Duane Buziak, a licensed mortgage broker (NMLS#1110647), runs FreeMortgageSearch.com, a free tool that compares mortgage offers across hundreds of wholesale lenders using a NoTouch Credit Pull, a soft pull that does not create a hard inquiry. He is licensed in VA, FL, TN, GA, DC, NC, SC and MD, and the site serves buyers and homeowners in any of those states.
This article covers who is behind the site, how a free service gets paid for, what happens when you use it, and how to check every claim yourself on public records. If you are deciding whether to trust a mortgage website with your financial details, those are the right questions to ask.
A Licensed Mortgage Broker, Not a Bank: The Person Behind the Site
FreeMortgageSearch.com is operated by Duane Buziak, NMLS#1110647. The company he works through, along with its NMLS number, is listed in the compliance block at the end of this article, which is where regulators expect to find it. Every NMLS number can be looked up publicly, and the verification steps appear later in this article.
The word broker matters here. A bank or direct lender sells its own loan products, priced on its own rate sheet and underwritten in-house. A mortgage broker works differently: he takes your scenario and shops it across many wholesale lenders, then helps you pick the offer that fits. Duane Buziak is a broker, not a banker, and the site is built around that independence. Instead of showing you one institution’s shelf, it compares options from hundreds of wholesale lenders.
In practice, Duane’s role covers three things:
- The comparison tool. He runs FreeMortgageSearch.com, where you enter your scenario and see offers side by side.
- Guidance and consultation. He answers questions about loan options, refinancing, and rate lock periods, so you are not left to interpret an offer alone.
- Title services. He arranges title services as part of the home financing process.
The site covers home purchase loans and refinancing, and it does not depend on a single product type. Loan programs such as conventional, FHA, VA, and USDA are available where they fit a borrower’s scenario and a licensed state.
The licensed states are VA, FL, TN, GA, DC, NC, SC, and MD. The site is national in scope. It is not tied to one state, city, or region, and a buyer in any of those eight jurisdictions can use it the same way. If you live outside them, Duane cannot originate a loan for you.
How a Free Mortgage Search Tool Actually Works
The process has three stages. You enter basic details: the type of loan you want, the price or loan amount, your down payment or equity, and a rough credit range. Duane then compares offers from wholesale lenders against that scenario. You see the results side by side, with rate, estimated payment, and costs laid out, and you are under no obligation to proceed. For a fuller walkthrough, see how a free mortgage search tool works.
What the NoTouch Credit Pull does
A NoTouch Credit Pull is a soft pull. It lets Duane see enough of your credit profile to match you with realistic offers without a hard inquiry appearing on your report. A soft pull does not lower your score the way a hard inquiry can, which is why a soft pull mortgage comparison suits the early stage, when you are still deciding.
It also has limits. A soft pull is not a full application, and it does not verify your income, assets, or the property. Offers based on it are estimates.
Where a hard pull enters
A hard inquiry is typically required once you choose an offer and move forward with a formal application, because a lender must verify your credit before it can approve you. Duane confirms exactly when that happens for your particular file, so ask him before you apply and you will know the timing in advance.
Why early pre-approval without a hard pull helps
A mortgage pre-approval without a hard pull (sometimes described as a no hard inquiry mortgage pre-approval) lets you compare programs, estimate your payment range, and test different down payments while your credit report stays untouched. It works as a planning step. Final approval still requires full underwriting: documented income, assets, an appraisal, and a title review. Learn more about pre-approval without a hard inquiry before you decide how to start.
Rate and APR disclosure: any rate, payment, or APR shown on the site or in this article is an estimate based on the information provided and is not a commitment to lend. The APR includes certain loan costs along with the interest rate, so it will differ from the note rate. Actual rates depend on credit, loan amount, property, and lock period.
Why “Free” Is Possible: How a Broker Gets Paid
Comparing offers costs you nothing because the service is funded when a loan closes, not when you search. Brokers are generally compensated either by the wholesale lender or by the borrower, and whichever applies must be disclosed to you in writing. The place to see it is the Loan Estimate, a standardized three-page form the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau explains in detail. Ask Duane to show you how compensation appears on your specific file before you apply, and read it on the form rather than taking anyone’s word for it.
If you ask about closing costs, the accurate phrase is no-out-of-pocket closing options: arrangements where costs are structured so you do not pay them at the table, typically through a trade-off in the rate or a credit. They are not costs that disappear, so compare them as carefully as anything else. Our guide to mortgage rates with no closing costs explains the trade-off.
A worked example: what a quarter point is worth
This is an illustration, not a current quote. Suppose two offers on a $400,000 loan with a 30-year fixed term:
- Offer A, 6.50%: monthly principal and interest of $2,528.27
- Offer B, 6.25%: monthly principal and interest of $2,462.87
The monthly difference is $65.40. Over five years, 60 payments, that comes to $65.40 × 60 = $3,924.00 in lower payments with Offer B, before taxes and insurance. If Offer B carries extra points or fees, compare that cost against the $3,924 savings and the length of time you expect to keep the loan. The comparison tool exists to put such trade-offs in one view, with the same scenario applied to each offer.
Broker vs. Single-Shelf: Where the Site Fits Among Other Options
The structural difference is simple. A broker reaches hundreds of wholesale lenders, so one scenario can be priced many ways. A direct or retail lender offers its own product shelf, which can be a good fit for some borrowers who value a single point of contact or an in-house process. The aim here is to compare, not to rank. For a head-to-head look, read FreeMortgageSearch vs Rocket Mortgage.
