comparison possible with a NoTouch Credit Pull, hundreds of wholesale lenders, and the Dare to Compare pricing challenge. Ask about no-out-of-pocket closing options when you call. Schedule your free consultation today and see how Duane Buziak can guide you to an FHA loan that fits your needs, with competitive rates and expert guidance. Call 804-212-8663, or visit 4860 Cox Rd, Glen Allen, VA 23060.
