Thomas “Tom” Sullivan brings extensive mortgage experience and a personal approach to helping clients navigate home financing. As Branch Manager at Novus Home Mortgage’s Long Island branch, he takes time to understand your goals, explain your options, and help you feel informed throughout the process.
Known for his knowledge, responsiveness, and genuine care, Tom believes strong relationships start with listening. Whether you’re buying your first home, moving into your next one, or exploring a refinance, he provides clear answers and consistent communication from the first conversation through closing.
His goal is simple: to be a resource you can count on, both today and as your home financing needs change.
A Client’s Perspective
Hear a client share his experience working with Tom Sullivan on his homeownership journey.
Why Homebuyers Love Working with NOVUS
Buying or refinancing a home is a big decision. You deserve straight answers. No jargon. No guesswork. You get clear explanations, real guidance, and consistent updates from pre-approval through closing.
Your goals, budget, and timeline are unique, so your mortgage should be too. Whether you are exploring:
• Conventional financing
• FHA (Federal Housing Administration) loans
• VA (Department of Veterans Affairs) loans
• USDA (United States Department of Agriculture) loans
• Investment property loans
• Second home loans
• Construction loans
• And more!
We help you compare your options and choose a loan that fits your life.
You should never feel like just another name on a list. With Novus, you get a loan officer who truly listens, cares about your goals, and guides you through every step with clarity and support. We blend personal care with smart technology to make your experience easier long after the closing table.
SPECIAL FINANCING · RATE BUYDOWN
What if this home came with
a lower payment to start?
When the seller, Novus Home Mortgage, or both put money toward a temporary buydown, your monthly payment drops for the first 1 year of the loan, then returns to the full payment. The list price stays the same.
TEMPORARY RATE BUYDOWN FAQs
Answers to the most common questions about temporary rate buydowns, including costs, qualification, loan eligibility, refinancing, and seller contributions.
Novus Home Mortgage contributes up to the amount shown above. The seller then negotiates their share on top. It can also be funded by a builder, or by the buyer. The seller’s portion is agreed per property and written into the contract — it is not automatic and not a standing offer on every home.
Sometimes a seller lists slightly higher to fund their share, and sometimes they fund it out of the existing price. Either way the buyer sees the price and the credit in the contract. What a buydown avoids is a public price reduction, which is why sellers often prefer it.
No. Discount points permanently reduce the note rate for the life of the loan. A temporary buydown leaves the note rate alone and subsidizes the payment for the first year or two from an escrow account. Points cost more; a temporary buydown buys a bigger visible drop for less money, but it does not last.
The full note rate, not the reduced year-one rate. That’s the part people get wrong. A temporary buydown lowers what you pay in the early years; it does not increase how much you can borrow. A permanent buydown does lower the qualifying rate.
Funds left in the buydown escrow are generally applied to the payoff, so the unused portion is not lost. The exact treatment is set by the buydown agreement on your specific loan — ask before you assume.
Conventional, FHA and VA all permit temporary buydowns, subject to program rules and occupancy restrictions. Contribution limits differ by program and by how much you put down. We confirm what a specific file allows before anything goes into a contract.
A price cut moves the monthly payment surprisingly little. The same money aimed at the rate moves it a lot more — so the home reaches buyers who were shopping below the price. It also avoids a public reduction and the days-on-market story that follows one.
That’s exactly what this is for. Put in the list price and the contribution you think the seller would consider, and it shows the payment story you can take to them. For the full picture — net proceeds, price-cut comparison, contribution limits — call and we’ll build it on the actual property.
Learn how to Buy Your First Home
Buying a home is a big step — and I’m here to make it easier. I’ll walk you through your options, answer your questions, and help you find the right loan to fit your life and goals.
Our Services
Home Purchase Loans
Refinancing Options
Personalized Consultations
Loan Program Guidance
In Our Community
Our work doesn’t stop at helping families buy homes—we’re committed to strengthening the places we live and work. From sponsoring youth programs to supporting local charities, we’re proud to give back to our community.
Proudly Giving Back
Local Food Drives
Youth Sports Sponsorships
Estimate your mortgage
See estimated monthly payments based on your loan details. Compare scenarios to find what best fits your budget.
Steps to Easy Home Buying with Novus
Buying a home is a major milestone. You deserve a path to homeownership that feels clear and supported at every step. The Novus Path brings together experienced loan officers, innovative technology, and industry-leading knowledge in both traditional and Non-Qualified Mortgage (Non-QM) lending.
Get Pre-Approved
Explore Your Loan Options
Find the Right Home
Apply and Submit Documents
Processing and Underwriting
Closing, Getting Your Keys, And Beyond
Real Stories from Real Owners
Thomas Sullivan was absolutely outstanding throughout our mortgage process. He was incredibly responsive, always answering our questions in a timely and thorough manner, and consistently went above and beyond to make sure we felt confident every step of the way. As first-time homebuyers, the process could have easily felt overwhelming, but Thomas made everything smooth, straightforward, and easy to understand. He took the time to explain every detail and ensured we were comfortable with each decision. We truly appreciate all of his hard work and dedication, and we have complete trust in him. We would highly recommend Thomas to anyone, especially first-time buyers, looking for a knowledgeable, reliable, and genuinely supportive mortgage professional.
This is our second time working with Tom. He worked with us on our original mortgage when we bought our house. When rates dropped he was on top of it and got in contact with us to refinance, saving us a ton of money. Would recommend Tom to anyone for their mortgage needs!
This is the second time I used Tom Sullivan and it was another outstanding experience. Everything was explained in detail and the process could not have gone any better. I would highly recommend Tom for your mortgage needs.
Tom was easy to work with and showed excellence in his knowledge and work ethic. He always communicated clearly and easily.
Tom is a true professional. His knowledge, communication and compassion of his job is off the chart. It was pleasure working with him.
tom went over and above what i could of asked for. thank you
Excellent service
Tom is absolutely wonderful and knowledgeable. Makes the process easy and seamless.
Tom is an absolute expert and professional at what he does . He was always available for our questions and to guide us through this process as first time homebuyers.
Tom provided exceptional service within our Novus mortgage application and home purchase. He was knowledgable, responsive, and organized. We are so grateful for his guidance and hard work. We would absolutely recommend him to anyone looking for a smooth and supportive mortgage experience.
Tom was great to work with – super personable and always broke down the process in a way that made sense. He answered any questions we had in regards to the refinancing process and was always looking out for our best interest. I would recommend my friends / family to Tom when purchasing or refinancing a home for their mortgage needs. Thanks for everything, Tom!
Tom Sullivan is the best.
Tom was immensely helpful from beginning to end.
Tom was great! Answered all our questions, kept us up to date on the process, and the loan went smoothly.
Tom is incredibly personable and knowledgeable. He made sure I understood exactly what was going on during every step of the mortgage process. He was readily available to communicate and was thorough in his explanations of everything.
Tom was very detailed and explained everything every step of the way