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Customer story · CrossCountry Mortgage

Military Family Secures Dream Home Site Unseen With Expert Mortgage Guidance

Tj Edward Gabrielson · Recorded 3/11/2026

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Share One · March 11, 2026
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TJ Gabrielson worked with Tyler Carlston at CrossCountry Mortgage to purchase a home site unseen while stationed in Okinawa, Japan. Gabrielson reported that Carlston provided educational videos and personal availability, even during major life events, ensuring a comfortable process. The family has lived happily in their home for two years and has already returned to Carlston for refinancing.

At a glance

Primary Use Case
Site unseen home purchase while stationed overseas
Reported Result
Successful home purchase and subsequent refinance
Time to Value
Two years of happy homeownership
It was easy to tell that Tyler's heart and passion was into the game. he was gonna get us the best deal no matter what.
Having Tyler's videos that he already has recorded and able to send out was a great tool.
He earned his 100 % and he works hard for them. works hard for you.

The interview

How has your experience been living in your new home?

We've been very happy living in this house for two years. It has made our family quite enjoyable. We have the largest backyard in the neighborhood and the boys are outside playing in it right now.

Who are you and where are you currently located?

I'm TJ Gabrielson. I am a civil engineer in the United States Air Force. I currently live in San Antonio.

What led you to connect with Tyler Carlston at CrossCountry Mortgage?

He came highly recommended with mortgage situation. We were originally stationed in Okinawa, Japan. And so we were going to purchase a home site unseen, so we had a Realtor who we were working with and she gave the recommendation.

What were your first impressions of working with Tyler?

It was easy to tell that Tyler's heart and passion was into the game. He was gonna get us the best deal no matter what.

Did you have any concerns about the mortgage process?

Purchasing a home wasn't too bad because this isn't my first time, however, this is my wife's first time purchasing a home. So having Tyler's videos that he already has recorded and able to send out was a great tool.

How did Tyler handle questions outside of his specific specialty?

We were very, very fortunate where we were confused about something. And just because that's not his specialty, we didn't know necessarily who to call. He was really helpful in that regard.

How would you describe Tyler's communication and availability?

He's not afraid to take a phone call. We were able to call him a couple times. He was getting in and out of a hot tub in one spot and he had just had a baby. He allows us his little glimpse into his personal life a little bit, but still takes the time and knows that the home buying process takes a lot of time and is very personal.

Would you work with Tyler Carlston again in the future?

Working with Tyler makes the home buying process much more comfortable. We've already reached out to try and refinance. He's the first person I called to try and get the best rate. The next time we move as a military family, which could be anytime, I'm going to call him first.

Frequently asked

How does Tyler Carlston help first-time homebuyers understand the mortgage process?

TJ Gabrielson noted that while he had purchased homes before, it was his wife's first time. Tyler provided pre-recorded educational videos that served as a great tool to help her navigate the complexities of the mortgage process.

Is Tyler Carlston available for questions during the home buying process?

Yes, TJ Gabrielson mentioned that Tyler was not afraid to take phone calls even during personal time, such as when he had just had a baby or was getting out of a hot tub, because he knows the process is personal and time-consuming.

Can CrossCountry Mortgage help with home buying while stationed overseas?

TJ Gabrielson successfully used Tyler Carlston to purchase a home site unseen while he was stationed in Okinawa, Japan, based on a high recommendation from his Realtor.

Full transcript

we've been very happy living in this house for two years. It has made our family quite enjoyable. We have the largest backyard in the neighborhood and the boys are outside playing in it right now. Speaking of, you want to say hi real quick? you tell them about your backyard? like it? Can you tell them how big it We have a big backyard, right? We have a big backyard. Hello, I'm TJ Gabrielson. I am a civil engineer in the United States Air Force. I currently live in San Antonio So what initially led me to connect with Tyler Carlson is he came highly recommended with mortgage situation. originally stationed in Okinawa, Japan. And so we were going to purchase a home site unseen, so we had Realtor who was we were working with and she gave the recommendation it was easy to tell that Tyler's heart and passion was into the game. he was gonna get us the best deal no matter into the mortgage process, some of my concerns about... Purchasing a home weren't too bad because this isn't my first time person at home however, this is my wife's first time purchasing a home. So having Tyler's videos that he already has recorded and able to was a great tool we were very, very fortunate where we were confused about something. And just because that's not his specialty, we didn't know necessarily who to call. He he was really helpful in that regard. were able to call him a couple times. He was getting in and out of a hot tub in one spot and he had just... We know that he had just had a baby. I was super excited for him. So he allows us his little glimpse into his personal life a little bit. And he's not afraid to take a phone call. But he still lives his life. but still takes the time and knows that. The home buying process takes a lot of time and is very personal for Working with Tyler makes the home buying process much more comfortable We've already reached out to try and refinance He's the first person I called to try and get the best rate. the next time we move as a military family, which could be anytime, going to call him first highly recommended from us to the next person we know that's moving or looking to buy a home or refinance or anything He earned his 100 % and he works hard for them. works hard for you

About CrossCountry Mortgage

CrossCountry Mortgage, led by Originating Branch Manager Tyler Carlston in South Jordan, Utah, provides expert home financing guidance and a diverse range of loan products. They serve a wide client base including veterans and first-time buyers, transforming complex mortgage procedures into smooth, stress-free experiences. As TJ Gabrielson’s story demonstrates, they specialize in high-stakes transitions, such as military families purchasing homes site unseen from overseas.

Industry
Financial Services

Topics

  • mortgage lending
  • military family
  • site unseen purchase
  • refinancing
  • financial services
  • homeownership

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