Resources
Check out our Lancaster real estate update and other resources
Your Lancaster County Real Estate Market Update
At Mortgage Craft, we want you to understand the market when you are buying a home, so you can put in the most competitive offers. Our goal is you feel comfortable when you invest in life’s biggest purchase and buy your home.
Resources
Use our resources like our rent vs. buy calculator in Lancaster County to help determine if now is the time for you to buy. Your situation is unique, so always call and ask us if now may be a good time to start looking!
Lancaster County, PA Rent vs. Buy Calculator
Integrity is at the core of our business, driving us to always act honestly, ethically, and transparently in all our interactions and decision making processes.
Rental Costs
Home Purchase
Rent vs. Buy
Equity Projection
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Rental Analysis
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Disclaimer: Financial projections only. Does not include selling fees, taxes, or localized inflation factors.
Meet The Mortgage Craft Team
Dedicated to Guiding Your Mortgage Decisions
Ralph Means
Broker & Principal Loan Officer
Ralph is an experienced loan officer who stepped into the broker role in 2022 and leads the team at Mortgage Craft. Ralph loves to solve problems and is your go-to resource for any lending question, if he doesn’t know the answer, he knows where to find it.
NMLS# 1875069
Tom Bayles
Founder & Partner
Tom is a mortgage industry veteran who started Mortgage Craft in 2006 after working for the mortgage lending arm of a national bank. Though he operates primarily in an advisory role, he continues to be an incredible wealth of lending knowledge to our team.
NMLS# 134399
Cooper Clark
Loan Officer
Staci Horst
Processing Assistant
Staci is our processing assistant who orders title requests and ensures compliance. She works mostly with title companies and lenders to procure and send all the required documentation needed for loans.
Jessica Harrison
Loan Officer Assistant
Jess spent a few years in the mortgage industry some time ago before serving in administrative roles with a few ministries in the Lancaster area. Now, she joins the Mortgage Craft team to assist our Loan Officers in delivering excellent mortgages for you.
NMLS# 2570820
Jeremy Bitler
Loan Officer Assistant
Jeremy is our loan officer assistant who works to get our loans closed as quickly and smoothly as possible. Jeremy is new to the mortgage industry as of early 2025, but absolutely loves it. Apart from Mortgage Craft, Jeremy enjoys leading worship, photography, and video editing. Jeremy is also an active help in breeding and raising puppies with his family.
The Mortgage Craft Story
Crafting Success in the Mortgage Industry
After 30 years in the mortgage industry working for large banks like Key Bank, our founder, Tom Bayles, saw an opportunity in Lancaster, PA to open his own brokerage. Since that day in 2006, Mortgage Craft has become a respected partner in lending in Lancaster County. Today, the team has grown to accommodate a growing demand for excellence in mortgage lending in a competitive and challenging real-estate market.
Now led by Ralph Means, the team seeks to provide comprehensive and individually tailored solutions to our clients through great partnerships and education. With a constantly growing portfolio of lending partners, we are able to provide each client with a loan product that suits their unique situation. Our goal is to help every client make financial choices that will set them up for long-term financial success.
The Mortgage Craft Process
Take an Expert with Your on Your Homebuying Journey
We make it our goal to simplify the process of getting a mortgage.
Understand
We deeply analyze your financial situation and aspirations to create a personalized plan that aligns with your vision of success.
Navigate
With our expert advisors by your side, you’ll gain knowledge and confidence to make informed decisions in the mortgage market.
Secure
We explore uniquely crafted opportunities to secure the best loan options for your financial success, going beyond traditional approaches.
Get Started
Getting Started Is Easy
At Mortgage Craft, our goal is to make getting a home-loan easy. We navigate the market to give you simplified options, but you are always in control.
What makes Mortgage Craft different from other mortgage lenders?
At Mortgage Craft, we pride ourselves on our personalized approach to mortgage lending. So, whether you’re investing in your family’s future home or expanding your investment portfolio, we take the time to understand your unique financial situation and goals, providing tailored solutions and exceptional customer service. It is really our aim to help every client by securing a loan today or giving tools and resources to be better prepared for tomorrow.