My First Year in the Mortgage Business: By the Superlatives
The beginning of the year marked my first full year in the mortgage business. 2025 was a year of learning, adapting, and helping my clients through one of the biggest financial decisions of their lives, and I loved it! Here is my reflection on the ups and downs of my first year in the industry.
Proudest Moment(s)
Shortly after starting at RMC, my friends Trey and Mario, who had recently relocated to DC, reached out about buying. I played club volleyball with Trey in college in South Dakota, so I was already excited that he and his husband Mario, had moved to DC. I was elated that they intended to put down roots and even more thrilled to have close friends as my very first clients. Getting to help them land in a new city, and trust me with such a huge decision, was both humbling and incredibly rewarding.
My other friends, Chad and Jeff, relocated to Richmond. Mark and I took a lovely trip down shortly after they closed to attend the Richmond Folk Festival with them and help them move into their new home.
These two examples weren’t just loans. They were people I care about, navigating big life changes, and I got to be part of making it happen.
Most Frustrating Part of the Job
The most frustrating part of this job has been battling the myth that buying a home is nearly impossible – that it’s too hard, too expensive, or something people just assume is out of reach. The reality is that there are many programs for first-time homebuyers, especially for people with low-to-moderate salaries, that make homeownership far more accessible than most people realize.
My instinct is to tell everyone. I don’t want people throwing away their money on rent when homebuying may be within reach for them. The problem, I’ve found, is spreading the word without sounding like a used-car salesman yelling, “ACT NOW!” Striking that balance between education and sales has been a challenge, but I’m committed to getting it right.
Most Important Part of the Job
The mortgage process can feel overwhelming and, at times, like it’s written in an entirely different language. Being available to my clients to answer questions, explain options, and walk them through each step is the most important part of what I do.
Biggest Surprise
This job taps into my creative problem-solving skills, which I did not expect. Structuring a loan for a client, who may be in a complex financial situation (especially in our divorce work), to meet their financial goals often requires creativity, flexibility, and thinking outside of the box.
What I’m Most Excited About Going into Year Two
As I head into year two, I’m fired up to expand my network, build new relationships, and bring in new business. When I joined the company, my obvious goal was to build on the incredible foundation Margie has already created by establishing RMC as a mortgage expert in the DMV divorce space and by becoming a fixture in the DC queer sports community through our various sponsorships.
At the same time, I want to build my own network. I want to be a go-to mortgage broker for my fellow University of Maryland Terps. I want to be the go-to mortgage broker for people moving to the DMV from the Dakotas. I want to spend this year networking, building relationships, and maybe stumbling into a new niche I didn’t see coming in order to grow our business in a substantial way.
So, readers, if you know anyone looking to buy in the DMV, send them my way. I have some things to prove this year! 😊
