Before I begin, let me offer you a few ways to connect with me. Feel free to contact me through any of the following services:
I am often asked, “How did you get into the mortgage industry? or What made you become a mortgage consultant?” The answer is pretty simple actually. A very good friend of mine became a broker and insisted that I get into the industry after he was in for about a year. What he uncovered was the shear lack of communication this industry had in addition to the lack of professionalism and organization. I thought back to when I purchased my first home and I agreed with his findings. I bought my first home 3 years before I entered the mortgage industry and had one terrible experience.
What I went through with my first purchase
Here’s my home buying experience. I was referred by the Realtor who had the home listed “For Sale” that I was interested in. My wife and I were first time home buyers and we didn’t know a thing about the mortgage process or how it worked, etc. Before I get to deep into the story, let me tell you that I am an “A” type personality, I like structure and order/organization.
I called the mortgage company (let’s just say they were the biggest for a number of years but have been purchased recently by a big bank) the Realtor had recommended. I went to their office and was introduced to a very nice woman. Unfortunately, she was only the person who took photo copies of my documents like drivers license, ss card, etc. My wife and I are sitting at this woman’s desk and she hands us an envelope that contains the loan application. She tells us to take it home and fill it out. I’m thinking, isn’t this why I brought all this paperwork with me, so you could fill it out. I took off the morning (along with my wife) so we could sit and talk with this company about the mortgage process. We ended up sitting there for 15-20 minutes looking at someone copy our paperwork. I and my wife are nervous about the whole situation and would like someone to “hold our hands” throughout the process.
So, we go home and fill out the four page application, since my wife and I are both “A” type in nature, we follow the application to the “t”. We fill out every single line and answer every single question. We bring it back to the mortgage company and what do they do, they take it and start typing on the computer, my wife and I look at each other and whisper, “Couldn’t this have been done with all the documents we brought in a few days ago?” This woman who is typing is also the second person we are introduced to at the office, so much for the first person we met. Now I have two contacts and two business cards for this company. The woman takes about 20 minutes to fill out the application, it took us over an hour to fill out the forms! She asks us a few questions about what we wrote in certain boxes, mind you the boxes on the application are an inch by an inch, not much room to write anything in.
She prints up the application and asks us to review it, we inform her that she omitted many items that we had taken the time to fill in, she then tells us that those items aren’t necessary for the loan application. Why couldn’t this have been relayed to us earlier, instead of us wasting our time filling this darn thing out! By now, I am getting a little perturbed. Why can’t people just do their job and do it with some form of “ownership” or decency?
We sign the application and leave the paperwork with the second woman. We are told that we will hear back in a few days, a week goes by and I decide to call and inquire about the application. I am told that I would have to speak to another person. A guy gets on the phone and says he has a conditional approval and that he needs additional documentation to clarify some items. He asks me to gather the paperwork and bring it in to him. I do as he asks and get him the paperwork in 2 days. I get his business card (I am up to three now) and he thanks me for being so prompt in getting the documentation to him. I then ask him about when should I expect to hear back? He says in a few days, he actually does call me back in a few days and tells me that everything looks good and I am approved. He tells me that he is handing the file off to yet another person (my 4th person to “help” me).
Even though I am approved, I am still feeling very uncomfortable with this whole situation. I end up with a total of 6 business cards from 6 different people who “helped” me with my loan application. I really wouldn’t say they helped me unless making someone feel very uncomfortable and nervous is “helping”. It was never explained to me that this is how things are done by this company, they never gave me a document that had any time line on it, absolutely nothing. I am actually amazed that this is how things are done in the industry or at least with this company.
Being in the customer service industry and more importantly, being trained by the #1 automotive company (Lexus) in customer service, I knew I had the ability to treat my clients with a higher level of service, so I made the leap in the mortgage industry.
Here are some of my beliefs:
I believe in earning your trust, you are more than a customer or a number, you will receive my undivided attention. I hold myself accountable to higher standards. Rest assured that what I say in the beginning is what I will deliver in the end. You will not encounter a “bait and switch” routine when dealing with me. I pride myself on professionalism and fairness, always looking out for the client’s best interest. I attribute my success to strong personal motivation, a great support staff, and the ability to recognize and react to change within my industry.
I pride myself on delivering in the end what we spoke of in the beginning. Some mortgage “professionals” will say one thing and do another. I am not one of those “professionals”. My past clients can attest to what I have said. Visit my clients testimonials page.
Here are a few reasons on why you should have me assist you with your mortgage.
In contrast, the “regular” mortgage broker is shopping the market and is often in a conflict situation with customers.
For example:
- The loan type that best meets the customer’s needs may not be the one that provides the largest profit for the Mortgage Broker.
- Mortgage Brokers may profit by ignoring customer requests to lock the rate/points, putting the customer at risk.
- Mortgage Brokers often increase their markup on customers who allow the rate/points to float by not giving them the best available rate when the loan is finally locked.
UMBs disclose their fees to customers in advance, and in writing, and disclose the wholesale prices (rates and points) passed through from lenders. Customers of an UMB pay the broker’s fee and receive wholesale loan prices.
In contrast, conventional mortgage brokers (MBs) add a markup to the wholesale prices, and quote the resulting “retail prices” to customers. Most MBs reveal their markup only in required disclosures after an application has been submitted.