Loan size also shapes your options. For 2026, FHFA set the baseline conforming loan limit at $832,750 for one-unit properties, with a high-cost ceiling of $1,249,125. Limits vary by county, so check the current figure for the county where the property sits before comparing loan types.
As of 2026, check each provider’s current process, since credit-pull timing and application steps change.
| Option type | Who it serves | Number of loan sources | Credit pull used for comparison | Typical process |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Independent broker tool (Free Mortgage Search by Duane Buziak) | Buyers and homeowners in VA, FL, TN, GA, DC, NC, SC, MD who want options side by side | Hundreds of wholesale lenders | NoTouch Credit Pull (soft pull) for comparison | Enter scenario, review side-by-side offers, choose whether to proceed; hard pull timing confirmed with Duane |
| National direct lender (Rocket Mortgage) | Borrowers who prefer an online, single-company process | One company’s own loan products | Confirm with the provider; check current process | Online application and in-house underwriting |
| Retail lender (Movement Mortgage) | Borrowers who want a loan officer working for one company | One company’s own loan products | Confirm with the provider; check current process | Work with a loan officer, in-house underwriting |
| Retail lender (Guild Mortgage) | Borrowers who want a loan officer working for one company | One company’s own loan products | Confirm with the provider; check current process | Work with a loan officer, in-house underwriting |
| Retail lender (NFM Lending) | Borrowers who want a loan officer working for one company | One company’s own loan products | Confirm with the provider; check current process | Work with a loan officer, in-house underwriting |
Dare to Compare: Verifying Who You Are Dealing With
Dare to Compare is the site’s invitation to test it against what you already have. Bring any offer, whether from a bank, a direct lender, or another broker, and Duane will run the same scenario through the comparison tool so the two sit side by side. If your current offer holds up, you will know. If it does not, you will see where. Here is what Dare to Compare means for mortgage shopping in more detail.
Check any mortgage professional on NMLS Consumer Access
Do not rely on a website’s own statement, including this one. Every licensed mortgage professional can be looked up on NMLS Consumer Access, the public registry. To verify Duane:
- Search for Duane Buziak, NMLS#1110647.
- Confirm that his state licenses match the states you need: VA, FL, TN, GA, DC, NC, SC, or MD.
- Review the company he works through and match its NMLS number to the one in the compliance block below.
- Check for any listed regulatory actions.
Apply the same steps to anyone else you are considering.
Compare the Loan Estimate, not the headline rate
A quoted rate is not an offer. Line up the Loan Estimates, using the CFPB’s Loan Estimate guide to read each section, and compare the loan terms, projected payments, and costs side by side.
One common mistake distorts these comparisons: matching rates quoted on different lock periods, or with different points. A 6.25% rate locked for 60 days with discount points is not the same product as a 6.25% rate locked for 30 days with none. Confirm the lock period and points on both offers first, and see mortgage rate lock vs float if you are unsure how lock timing works.
Frequently Asked Questions About Who Runs FreeMortgageSearch.com
1. Who runs FreeMortgageSearch.com?
Duane Buziak, a licensed mortgage broker with NMLS#1110647, runs FreeMortgageSearch.com. He operates the free comparison tool, offers mortgage guidance, and arranges title services. You can verify his license and the company he works through on NMLS Consumer Access.
2. Is Duane Buziak a licensed mortgage broker?
Yes. Duane Buziak holds NMLS#1110647. Do not take our word for it: search that number on NMLS Consumer Access to see his current state licenses, employer, and any public regulatory history.
3. Is the comparison really free?
Yes, comparing offers on the site costs nothing and carries no obligation. If you proceed with a loan, any broker compensation and costs must appear on your Loan Estimate. Review that document before you commit, and ask Duane to walk you through it.
4. Does comparing hurt my credit (NoTouch Credit Pull)?
The NoTouch Credit Pull is a soft pull, so comparing offers does not create a hard inquiry. A hard pull is typically needed later, when you choose to move forward with a full application. Duane confirms that timing for your file.
5. Can I get a mortgage pre-approval without a hard pull?
You can start with a soft pull, which gives you estimated options and a payment range without a hard inquiry. It is a planning step, not a final approval. Full underwriting, with documented income and assets, still follows, and Duane confirms when a hard pull applies.
6. What states is Duane licensed in?
Duane Buziak is licensed in VA, FL, TN, GA, DC, NC, SC, and MD. The site is national in scope across those jurisdictions. Confirm current licensing for any state on NMLS Consumer Access.
7. What is the difference between a broker and a bank?
A bank sells its own loan products from one rate sheet and underwrites them in-house. A broker shops your scenario across hundreds of wholesale lenders and helps you choose among the results. Either can suit different borrowers, which is why comparing both is worthwhile.
8. What is Dare to Compare?
Dare to Compare means bringing any mortgage offer you already have and having it matched against the tool’s results using the same scenario. You see rate, payment, and costs side by side, so you can decide with real numbers rather than a headline rate.
Check the License, Then Compare the Offers
Duane Buziak, NMLS#1110647, runs FreeMortgageSearch.com, and everything above can be confirmed on a public registry. Start with a NoTouch Credit Pull comparison to see options without a hard inquiry, or take up Dare to Compare with an offer you already hold. Both are free and carry no obligation.
Your dream home is within reach: start comparing personalized mortgage rates from trusted lenders today and discover the loan solution that fits your budget and goals. Compare rates now and take the first step toward securing your home with expert guidance every step of the way.
