VP, Mortgage Banker

Sarah (Alvarez) DeFlorio is a Vice President, Mortgage Banking at William Raveis Mortgage. She joined the company in 2020 along with her mother, industry legend Melissa Cohn, as a part of the Melissa Cohn Group. Alvarez is a graduate of Deerfield Academy and Vanderbilt University, and is licensed in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, and Florida. She resides in East Hampton, New York. Both a mortgage broker and banker, Alvarez works with more than 60 different investors and lenders, offers a wide range of services to all types of borrowers and has access to the best rates and products available. As a team, Alvarez and Cohn have closed more than $870 million in volume since joining WRM as of 12.31.24.

Previously DeFlorio served as Director of Referrals at NYC real estate brokerage Stribling & Associates where she worked for nearly a decade. Sarah is recognized as an industry expert as a member of Forbes Advisor Mortgage Advisory Board, a panel of experienced, vetted financial professionals who review articles, advise on content and support Forbes Advisor’s mission to help consumers make smarter and less stressful decisions about loans. She is also proud to serve on the Board of Directors for The Ellen Hermanson Foundation which provides vital access to state-of-the-art breast health care and services for all women on the East End of Long Island regardless of their ability to pay.

CBSNews - "When will inflation be low enough for mortgage rates to drop? Here's what experts think."https://www.cbsnews.com/news/when-will-inflation-be-low-enough-for-mortgage-rates-to-drop/

Bankrate - "Those low intro HELOC interest rates offers: Here’s what you’re missing in the fine print."https://www.bankrate.com/home-equity/lowdown-on-how-low-heloc-intro-rate-offers-work/

Newsweek - "Map Shows States With Highest Number of People Unable to Get a Mortgage."https://www.newsweek.com/map-shows-states-highest-number-people-unable-get-mortgage-2043217/

Bankrate - "HELOCs drop to two-year lows, near 8%, and home equity loans fall too."https://www.bankrate.com/home-equity/home-equity-rates-fall-to-fresh-lows-march-12-2025/

CBSNews - "Should you use a home equity loan for your spring home renovation? Experts offer advice."https://www.cbsnews.com/news/should-you-use-a-home-equity-loan-for-your-spring-home-renovation-experts-offer-advice/

Credible - "How to Refinance a House: A Step-by-Step Guide."https://www.credible.com/mortgage/how-to-refinance-your-mortgage/

Credible - "First Time Homebuyer Programs: How They Can Help You."https://www.credible.com/mortgage/first-time-home-buyer-programs/

Better Homes & Gardens - "Do You Really Need to Put 20% Down on a House? Here's What Experts Say."https://www.bhg.com/do-you-need-20-percent-down-payment-8729256/

Credible - "What Credit Score is Needed to Buy a House?"https://www.credible.com/mortgage/credit-score-for-home-loan/

CNET - "Cut Your Mortgage Rate by 1% Today: Simple Strategies to Save Thousands."https://www.cnet.com/personal-finance/cut-your-mortgage-rate-by-1-today-7-strategies-to-save-thousands/

FOXMoney - "Minimum down payment for a house: A first-time buyer’s guide."https://www.foxbusiness.com/fox-money/mortgage/minimum-down-payment-for-house-first-time-buyer/

CBS News - "4 questions to ask before using a mortgage broker."https://www.cbsnews.com/news/questions-to-ask-before-using-a-mortgage-broker/

Homes.com - "What is a Conventional Loan? Benefits, Requirements & More."https://www.homes.com/blog/what-is-a-conventional-loan/

Homes.com - “Understanding Earnest Monday: A Guide for Prospective Homebuyers."https://www.homes.com/blog/earnest-money-deposits/

CBS News - “Is your HELOC draw period ending soon? What experts say you should know now."https://www.cbsnews.com/news/is-your-heloc-draw-period-ending-soon-what-experts-say-you-should-know-now/

CNN Underscored - “How to pay off your mortgage faster and save money on interest"https://edition.cnn.com/cnn-underscored/money/how-to-pay-off-your-mortgage-early

CBS News - “When is a reverse mortgage the best home equity option? Experts weigh in"https://www.cbsnews.com/news/when-is-reverse-mortgage-best-home-equity-option-experts/

CBS News - “4 ways to avoid mortgage rate lock extension fees"https://www.cbsnews.com/news/ways-to-avoid-mortgage-rate-lock-extension-fees/

CNN - “Interest-only mortgages: How they work and why they’re usually unwise”https://www.cnn.com/cnn-underscored/money/interest-only-mortgages

CNN - “What credit scores do you need for a mortgage?”https://www.cnn.com/cnn-underscored/money/credit-score-requirements-for-mortgage

MPA - “When is the right time to buy a house?”
https://www.mpamag.com/us/mortgage-industry/industry-trends/when-is-the-right-time-to-buy-a-house/471256

Credible - “Buying a Home? Here’s How To Get a Mortgage Pre-Approval”
https://www.credible.com/mortgage/how-to-get-preapproved

CBSNews - “Is it a good idea to take equity out of your home? Here's what experts say.”
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/is-it-good-idea-to-take-equity-out-of-home-what-experts-say/

WSJ - “Three Ways to Pay for a Home If a Traditional Mortgage Isn’t on the Table”
https://www.wsj.com/real-estate/three-traditional-mortgage-alternatives-fefd0b82?st=cjofb04bqbug0yp&reflink=desktopwebshare_permalink

Forbes - “If You’re Buying A Home, Don’t Make Any Other Major Purchases”
https://www.forbes.com/sites/terriwilliams/2023/08/29/if-youre-buying-a-home-dont-make-any-other-major-purchases/?sh=12773cdc3f4b

SFGATE - “What is mortgage insurance?”
https://www.sfgate.com/personal-finance/article/what-is-mortgage-insurance-18156427.php

Consumer Affairs - “Types of mortgage loans”
https://www.consumeraffairs.com/finance/types-of-mortgage-loans.html